DNC chair: Sen. Thom Tillis is retiring because he can't defend 'big, beautiful bill' to voters

The head of the Democratic National Committee said Monday that North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis decided against running for reelection because he does not want to defend President Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” in the 2026 midterms.

DNC Chair Ken Martin said Mr. Trump’s signature bill, which is making its way through the Senate, rips health care away from seniors and eliminates food assistance for children to pay for tax cuts for billionaires.

“Now Tillis isn’t even running because he saw how extreme this bill was and refused to stand by and support it, which earned him the wrath of Donald Trump,” Mr. Martin said in a conference call with reporters. “Well, we have bipartisan agreement there. Democrats have been laser-focused on communicating the stakes of this budget fight to the American people.”

Republicans accuse Democrats of fearmongering over cost-saving tweaks to Medicaid and food stamps in the legislation, which would stop one of the largest tax increases in modern U.S. history by stopping the 2017 Trump tax cuts from expiring at the end of the year.

Mr. Martin also said Mr. Tillis’ retirement gives Democrats an “excellent opportunity” to flip his seat.

Mr. Tillis, who was one of the most at-risk Senate Republicans in next year’s elections, announced Sunday he would not run for reelection.

The decision came after he voted against kickstarting the debate on Mr. Trump’s signature economic plan over concerns that the changes the bill makes to Medicaid would be “devastating to North Carolina.”

Mr. Trump responded by threatening to support a primary challenger against him. The president celebrated after Mr. Tillis announced his retirement at the end of his term.

“Great News! ’Senator’ Thom Tillis will not be seeking reelection,” Mr. Trump said.