Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina said on Sunday that he will not run for re-election next year. His announcement came just one day after he voted against Donald Trump’s tax and spending bill, saying it would cut essential health care funding.

Tillis’s exit opens up a key Senate seat in North Carolina, a battleground state that could help shape the outcome of the 2026 midterm elections. His decision also highlights the growing divide within the Republican Party, especially for lawmakers who don’t fully back Trump’s agenda.

Trump Responds to Tillis’s Exit

US President Trump, who had already threatened to support a primary challenger against Tillis, celebrated the decision. On social media, Trump posted that Tillis’s retirement was “great news!”

Trump had earlier accused Tillis of opposing the tax bill “just to get publicity” and said he “failed to help” flood victims in western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene. In another post, Trump wrote, “Tillis is a talker and complainer, NOT A DOER.”

Tillis Criticizes Political Climate

In his statement, Tillis said that “leaders who support bipartisanship and independent thinking are becoming rare” in Washington. He admitted that it’s tough for politicians who don’t always follow their party’s line and said he is “proud of my public service.”

Tillis added, “I look forward to having the freedom to speak my mind and serve the people of North Carolina as best I can.”

Pressure from GOP, Trump Influenced His Decision

Sources familiar with Tillis’s thinking said he had planned to announce his decision later this year. However, the pressure from Trump and GOP leaders accelerated his timeline.

Tillis had asked whether he could campaign independently of Trump and whether he would have the backing of Senate Republicans. According to insiders, “the answer to both was no.”

After realizing that GOP leaders planned to cut Medicaid, a move he believes would “hurt North Carolina,” and facing a possible primary challenge, Tillis chose to step aside rather than reverse his vote or continue under mounting pressure.

Republicans Aim to Keep the Seat

North Carolina Republican Party Chairman Jason Simmons said the party respects Tillis’s decision and added, “We’re committed to keeping this seat in Republican hands.”

Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, who leads the GOP’s Senate campaign arm, didn’t mention Tillis directly but said Republicans would “keep winning in North Carolina,” pointing out that Trump has carried the state three times.

Democrats See a New Opportunity

Democratic candidate Wiley Nickel, a former Republican who announced his Senate run in April, reacted quickly. “I’ve flipped a tough seat before, and we’re going to do it again,” he said.

Democrats say Tillis’s departure proves that moderate Republicans no longer have a place in a party dominated by Trump. Lauren French, a spokesperson for the Senate Majority PAC, said, “This proves there’s no space in the Republican Party for anyone who opposes taking health care away from 11.8 million people.”

Tillis’s Rise in Politics

Tillis began his political journey as a second-term state House member in North Carolina. He left his job at IBM in 2010 to help Republicans take control of the state legislature for the first time in 140 years.

Later, he became speaker of the House and passed several conservative laws on taxes, abortion, gun rights, and government regulation. He also backed a 2012 constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, which courts later overturned.

In 2014, he won a U.S. Senate seat by narrowly defeating Democrat Kay Hagan. Throughout his time in office, he focused on mental health, substance abuse, Medicaid expansion, and veterans’ support. He earned a reputation as a moderate Republican who sometimes worked with Democrats.