In a surprising turn of events, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) has announced his retirement while simultaneously voicing strong opposition to a budget bill supported by his party and President Donald Trump. His main criticism targets the bill’s potential impact on health care coverage for millions.
Senator Tillis has particularly condemned the proposed reductions to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA), warning that these cuts might lead to a loss of health insurance for up to 11.8 million Americans.
During a passionate speech on the Senate floor, Tillis addressed President Trump, saying, “I am telling the president that you have been misinformed. You supporting the Senate [bill] will hurt people who are eligible and qualified for Medicaid.”
The contentious bill, dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, aims to reduce discretionary spending significantly, directing those funds towards tax cuts for wealthy individuals and large corporations. It proposes key changes to health care, such as stricter work requirements for Medicaid, restrictions on state funding for Medicaid, and the expiration of tax credits that help individuals purchase private health insurance.
Tillis, who was one of only two Republican senators to oppose advancing the bill, declared his intention not to seek reelection just a day after the vote. This decision seems largely influenced by the political repercussions he foresees if the bill is enacted.
Currently, about 3 million residents of North Carolina are beneficiaries of Medicaid. President Trump has previously assured, multiple times, that he would not endorse cuts to this program.
In response to the potential impact of these cuts, Tillis questioned, “What do I tell 663,000 people, in two years or three years, when President Donald Trump breaks his promise by pushing them off Medicaid? Republicans are about to make a mistake.”
The Senate is expected to pass the bill later this week, after which it will return to the House for additional revisions. Although Trump aimed to sign the bill into law by July 4, the target date has been postponed to July 7.
As Tillis exits the political stage, various Republicans are showing interest in his Senate seat, including Rep. Tim Moore, Rep. Richard Hudson, and Lara Trump, the president’s daughter-in-law.
On the Democratic front, former Rep. Wiley Nickel is the most prominent candidate so far, with speculation that former Gov. Roy Cooper might also join the race.
In a statement, Nickel declared, “No matter which MAGA loyalist Donald Trump hand-picks to run in North Carolina, I’m the Democrat who’s ready to take them on and win. North Carolinians are independent-minded and won’t be fooled by extremists pushing an agenda that puts billionaires first and working families last.”
Interestingly, Tillis’s newfound advocacy for health care contrasts with his earlier stance. He has historically opposed Medicaid expansion under the ACA and frequently voted to repeal the law.
With Tillis stepping down, the Cook Political Report has labeled the race for his replacement as a “toss up.”
