Senator Thom Tillis Announces He Will Not Seek Re-Election in 2026

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff   

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering the USA

---

Image Source: Francis Chung

Senator Thom Tillis, a two-term Republican from North Carolina, announced on Sunday that he will not seek re-election in 2026, signaling the end of a notable Senate career marked by moments of bipartisanship and occasional breaks with party leadership.

Tillis, who was widely expected to face a challenging re-election campaign in what analysts considered one of the most competitive Senate races of the 2026 cycle, made the decision public shortly after voting against advancing a procedural measure tied to former President Donald Trump’s flagship legislative proposal.

Following his vote, Tillis drew the ire of Trump, who launched a series of scathing social media attacks aimed at the senator, further underscoring the tension between the former president and several moderate voices within the GOP.

In a formal statement, Tillis reflected on his time in Congress and the shifting dynamics of national politics. “In Washington over the last few years, it’s become increasingly evident that leaders who are willing to embrace bipartisanship, compromise, and demonstrate independent thinking are becoming an endangered species,” he said.

The senator acknowledged that his enthusiasm for seeking another term had waned over time. “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 continued. “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.”

Tillis’s decision opens the door to a potentially contentious GOP primary and a wide-open general election in a battleground state that has seen increasingly competitive races in recent years. Political observers will be watching closely to see which candidates emerge to fill the vacuum left by his departure.

First elected in 2014, Tillis built a reputation as a pragmatic conservative, at times frustrating hardliners within his party by supporting immigration reform, gun safety legislation, and bipartisan infrastructure efforts. His departure is expected to reshape the political landscape in North Carolina and adds to the list of high-profile Senate retirements ahead of the 2026 election.