Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) announced Sunday he will not seek reelection following his high-profile opposition to President Donald Trump’s signature legislative package.
The veteran lawmaker’s decision comes just days after he publicly rejected Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill” over concerns about Medicaid funding cuts that would impact his home state.
Tillis released his retirement statement Sunday, emphasizing his pride in decades of public service while defending his record of bipartisan cooperation.
He specifically highlighted achievements he considers career-defining moments, including his work on eugenics compensation legislation and mental health investments.
“I am most proud of my bipartisan victories such as passing the first-in-the-nation eugenics compensation as Speaker, and working across the aisle in the Senate to pass the largest investment in mental health” in United States history, Tillis stated.
The outgoing senator notably acknowledged that his willingness to work with Democrats has created friction within his own party ranks.
Tillis admitted that “sometimes those bipartisan initiatives got” him in trouble with fellow Republicans who preferred more partisan approaches to governance.
The North Carolina Republican painted a picture of a Senate where moderate voices willing to compromise have become increasingly rare and unwelcome.
“In Washington over the last few years, it’s been