GOP Senator Thom Tillis has announced he will not seek re-election after President Donald Trump lambasted him for refusing to support the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
The North Carolina senator refused to join Senate Republicans in advancing the bill, which was narrowly voted through to the “Vote-a-Rama” stage in a 51-49 vote late Saturday.
Highlights
- Senator Thom Tillis will not seek re-election after refusing to support the One Big Beautiful Bill, citing Medicaid changes harmful to North Carolina.
- Tillis and Rand Paul were the only Republicans opposed to advancing the bill, which passed narrowly in the Senate and entered a marathon Vote-a-Rama session.
- Tillis criticized the bill for risking tens of billions in lost Medicaid funding, impacting hospitals and rural communities in his state.
The marathon session in the Senate is currently underway, with lawmakers debating an unlimited number of amendments and voting through the night.
Thom Tillis will not seek re-election after refusing to support the One Big Beautiful Bill
Image credits: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
Tillis and fellow Senator Rand Paul were the only two Republicans to vote against advancing the bill.
Trump was quick to attack them both on social media and later said he would be meeting people who wanted to replace Tillis before he announced he would not seek re-election.
Tillis said he could not support the bill due to significant changes to Medicaid, which would be “devastating” to North Carolina.
“I did my homework on behalf of North Carolinians, and I cannot support this bill in its current form,” he said in a statement.
Image credits: The White House
“It would result in tens of billions of dollars in lost funding for North Carolina, including our hospitals and rural communities.
“This will force the state to make painful decisions like eliminating Medicaid coverage for hundreds of thousands in the expansion population, and even reducing critical services for those in the traditional Medicaid population.”
Tillis urged the Senate to “return to the House’s Medicaid approach” and praised other aspects of the bill, such as the extension of Trump’s 2017 tax cuts.
Hitting back at the statement, Trump posted on Truth Social saying Tillis was making a “big mistake” for America and the people of North Carolina.
“North Carolina will not allow one of their Senators to GRANDSTAND in order to get some publicity for himself, for a possible, but very difficult Re-Election,” he added.
In a follow-up post, Trump wrote: “Numerous people have come forward wanting to run in the Primary against ‘Senator Thom’ Tillis.
“I will be meeting with them over the coming weeks, looking for someone who will properly represent the Great People of North Carolina and, so importantly, the United States of America.”
The One Big Beautiful Bill is a sweeping legislative package and a broad overhaul of tax, healthcare, and immigration policy.
It would extend Trump-era tax cuts, tighten Medicaid eligibility, and limit federal funding for gender-affirming care and abortion services.
Trump said it was great news Tillis was not seeking re-election
Image credits: Joe Raedle/Getty Images
While boosting defense and border security spending, the plan is projected to add about $3.8 trillion to the federal deficit over the next decade.
After Trump’s attacks, Tillis announced he would not be seeking re-election and looked forward to spending his next 18 months serving North Carolina.
He said that over the past year, many of his colleagues have joked about how he did not seem excited about running for another term.
Image credits: Donald J Trump
In a lengthy post, Tillis went on to describe the “hypocrisy” and problems in American politics, concluding that this made it an easy choice for him not to seek re-election.
“Too many elected officials are motivated by pure raw politics who really don’t give a damn about the people they promised to represent on the campaign trail,” he said on X.
“After they get elected, they don’t bother to do the hard work to research the policies they implement and understand the consequences those policies could have on that young adult living in a trailer park, struggling to make ends meet.”
“I look forward to solely focusing on producing meaningful results without the distraction of raising money or campaigning for another election,” he added.
“I look forward to having the pure freedom to call the balls and strikes as I see fit and representing the great people of North Carolina to the best of my ability.”
Image credits: Donald J Trump
Trump responded to the announcement on Truth Social by writing it was “great news.”
It has now been reported that Trump’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, is “taking a strong look” at running for Tillis’ seat and will have her family’s support if she does, Politico reports.
Trump has imposed a July 4 deadline for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to be back on his desk.
If it passes the “Vote-a-Rama” in the Senate, which is expected, it must return to the House for revisions to be approved.
It will then need Trump’s signature before it becomes law.