Tillis Retirement Opens North Carolina Senate Seat After Vote Against Trump's $4.45 Trillion Bill

Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) announced his decision not to seek re-election in 2026, just hours after former President Donald Trump threatened to support a primary challenger against him. The announcement follows Tillis's vote against advancing the "One Big Beautiful Bill," a sweeping legislative package championed by Trump, in the Senate on Saturday. This development sets the stage for an open and potentially highly competitive Senate race in North Carolina.

Tillis's opposition to the bill stemmed from concerns over its proposed Medicaid cuts, which he stated would result in "tens of billions of dollars in lost funding for North Carolina, including our hospitals and rural communities." He emphasized that he "cannot support this bill in its current form," advocating for the House's less drastic approach to Medicaid provisions. The legislation, which includes tax cuts, immigration funding, and changes to green energy incentives, has an estimated cost of $4.45 trillion.

Following Tillis's vote, Trump publicly criticized the senator on Truth Social, accusing him of making a "BIG MISTAKE for America." Trump stated, "Numerous people have come forward wanting to run in the Primary against ‘Senator Thom’ Tillis. I will be meeting with them over the coming weeks, looking for someone who will properly represent the Great People of North Carolina." As political journalist Teddy Schleifer noted in a tweet, "Trump’s threatened primary tonight against Thom Tillis is precisely why some Tillis advisers have been nervous about the amount of money being raised by Trump’s super PAC, MAGA Inc." This highlights the significant financial leverage Trump’s political action committees wield in primary contests.

In his statement, Tillis explained that his decision was "not a hard choice," expressing a desire to step away from the "political theatre and partisan gridlock in Washington." He lamented that "leaders who are willing to embrace bipartisanship, compromise, and demonstrate independent thinking are becoming an endangered species." Tillis, a two-term senator, has previously won narrow victories in North Carolina.

The open Senate seat in North Carolina, a crucial battleground state, is now a top target for both parties in 2026. Potential Democratic candidates include former Congressman Wiley Nickel and former Governor Roy Cooper. On the Republican side, the field is expected to be crowded, with figures like Lara Trump, the former president's daughter-in-law, leading in early hypothetical polls. This retirement underscores the ongoing influence of Donald Trump within the Republican Party and his willingness to challenge incumbents who defy his agenda.