Republican senator Thom Tillis says he will not seek re-election next year after US President Donald Trump threatened to back a primary challenger in retribution for Tillis voting against advancing Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” on Saturday night.
Tillis, of North Carolina, made the abrupt announcement one day after he staked out his opposition to Trump’s tax breaks and spending cuts package because of its reductions to healthcare programs. He was one of two Republicans to vote against advancing the massive tax bill, which is forecast to add $US3.3 trillion to the nation’s debt.
Senator Thom Tillis walks to the chamber at the Capitol earlier this month.Credit: AP
“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,” Tillis said in a lengthy statement.
His decision to step down creates a political opportunity for Democrats seeking to bolster their numbers in the 2026 midterm elections, creating a wide-open Senate race in a state that has long been a contested battleground.
It could also make Tillis a wild card in a party where few lawmakers are willing to risk Trump’s wrath by opposing his agenda or actions.
Tillis, who would have been up for a third term, said he was proud of his career in public service but acknowledged the difficult political environment for those who buck their party and go it alone.
AP, Reuters
