Thom Tillis Announces He Won’t Seek Reelection — Amid Brutal Attacks from Trump

Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) announced Sunday he will not seek reelection in 2026 — hours after President Donald Trump blasted him on social media and threatened to back a primary challenge against him.

In a statement issued Sunday afternoon, the North Carolina senator explained why he plans to give up on reelection.

“Too many elected officials are motivated by pure raw politics who really don’t give a damn about the people they promised to represent on the campaign trail,” Tillis said. After they get elected, they don’t bother to do the hard work to research the policies they seek to implement and understand the consequences those policies could have on that young adult living in a trailer park, struggling to make ends meet.

The announcement comes hours after Tillis cast a No vote on a key procedural measure Saturday night to officially open floor debate on the “Big, Beautiful” budget bill. Trump, in response, took to his Truth Social platform to blast Tillis.

“Numerous people have come forward wanting to run in the Primary against ‘Senator Thom’ Tillis,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I will be meeting with them over the coming weeks, looking for someone who will properly represent the Great People of North Carolina and, so importantly, the United States of America.”

The implications are potentially enormous. Tillis abandoning a reelection bid increases the chances for Democrats to pick up the seat in 2026. Further, Tillis indicated he feels a newfound “freedom” on his votes — potentially impacting the ability of Republicans to pass legislation in a chamber where they only hold a 53-47 majority.

“I look forward to having the pure freedom to calling the balls and strikes as I see fit,” Tillis said.

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