RALEIGH, N.C. — Two-term U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis will be stepping away from his post at the end of his term. His decision shared Sunday night means the 2026 Senate race in North Carolina is now wide open.


What You Need To Know

  • U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis will not be seeking reelection

  • His eventual exit will leave a key U.S. Senate seat vacant heading into 2026

  • Tillis says it was a "not a hard choice" to leave his post and spend more time with his family at the end of his term

  • Democratic and Republican challengers are expected to mobilize and drum up support ahead of the primaries next year

Tillis, a former North Carolina speaker of the House, said it was “not a hard choice” to stay out of the race to represent North Carolina beyond 2026.

In his statement Sunday, Tillis said his decision was motivated by his desire to spend time with his family and his displeasure with “partisan gridlock,” criticizing what he says is a lack of “independent thinking” in Washington.

“We owe it to the states to do the work to understand how these proposals affect them,” Tillis said from the Senate floor Sunday. “How hard is that? I did it.”

Tillis’ announcement came a day after he voted against President Donald Trump’s spending package, one of just two Republican senators in opposition.

“Republicans are about to make a mistake on health care and betraying a promise,” Tillis said. “It is inescapable.”

Tillis opposed the legislation on the Senate floor Sunday, saying analysis from Republican, Democrat and independent experts show the proposal would lead to a $26 billion Medicaid cut for North Carolina at minimum.

“I’m telling the president that you have been misinformed,” he said. “You supporting the Senate mark will hurt people who are eligible and qualified for Medicaid.”

After calling Tillis a “complainer” in response to his vote, Trump called Tillis’ announcement “Great news!” in a post on social media.

Tillis responded in a post of his own, encouraging the president not to consider former North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson to replace him.

Meanwhile, former Rep. Wiley Nickel, the only Democrat declared for the Senate race, reacted to the news saying he’s “ready to win.”

“Roy Cooper, what will he decide to do now that he doesn’t have an incumbent to challenge?” asked Michael Bitzer, a political science professor at Catawba College. “A lot of discussion is already potentially around someone like Attorney General Jeff Jackson, who did try to seek a U.S. Senate nomination. We could hear from someone like Kathy Manning who was in the House.”

Tillis will make way for a list of possible Republican candidates.

Lara Trump, Michael Whatley and Dan Bishop are a few of the names on the short list of possible Republicans.

“I think we’re still on the course and the pathway to a highly competitive election,” Bitzer said.

Tillis’ decision could make him a bit of a wild card for the remainder of his term as he’s already shown a willingness to break from Republican colleagues.

“I look forward to having the pure freedom to call the balls and strikes as I see fit,” Tillis said.

Republicans hold a six-seat majority in the Senate, a margin they’ll seek to keep or expand in 2026 as Democratic challengers eye what will be a vacant seat next year.