Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) announced Sunday that he will not seek reelection, following a public break with President Donald Trump over the administration’s proposed “Big, Beautiful Bill.”
Tillis, who opposed the measure due to concerns over potential Medicaid cuts in his home state, confirmed that he will complete the remainder of his term before stepping away from public office.
In his announcement, Tillis reflected on his time in politics, saying he is “proud” of his record in public service.
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He pointed to specific legislative accomplishments that included bipartisan efforts both at the state and federal levels.
“I’m most proud of passing the first-in-the-nation eugenics compensation as Speaker, and working across the aisle in the Senate to pass the largest investment in mental health in our nation’s history,” Tillis stated.
“Sometimes those bipartisan initiatives got me in trouble with my party.”
Tillis acknowledged growing political polarization in Congress and indicated that bipartisan efforts are increasingly rare.
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“In Washington over the last few years, it’s been increasingly evident that leaders who are willing to embrace bipartisanship, compromise, and demonstrate independent thinking are becoming an endangered species,” he said.
The senator referenced the recent departures of two Democratic colleagues who, according to Tillis, were “dedicated to making the Senate more of a functional and productive legislative body.”
“They got things done,” Tillis added.
“But they were shunned after they courageously refused to cave to their party bosses to nuke the filibuster for the sake of political expediency. They ultimately retired and their presence in the Senate chamber has been sorely missed every day since.”
Tillis also noted that he remains committed to his responsibilities through the end of his term.
“I’m beyond grateful for the friends I’ve made, and I look forward to continuing to serve North Carolina over the next 18 months,” he said.
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
The announcement came a day after Tillis publicly stated his opposition to President Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill,” citing projected financial losses for North Carolina related to Medicaid funding.
In a statement issued Saturday, Tillis said he could not support the bill “in its current form.”
“I did my homework on behalf of North Carolinians, and I cannot support this bill in its current form,” he said.
“It would result in tens of billions of dollars in lost funding for North Carolina, including our hospitals and rural communities. This will force the state to make painful decisions like eliminating Medicaid coverage for hundreds of thousands in the expansion population, and even reducing critical services for those in the traditional Medicaid population.”
The Senate version of the One Big Beautiful bill contains significant changes to Medicaid that would be devastating to North Carolina, and I cannot support it. The Senate should go back to the House’s commonsense approach to Medicaid reform to enact work requirements while… pic.twitter.com/eFIc31R0sQ
— Senator Thom Tillis (@SenThomTillis) June 28, 2025
President Trump responded on Truth Social, criticizing Tillis and accusing him of attempting to generate media attention.
“North Carolina will not allow Senator Thom Tillis to GRANDSTAND in order to get some publicity for himself,” Trump wrote.
“Looks like Senator Thom Tillis, as usual, wants to tell the Nation that he’s giving them a 68% Tax Increase, as opposed to the Biggest Tax Cut in American History! At the same time, he is unable to understand the importance of a Debt Extension, which Republicans gave to the Democrats just prior to the November 5th Election, because of its significance, and how important it was for the future of the U.S.A.,” Trump stated.
The President also signaled that there is already interest in challenging Tillis’s seat in the upcoming Republican primary.
“Numerous people have come forward wanting to run in the Primary against ‘Senator Thom’ Tillis,” Trump wrote.
“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.”
Tillis was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2014 and won reelection in 2020.
His decision not to run again opens a competitive Republican primary in North Carolina as the state prepares for the 2026 midterms.
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