North Carolina GOP Senator Thom Tillis shocked Washington by announcing he will not seek re-election, following a dramatic break-up with former President Donald Trump. His opposition to Trump's signature tax-and-spending legislation, the much-touted "One Big Beautiful Bill" (OBBBA), prompted a vicious intra-party fight and put Tillis firmly in the national limelight.
/*Background and Political Rise*/
A former state House Speaker, Tillis captured a U.S. Senate seat in 2014 by defeating Kay Hagan and re-election in 2020 by defeating Cal Cunningham. A pragmatic dealmaker who occasionally voted along party lines, a position which had its fans and critics. With the slim GOP majority of 53–47, his seat was largely considered vulnerable for a while. His record kept piling up on efforts to modernize North Carolina's economy and healthcare system, until now.
/*Why He's in the News*/
On June 28, 2025, Tillis was one of three Republicans who voted against advancing OBBBA in the Senate. He warned the bill would have a "devastating" effect on North Carolina, citing tens of billions of dollars in cuts to Medicaid, rural hospitals, and social programs. He stated, "I will always do what is in the best interest of North Carolina, even when that puts me at odds with my party."
/*Trump Confrontation and Decision to Leave*/
Trump was quick to react on Truth Social, calling Tillis a "talker and complainer, NOT A DOER", and warning he'd back a primary challenger. Over the weekend, and officially on June 29, 2025, following mounting pressure and a sense that independent Senate leadership was no longer acceptable, Tillis announced that he would not run for another term in 2026. His statement lamented that independent thinking in DC is now "an endangered species."
/*What Is the "Big Beautiful Bill"*/
The OBBBA, which passed the House on May 22, 2025, pairs tax cuts on wages, tips, and small businesses with profound reductions in Medicaid, food stamps, and social programs. It also increases defense spending and debt limit borrowing authority by up to $5 trillion. The Congressional Budget Office pegs the deficit impact at between $2.4 and $2.8 trillion by 2034, with a loss of health coverage for approximately 10.9 million Americans; an estimate Tillis cited repeatedly in voting against it.
/*Impact and Broader Implications*/
The resignation of Tillis has Republicans scrambling in an attempt to retain his seat in the swing state of North Carolina. Moderate Republican senators, including Susan Collins and Josh Hawley, also expressed concerns, citing the shuttering of hospitals and the elimination of rural funding. Democrats argue the bill exacerbates inequality: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called it a "tax giveaway to billionaires." Senate Majority Leader John Thune committed to meeting Trump's July 4 deadline by revising the bill, though several key components face procedural obstacles.