Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) announced Sunday he will not seek reelection in 2026—just one day after President Donald Trump threatened to back a primary challenger over Tillis’ opposition to Trump’s signature “One Big, Beautiful Bill.”
The move marks a sharp reversal from Tillis’ previously stated plans to pursue a third term. In a statement, the North Carolina senator lamented the decline of “bipartisanship” in Washington and said he would rather spend time with his family than navigate “political theatre and partisan gridlock.”
But the political backdrop tells a different story.
Tillis was one of just two Republicans to vote against advancing Trump’s sweeping legislative package on Saturday. The bill—packed with tax cuts, energy investments, and border security funding—passed despite his objections, with Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) casting the other GOP “no” vote.
Trump immediately pounced.
“Numerous people have come forward wanting to run in the Primary against ‘Senator Thom’ Tillis,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “I will be meeting with them over the coming weeks, looking for someone who will properly represent the Great People of North Carolina.”
Trump also torched Tillis over his absence during recent disaster recovery efforts in the state, saying he was “missing in action” while the Trump administration secured emergency aid and national attention for flood victims.
“I can’t believe that the Great People of North Carolina… will allow one of their Senators to GRANDSTAND in order to get some publicity for himself,” Trump said.
Faced with the prospect of a Trump-endorsed primary challenger and plummeting grassroots support, Tillis quickly folded.
While insisting the decision was personal, Tillis admitted he hadn’t been enthusiastic about another run. “Many of my colleagues have noticed… I haven’t exactly been excited about running for another term,” he said.
Tillis, who was first elected in 2014, now becomes the latest establishment Republican to fall out of favor with the MAGA base. He plans to finish out the remainder of his term, which ends in January 2027.
Trump is also actively targeting other dissenters, including Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY), who opposed the president’s Iran strike and the “Big, Beautiful Bill.” With Trump reshaping the GOP in real time, the message is clear: fall in line or fall out.