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Senator Thom Tillis has announced he will not seek reelection in 2026 following a vow from President Donald Trump to support a primary challenger against him over his opposition to the “Big Beautiful Bill.”

Some shit you should know before you read: Over the weekend, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) voted against advancing the Senate version of the GOP’s Big Beautiful Bill over concerns about its impact on Medicaid funding in North Carolina. In a statement, Tillis said the bill would result in “tens of billions of dollars in lost funding” for the state, jeopardizing hospitals, rural communities, and coverage for hundreds of thousands of residents who rely on Medicaid. He warned that the state cuts would force North Carolina to make painful decisions, such as reducing critical services or stripping coverage entirely.

What’s going on now: In a notable development, Senator Tillis announced he would not seek reelection in 2026, a day after President Trump vowed to support a primary challenger against him. In a statement, Tillis said, “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. That is true since the choice is between spending another six years navigating the political theatre and partisan gridlock in Washington or spending that time with the love of my life Susan, our two children, three beautiful grandchildren, and the rest of our extended family back home. It’s not a hard choice, and I will not be seeking reelection.”

The senator’s announcement followed Trump unleashing a series of posts on Truth Social after Tillis opposed the Senate version of the bill, calling him “a talker and complainer, NOT A DOER!” He added, “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.”

In a separate post, Trump added, “Thom Tillis has hurt the great people of North Carolina. Even on the catastrophic flooding, nothing was done to help until I took office. Then a MIRACLE took place!”