Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina announced on 29 June 2025 that he will not seek a third term in 2026, ending a Senate career that began in 2015. In a written statement, the 64-year-old said he preferred to spend the coming years with his family rather than endure “another six years navigating the political theatre and partisan gridlock in Washington,” adding that bipartisan, independent voices are becoming “an endangered species.” Tillis’ decision followed his vote a day earlier against advancing President Donald Trump’s sweeping “Big Beautiful Bill,” a tax-and-spending measure that would cut Medicaid and other health programmes. The senator cited the bill’s projected loss of “tens of billions of dollars” for North Carolina hospitals and rural communities. Trump responded on Truth Social by calling Tillis’ stance a “big mistake” and pledged to support a primary challenger, leaving the senator one of only two Republicans to oppose the procedural motion. The surprise retirement turns North Carolina into one of the most closely watched contests of the 2026 midterms and could complicate Republicans’ 53-47 control of the Senate. Possible GOP contenders include Republican National Committee co-chair Lara Trump and state party chair Michael Whatley, while Democrats are urging former governor Roy Cooper to enter the race. Tillis said he will serve the remaining 18 months of his term and “call the balls and strikes” without the distraction of campaigning.