Senator Thom Tillis announced Sunday afternoon, June 29, that he will not seek re-election in 2026, ending his Senate career less than 24 hours after President Donald Trump publicly attacked him for opposing the administration’s sweeping domestic policy legislation. The North Carolina Republican’s retirement decision came after Trump threatened to support primary challengers against him.
The 64-year-old senator had been privately considering retirement and had given himself until the end of August to make a final decision. However, Trump’s public criticism over the weekend accelerated his timeline. Tillis was one of only two Republicans who voted against advancing Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” during a key procedural vote, joining Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky in opposition.
Trump responded to Tillis’ vote with harsh criticism on Truth Social, calling him a “talker and complainer, NOT A DOER!” The President also indicated that numerous people had approached him about running against Tillis in a primary and that he would meet with potential challengers in the coming weeks. After Tillis announced his retirement, Trump called the news “Great News” on social media.
Tillis explained his decision in a statement, noting that leaders willing to embrace bipartisanship and independent thinking were becoming endangered in Washington. He indicated that many colleagues had noticed over the past year that he had not been excited about running for another term. The senator framed his choice as being between spending six more years navigating political theater in Washington or spending time with his family.
The senator’s opposition to the megabill centered on concerns about Medicaid provisions that he argued would harm North Carolina residents. Tillis had privately warned Republican colleagues during a Senate lunch last week that the bill’s approach to Medicaid would cause him to lose his race. His office published an analysis concluding the legislation could have a $32 billion impact on North Carolina’s healthcare system and threatens coverage for 663,000 Medicaid expansion beneficiaries.
During a fiery floor speech hours after announcing his retirement, Tillis delivered one of the most forceful Republican criticisms of the bill. He attacked what he called “amateurs” advising the president and argued that Trump had been misinformed about the legislation’s impact. Tillis emphasized that the bill would break Trump’s campaign promise not to cut Medicaid.
Trump had personally lobbied Tillis during an 11th-hour phone call on Friday, pressing him to change his position on the bill. Despite this direct pressure from the president, Tillis followed through on his threat to vote against the procedural motion unless the Medicaid language was drastically changed. The bill ultimately was passed with a tie broken by Vice President JD Vance.
Tillis’ retirement immediately sparked speculation about potential successors. Lara Trump, the President’s daughter-in-law and former Republican National Committee co-chair, emerged as a leading possibility, although she has since said she prefers not to run. Trump told reporters that she would “always be my first choice” for the Senate seat. Representatives Pat Harrigan and Tim Moore are also considering bids, along with RNC Chairman Michael Whatley.
On the Democratic side, former Representative Wiley Nickel is already running, but party leaders are hoping former Governor Roy Cooper will enter the race. Cooper, who cannot seek re-election as governor due to term limits, has indicated he will make a decision in the coming weeks. Democratic operatives view the seat as a top pickup opportunity for 2026.
Tillis had been considered one of the most vulnerable Republican senators heading into 2026, representing a purple state that Trump narrowly won in November. The two-term senator previously won close elections in 2014 and 2020. During President Joe Biden’s administration, Tillis had worked across party lines on infrastructure and gun control measures, which drew criticism from conservative activists.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune confirmed that Tillis had given him advance notice of his retirement decision. Thune indicated that Tillis had been considering the move for some time and ultimately decided it was best for him and his family. Republicans will need to defend 22 of the 35 Senate seats up for election in 2026, compared to 13 for Democrats.
The retirement adds Tillis to a growing list of Republican senators who have chosen to exit rather than face primary challenges from Trump-backed candidates. His departure reshapes the battle for Senate control in 2026 and provides Democrats with what they view as their best pickup opportunity outside of Maine, where Senator Susan Collins faces re-election.
