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Republican Sen. Thom Tillis said he won't seek reelection after opposing President Donald Trump's major new tax and spending bill, which advanced in the Republican-controlled Senate Saturday night.


Sen. Thom Tillis says he won't seek reelection after opposing Trump's tax bill 

Now breaking news from WREL coverage you can count on. And we want to get you right to that breaking news here at 6 o'clock. North Carolina senior US Senator Tom Tillis says he will not seek re-election. Thank you for joining us. I'm Eric Miller. This comes after the Republican voted against President Donald Trump's tax and spending bill, which advanced in the Senate. Last night we're bringing you team coverage tonight. We've got reaction from both sides of the aisle in the WRIL Live Center, but first, let's get to WRAL's Heidi Kirk who joins us live from the senator's Raleigh office. Heidi Tillis has been a well-known figure in state politics for a long time. Eric, that is right. Senator Tillis has had a long career with the North Carolina's General Assembly, including spending time as the Speaker of the House, and now he's on his second term as a US senator, where he's known for making deals across the aisle, and now his tenure has come to an end. In a statement, Tillis said this, quote, as many of my colleagues have noticed over the last year and at times even joked about, I haven't exactly been excited about running for another term. He goes on to say, quote, It's not a hard choice, and I will not be seeking re-election. Tillis's announcement came after the senator opposed what's known as Trump's big beautiful bill. That bill would cut taxes on wages and tips while increasing. Spending on many of the president's priorities, Tillis said Saturday he wouldn't support the bill, citing changes to Medicaid. He also said slashing the chips A would be devastating to North Carolina. Tillis' decision leaves an empty seat in the Senate. Political analyst David McLennan says it will be something to watch. We'll be hearing a lot about the North Carolina Senate seat. Both parties will be trying out candidates. So it'll be an opportunity for North Carolinians to get to know some new candidates. Tillis was already facing primary challengers, including businessman Andy Nielsson and Dan Brown, a former congressional candidate. On the Democratic side, Wiley Nickel announced that he's running for the 2026 Senate seat. Former Governor Roy Cooper is said to have been considering that seat. Well, it'll be something North Carolina voters will also be watching. I'm definitely wondering if whoever fills Tillis's role in North Carolina would be more likely to continue on in this fashion, or if it would be someone who would be more willing to stick to the mainstream Republican line or if it's someone who is looking towards a more bipartisan, you know, stance. A big shakeup in state politics, one that many will have their eyes on. Now of course it's important to note that Tillis's term will end at the end of 2026 and of course McClellan and other political analysts say that he could be a wild card now in the Senate, of course, something to watch in the months to come. Heidi Kirk, WRL News live in Raleigh. Heidi, thank you. And one of the candidates Heidi mentioned is former US Representative Wiley Nicol. We heard from Nicol earlier today. WRL's Megan Glover joins us now in the Live center with what he's saying and more reaction. Thank you Eric WREL spoke to Nicol just before we got on air and he says he's ready to flip a seat again. Now he also shared this on X. Take a look. Simply put, Tom Tillis is out. I'm the only Democrat in this race and I'm ready to win. Speaking of North Carolina Democrats, North Carolina Democratic Party chair Anderson Clayton shared this statement. Tom Tills spent years putting DC Republicans and corporate donors ahead of the people of North Carolina, and voters noticed. We look forward. To next November when North Carolinians will finally elect a senator that will actually fight for North Carolina. Moving on to reaction from NC GOP Chairman Jason Simmons, he says as we move forward into the midterms, we will hold the seat for Republicans in 2026, making mention of President Trump's America first priorities. And we end with President Trump. He said on Truth Social, great news. Senator Tom Tillis will not be seeking re-election. No word yet from Senator Ted Budd. We'll share any update from him when we get it. Back to you.

Sen. Thom Tillis

Sen. Thom Tillis not seeking reelection after opposing Trump's tax bill

Senator Thom Tillis, R-NC

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WRAL's Opinion section was launched in 2016 by Capitol Broadcasting Company to raise awareness of important statewide issues, fostering meaningful discussions and encouraging civic engagement to drive positive change for North Carolinians. As part of this initiative, Dennis Draughon has served as the company's editorial cartoonist since 2017, bringing sharp visual commentary to the platform. 

With a 38-year career that began at the former Raleigh Times, Draughon has also contributed to The Scranton Times-Tribune, The Durham News, The Fayetteville Observer and The (N.C.) Insider. His work has earned him several prestigious awards, including the 1993 Fischetti Award for Distinguished Achievement in editorial cartoons and the 1999 Golden Spike Award from the American Association of Editorial Cartoonists. More recently, he received Editor & Publisher Magazine's EPPY Award for best editorial/political cartoons, recognizing his impact in the digital news landscape. 

Through his work, Draughon continues to provide insightful and thought-provoking illustrations that enrich WRAL's Opinion section and engage readers across North Carolina.

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