Lara Trump is reportedly weighing a possible bid for the U.S. Senate seat in North Carolina, following the announcement that Senator Thom Tillis will not seek reelection in 2026.
The opening has prompted speculation within Republican circles that the president’s daughter-in-law could enter the race, with one source calling it nearly a “done deal.”
BREAKING:
North Carolina native Lara Trump is SERIOUSLY thinking about running for Senator to replace retiring RINO Thom Tillis. pic.twitter.com/a42vHcGiCW
— Mila Joy (@MilaLovesJoe) June 29, 2025
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According to a report from NBC News, an unnamed source close to the matter stated that Lara Trump is “strongly considering jumping in the race.”
The source said her candidacy would likely clear the Republican primary field early.
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“I’d put it as high as one could be considering it … The race will be over before it begins,” the source told reporter Vaughn Hillyard.
The development follows President Donald Trump’s public criticism of Senator Tillis, who was one of two Republicans to oppose advancing the administration’s “Big Beautiful Bill.”
In a series of posts on Truth Social, President Trump accused Tillis of acting as a “grandstander” and of consistently opposing the White House’s policy agenda.
On Sunday, Tillis officially announced that he will not seek reelection.
“As many of my colleagues have noticed over the last year, and at times even joked about, I haven’t exactly been excited about running for another term,” Tillis said.
“That is true since the choice is between spending another six years navigating the political theatre and partisan gridlock in Washington or spending that time with the love of my life Susan, our two children, three beautiful grandchildren, and the rest of our extended family back home. It’s not a hard choice, and I will not be seeking re-election.”
Thom Tillis routinely fought to increase American intervention abroad while rejecting border security at home. He has also been a chief obstacle to the timely confirmation of President Trump’s nominees.
His retirement is a golden opportunity to make North Carolina’s senators… pic.twitter.com/lrFL9Vaz5E
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) June 29, 2025
Lara Trump, who served as co-chair of the Republican National Committee during the 2024 election cycle, has previously been discussed as a potential candidate for office in North Carolina.
In 2020, she expressed interest in running in her home state but ultimately declined to enter that race.
More recently, she was briefly considered for the U.S. Senate seat in Florida after Senator Marco Rubio was nominated for Secretary of State in late 2024.
That vacancy was filled by then-Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, after Trump withdrew her name from consideration.
Trump currently resides in West Palm Beach, Florida, but is originally from Wilmington, North Carolina.
Her strong name recognition and ties to the state make her a formidable candidate if she decides to run.
Polling data from Victory Insights released late last year showed Trump leading significantly in a hypothetical primary match-up against Tillis, with 65 percent of respondents favoring her compared to 11 percent for the incumbent.
The rest of those polled remained undecided.
“The only metric in which Tillis outperforms Lara Trump is [favorability] among Democrats.” https://t.co/vJr3G8ewxT
— Ben Galbraith (@_BenGalbraith) December 2, 2024
Should she enter the race, Trump is expected to draw widespread support from within the party.
Other potential Republican candidates include freshman U.S. Representative Pat Harrigan, former Representative Dan Bishop, and Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley.
However, political strategists anticipate the field would quickly consolidate behind Trump if she announces a formal bid.
President Trump has stated that he will meet with several potential primary contenders in the coming days.
With Senator Tillis exiting the race, the focus now turns to who will emerge as the party’s nominee in a state considered critical for Republicans in 2026.
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