Topline
Sen. Thom Tillis, the North Carolina Republican who broke with his party to vote against advancing the spending bill promoted by President Donald Trump, announced he would not run for reelection in 2026.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said he will not run for reelection in 2026.
Tillis opposed the bill for the extensive cuts to Medicaid, telling voters in a statement released Saturday “we can and must accomplish this without hurting our rural communities and hospitals, and without jeopardizing access to care for hundreds of thousands of North Carolinians who need it the most.”
Tillis was one of two Republicans to break with the party to vote against advancing the bill, alongside Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul.
Trump lashed out at Tillis after his opposition, calling his vote against the bill a “BIG MISTAKE” and announcing he would meet with candidates to oppose Tillis in a future election.
In a statement released Sunday, Tillis said he wanted to spend more time with his family and was not looking forward to running for a third term. “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.”