Thom Tillis announces he will not seek reelection

There have been a number of high-profile Republicans who are against President Donald Trump’s “big, beautiful” spending bill, including North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis.

According to The Hill, after Tillis very publicly voiced his opposition to the bill, sparking a firestorm of backlash from President Trump, Tillis sent shockwaves through D.C. when he announced that he would not be seeking another term. 

The news came conveniently in the wake of President Trump threatening to back a primary opponent against Tillis in the next election.

Tillis attempted to downplay the drama behind the announcement, making clear in his statement that he has long voiced his doubt about running a reelection campaign.

What did he say?

Tillis released a statement on Sunday announcing his decision to drop out of the running for another term, giving the familiar “I want to spend time with my family” spiel.

“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 said in a statement.

He added, “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.”

Republican Sen. Thom Tillis said he will not seek reelection next year in battleground North Carolina, saying it’s become “evident” that leaders who embrace bipartisanship and independent thinking “are becoming an endangered species.”

Read more: https://t.co/ifxXzu7Tdu pic.twitter.com/RSNz5ojqOW

— ABC News (@ABC) June 29, 2025

“It’s not a hard choice, and I will not be seeking re-election,” Tillis said.

The North Carolina senator was one of two Republican senators to vote against Trump’s bill over the weekend.

Social media reaction

Users across social media had plenty to say about Tillis’ decision to call it quits.

“He knows without a doubt there’s no chance for reelection,” one X user wrote.

Another X user wrote, “Tillis fails to understand that in DC bipartisanship means accepting what the Democrats want. Democrats never compromise nor are they bipartisan. Kowtowing to them does not mean that they will work with Republicans.”

It’ll be interesting to see who ultimately fills his seat, and hopefully it stays in the GOP’s hands.

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