Internewscast Journal
  • Home
  • US News
  • Local News
  • Health
  • People
  • Guest Post
  • Support Our Cause
Internewscast Journal
  • Home
  • US News
  • Local News
  • Health
  • People
  • Guest Post
  • Support Our Cause
Home Local news Republican Sen. Thom Tillis Announces He Won’t Seek Re-election in 2026 After Opposing Trump’s Bill
  • Local news

Republican Sen. Thom Tillis Announces He Won’t Seek Re-election in 2026 After Opposing Trump’s Bill

    Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina won't run in 2026 after opposing Trump's bill
    Up next
    Pay boost for millions of Australians arrives tomorrow
    Millions of Australians to Receive Salary Increase Starting Tomorrow
    Published on 29 June 2025
    Author
    Internewscast
    Tags
    • After,
    • bill,
    • carolina,
    • Donald Trump,
    • Elections,
    • North,
    • opposing,
    • Politics,
    • Republican,
    • Run,
    • Sen,
    • Thom,
    • Thom Tillis,
    • Tillis,
    • Trump039s,
    • Washington news,
    • won039t
    Share this @internewscast.com
    FacebookXRedditPinterest

    WASHINGTON – Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina announced on Sunday that he will not be running for reelection next year. This sudden decision follows his recent opposition to President Donald Trump’s package of tax cuts and spending reductions due to its impact on health care programs.

    This development opens up a significant political opportunity for Democrats aiming to increase their representation in the 2026 midterm elections, as it leaves a competitive Senate seat in a key battleground state. It might also position Tillis as a wildcard in the Republican Party, where many are hesitant to go against Trump’s policies. Previously, Trump had already hinted at a primary challenge against him and expressed approval of Tillis’ announcement by stating it was “Great News!”

    “In recent years, it’s become more apparent in Washington that leaders willing to work across party lines, find compromise, and showcase independent thought are becoming rare,” Tillis explained in a detailed statement.

    Tillis 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.

    “I look forward to having the pure freedom to call the balls and strikes as I see fit and representing the great people of North Carolina to the best of my ability,” Tillis said in a statement.

    Republicans hold a 53-47 edge in the Senate.

    Trump, in social posts, had berated Tillis for being one of two Republican senators who voted on Saturday night against advancing the massive tax bill.

    The Republican president accused Tillis of seeking publicity with his “no” vote and threatened to campaign against him, accusing the senator of doing nothing to help his constituents after last year’s devastating floods in western North Carolina from Hurricane Helene.

    “Tillis is a talker and complainer, NOT A DOER,” Trump wrote.

    The announcement from the two-term senator surprised senior Republicans with its timing, but not necessarily the substance. Tillis had planned to announce his reelection plans later this year, likely September at the latest, but had been heavily leaning in favor of retiring, according to a person close to the senator.

    In the hours before his announcement, Tillis was weighing two questions: whether Trump and the White House would give him freedom to campaign with some independence, and whether Tillis would have the full protection of Senate Republican leaders, said the person, who was granted anonymity to discuss internal dynamics.

    The GOP leadership’s decision to forge ahead with cuts to Medicaid that Tillis repeatedly warned would devastate North Carolina, and the president’s Truth Social post calling for a primary challenger to the senator made it clear to him that the answers to those two questions were no.

    Tillis then decided he would announce his retirement, with the thinking that it would remove any ambiguity whether he would flip his opposition to the GOP’s sweeping tax bill.

    The North Carolina Republican Party chairman, Jason Simmons, said the party wishes Tillis well and “will hold this seat for Republicans in 2026.” Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, the chairman of the campaign arm for Senate Republicans, did not mention Tillis in a statement but said the party’s winning streak in North Carolina will continue. Scott noted that Trump won the state three times.

    Democrats expressed confidence about their prospects.

    Former Rep. Wiley Nickel, who announced his candidacy in April, said he was ready for any Republican challenger.

    “I’ve flipped a tough seat before and we’re going to do it again,” Nickel said in a statement.

    Some said Tillis’ decision is another sign of the dramatic transformation of the Republican Party under Trump, with few lawmakers critical of the president or his agenda remaining in office.

    It “proves there is no space within the Republican Party to dissent over taking health care away from 11.8 million people,” said Lauren French, spokesperson for the Senate Majority PAC, a political committee aligned with the chamber’s Democratic members.

    Tillis rose to prominence in North Carolina when, as a second-term state House member, he quit his IBM consultant job and led the GOP’s recruitment and fundraising efforts in the chamber for the 2010 elections. Republicans won majorities in the House and Senate for the first time in 140 years.

    Tillis was later elected as state House speaker and helped enact conservative policies on taxes, gun rights, regulations and abortion while serving in the role for four years. He also helped push a state constitutional referendum to ban gay marriage, which was approved by voters in 2012 but was ultimately struck down by the courts as unconstitutional.

    In 2014, Tillis helped flip control of the U.S. Senate to the GOP after narrowly defeating Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan. During his more than a decade in office, he championed issues such as mental health and substance abuse recovery, Medicaid expansion and support for veterans.

    As a more moderate Republican, Tillis became known for his willingness to work across the aisle on some issues. That got him into trouble with his party at times, most notably in 2023 when North Carolina Republicans voted to censure him over several matters, including his challenges to certain immigration policies and his gun policy record.

    “Sometimes those bipartisan initiatives got me into trouble with my own party,” Tillis said, “but I wouldn’t have changed a single one.”

    ___

    Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro and Joey Cappelletti in Washington and Makiya Seminera in Raleigh, North Carolina, contributed to this report.

    Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

    Share this @internewscast.com
    FacebookXRedditPinterest
    You May Also Like
    Austin Fire Chief defends response after accusations of delaying help for Kerr County flooding
    • Local news

    Austin Fire Chief Addresses Concerns Over Response Time in Kerr County Flooding Accusations

    AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Austin Fire Chief insists his department is doing…
    • Internewscast
    • July 9, 2025
    Raskin demands release of any Epstein files mentioning Trump, Jack Smith report
    • Local news

    Raskin Urges Release of Epstein Records Involving Trump, Highlights New Jack Smith Report

    Democratic members of the House Judiciary Committee called on the Department of…
    • Internewscast
    • July 9, 2025
    California rejects Trump demand to ban trans athletes
    • Local news

    California Denies Trump’s Request to Prohibit Transgender Athletes

    California education officials have formally rejected the Trump administration’s demand to bar…
    • Internewscast
    • July 8, 2025
    Chanel marks 110 years by recreating its couture salon in a palace as Blazy era approaches
    • Local news

    Chanel Celebrates 110 Years by Reimagining Its Couture Salon in a Palace Ahead of the Blazy Era

    PARIS – Only Chanel would call its legendary Rue Cambon salon “too…
    • Internewscast
    • July 8, 2025
    Child hospitalized after falling 6 floors from converted hotel
    • Local news

    Child Injured After 6-Story Fall from Converted Hotel

    Editor’s note: The location was described by officials as a hotel, but…
    • Internewscast
    • July 8, 2025
    New Israeli report says Hamas used sexual violence as a 'weapon of war' in Oct. 7 attack
    • Local news

    Israeli Report Claims Hamas Employed Sexual Violence as a ‘Weapon of War’ in October 7 Attack

    Freshly unveiled interviews and documentation further affirm that during the October 7,…
    • Internewscast
    • July 8, 2025
    Timeline raises questions over how Texas officials handled warnings before the deadly July 4 flood
    • Local news

    How Texas Officials Managed Warnings Prior to the Deadly July 4 Flood: A Timeline Analysis

    Authorities in Texas are under increasing scrutiny regarding their efforts to evacuate…
    • Internewscast
    • July 9, 2025
    Shaking up Shakespeare: a different take on the Bard
    • Local news

    Rethinking Shakespeare: A Fresh Perspective on the Bard

    SAVANNAH, Ga. () — The Assembly of Phantasms (TAOP) is a performance…
    • Internewscast
    • July 8, 2025
    Court grants preliminary approval in Carle Health timekeeping settlement
    • Local news

    Preliminary Approval Granted by Court in Carle Health Timekeeping Settlement

    The Court has approved a plaintiff’s motion in a settlement case concerning…
    • Internewscast
    • July 9, 2025
    Troops and federal agents briefly descend on LA's MacArthur Park in largely immigrant neighborhood
    • Local news

    Military and Federal Agents Make Short Visit to LA’s MacArthur Park in Predominantly Immigrant Area

    LOS ANGELES — On Monday, federal officers and National Guard troops were…
    • Internewscast
    • July 8, 2025
    Trump's tariffs may cast a pall over Rubio's first official trip to Asia
    • Local news

    Trump’s Tariffs Could Overshadow Rubio’s First Official Asia Trip

    WASHINGTON – With plans in motion for President Donald Trump to implement…
    • Internewscast
    • July 9, 2025
    Schumer warns package to claw back funding would 'poison' annual spending talks
    • Local news

    Schumer Cautions Against Funding Rollback Proposal, Citing Potential Harm to Budget Negotiations

    Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) warned in a “Dear Colleague” letter…
    • Internewscast
    • July 9, 2025
    ICE agents targeted in 2 ambush attacks in recent days
    • US

    ICE Agents Face Two Recent Ambush Attacks

    U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and other federal law enforcement…
    • Internewscast
    • July 9, 2025
    Amazon drops price of 'powerhouse' fan to less than £25 in time for UK heatwave
    • Health

    Amazon Slashes Price on Top-Rated Fan to Under £25 Ahead of UK Heatwave

    With temperatures climbing across the UK and homes getting noticeably stuffier, many…
    • Internewscast
    • July 9, 2025
    Trump says US must send more weapons to Ukraine, days after ordering pause
    • Local news

    Trump Urges Increased US Weapon Support for Ukraine Following Recent Pause

    WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump said Monday the U.S. will have to…
    • Internewscast
    • July 9, 2025
    Searchers in helicopters and on horseback scour Texas flood debris for the missing
    • Local news

    Helicopter and Horseback Teams Search Texas Flood Debris for Missing People

    HUNT, Texas – As the search operation continued on Wednesday in Texas,…
    • Internewscast
    • July 9, 2025
    Internewscast Journal
    • Home
    • Privacy Policy
    • DMCA Notice
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Guest Post
    • Support Our Cause
    Copyright 2023. All Right Reserverd.