Republican Senator Tillis won't seek reelection in 2026 following his vote against Trump's bill, criticizing Washington's partisan politics and its scorn for independent thinkers.

North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis' surprise retirement announcement over the weekend creates a sudden opening in next year’s midterm elections, setting off a scramble of successor speculation that includes both a former Democratic governor and a Trump other than the one who ultimately nudged Tillis into leaving.