U.S. Senator Thom Tillis Will Not Seek Reelection in 2026

U.S. Senator Thom Tillis has announced he will not run for another term in 2026. Reflecting on his journey, Tillis said it has been “a blessing to go on a journey from living in a trailer park and making minimum wage as a young man to having the honor of serving as U.S. Senator for North Carolina.”

He noted key bipartisan accomplishments, including:

• Leading efforts as NC House Speaker to pass the first-in-the-nation eugenics compensation program.

• Working across the aisle in the U.S. Senate to help secure the largest mental health investment in U.S. history, the Respect for Marriage Act, bipartisan infrastructure funding, and reestablishing the NATO Observer Group.

Tillis acknowledged the political costs of bipartisanship:

“Sometimes those bipartisan initiatives got me into trouble with my own party, but I wouldn’t have changed a single one.”

He offered a sharp critique of the current political landscape:

“In Washington over the last few years, it’s become increasingly evident that leaders who are willing to embrace bipartisanship, compromise, and demonstrate independent thinking are becoming an endangered species.”
“It underscores the greatest form of hypocrisy in American politics. When people see independent thinking on the other side, they cheer. But when those very same people see independent thinking coming from their side, they scorn, ostracize, and even censure them.”

Tillis went further, calling out elected officials who he says prioritize partisanship over real governance:

“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… After they get elected, they don’t bother to do the hard work to research the policies they seek to implement and understand the consequences those policies could have on that young adult living in a trailer park, struggling to make ends meet.”

Citing his desire to spend more time with his wife Susan, their children, and grandchildren, Tillis said that continuing to navigate political theater in Washington simply isn’t worth it:

“It’s not a hard choice, and I will not be seeking re-election.”

He concluded by reaffirming his commitment to finish out his term with full focus on delivering results, free from the distraction of campaigning or fundraising.

📰 Read more: Charlotte Observer coverage of Tillis' announcement

📌 Looking Ahead: The GCAA will be closely monitoring the upcoming U.S. Senate race in North Carolina as candidates begin to announce. Housing, infrastructure, and economic development are key federal issues, and we will keep members informed of policy positions that could impact the multifamily industry.