Sen. Tom Tillis Announces He Will Not Seek Reelection

Senator Tom Tillis (R-NC) revealed that he won’t be running for reelection, citing his opposition to President Donald Trump’s significant bill, which included Medicaid cuts, as a key reason.

In a statement shared on Sunday, Tillis expressed his “pride” in his public service career. He mentioned that among his achievements in U.S. history, he feels “most proud” of a bipartisan victory, notably his work in passing domestic eugenics compensation as a speaker and collaborating across party lines to secure the Senate’s largest investment in mental health.

Tillis acknowledged that “sometimes these bipartisan initiatives have been successful.”

He noted, “In recent years, it has become quite evident that Washington leaders are willing to accept bipartisanship and compromise, yet independent thinking seems to be fading away.”

Continuing, he remarked that “Democrats have recently lost two such leaders who aimed to improve the Senate’s functionality and productivity. They accomplished great things but were overlooked after they chose not to give party leaders the chance to turn the filibuster into a tool for political gain.”

Tillis expressed gratitude to his friends in the Senate and mentioned he is looking forward to serving North Carolina during the next 18 months.

According to reports, Tillis expressed that he had “done his homework for the North Carolinians” and could not back the major bill “in its current state.”

“I’ve taken the time to understand the needs of North Carolinians, but I can’t support this bill as it stands,” he said. “It would lead to tens of millions of dollars in loss for the state, affecting hospitals and rural areas, which means tough decisions ahead, including the elimination of Medicaid coverage for hundreds of thousands and the reduction of essential services for traditional Medicaid beneficiaries.”

In reaction, Trump communicated through a post, criticizing Tillis and suggesting that he was seeking publicity. Trump remarked, “It seems Sen. Tom Tillis, as always, wants to claim he’s offering a 68% tax cut, parallel to America’s largest tax cut, while simultaneously missing the significance of the debt extension he agreed to with Democrats before the upcoming election.”

In another post, Trump mentioned that “many individuals wanted to challenge Senator Tom Tillis in the primaries.” He added, “I will be meeting with them in the coming weeks to find candidates who will truly represent the great people of North Carolina and, importantly, the United States.”