Now his voluntary exit is a big money-saver for Republicans in the 2026 mid-terms, Chris Elkstrom, of U.S Terms Limits, said on American Family Radio Monday.
Tillis announced his retirement Sunday, hours after casting a vote against passing Donald Trump’s agenda, the "Big Beautiful Bill," out of committee on Saturday night.
He is not expected to vote in favor of the bill’s final passage.
“Great News! ‘Senator’ Thom Tillis will not be seeking re-election,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Sunday afternoon.
Though he lacked the profile of some other GOP senators like John Cornyn of Texas or Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Tillis was still well known.
“People who follow politics from our side know that those two guys are pretty much RINO (Republican In Name Only) poster boys or worse,” Elkstrom told show host Jenna Ellis. “Tillis flew under the radar.”
But not so much that he didn’t have a negative impact, Elkstrom said.
Making the legal option harder
In May, Tillis introduced the Tackling Predator Litigation Funding Act which would impose a 41% tax on third-party litigation groups.
The bill would set a 40.8 tax on profits – the highest individual rate of 37% plus a 3.8% next investment income tax – without deducting losses or typical business expenses.
It would be a big blow to litigation funding particularly for smaller plaintiffs and public-interest cases, critics say.
A companion piece of legislation was introduced in the House and referred to the Ways and Means Committee.
Both bills remain pending in committees.
“The thing about him that was really his most sinister aspect was that he was an apologist for the big corporations who absolutely wanted to stop grassroots people from challenging them. He was happy to go along with whatever woke insanity that just was du jour. He would be there for them. So, for him to step aside, that just saves us some money and allows us to point our guns in some other directions,” Elkstrom said.
Tillis’ decision means one of North Carolina’s two Republican-held Senate seats will not have the power of incumbency during the midterms. Democrats see this as a key opportunity to narrow the GOP’s advantage in the Senate. Currently there are 53 Republican seats, 45 Democrat and two Independents.
But Independents Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine both caucus with Democrats.
The sudden opening is drawing interest from intriguing names, such as Lara Trump, the president’s daughter-in-law, who is said to be “strongly considering” getting into the race. The Republican National Committee co-chair in 2024 is now a Fox News host.
The White House also considers current RNC Chair Michael Whatley, a former North Carolina GOP chair, to be a strong candidate, according to Politico.
Some in Trump’s circle favor Rep. Pat Harrigan, the outlet further reported.
Elkstrom believes Dan Bishop, a former U.S. House member from North Carolina, would be a strong candidate.
Bishop was a candidate for North Carolina attorney general last year. During his time in the state legislature, he gained nationwide attention as the primary author of North Carolina’s “bathroom bill.”
Losing a sitting senator is preferred to having Tillis in office, Elkstrom said.
“I'm always thrilled and willing to take the so-called risk that we could lose a seat under those circumstances, but look, I was one of the people who helped keep Tillis around when he was running against a really, really terrible Democrat last time. We made the hard decision to try to help Tom Tillis, who we knew was terrible.”
In a statement announcing his decision Tillis longed for the lost art of compromise.
"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," he said.
Spending to find a better choice
Bishop, currently the deputy director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), would be a big change, though reports are that he is content in his current position within the Trump administration, Elkstrom said.
“Dan Bishop is the kind of guy who, in my estimation, would use the Senate power to stop some of the really horrible things,” Elkstrom said.
Instead of Republicans using cash to keep an undesirable Senator in office they can spend to find a better choice, he said.
“I think all candidates are better with competition because I want to push them all to the right. Even if we have to spend a few bucks in the in the primary to pick the best Republican, that's good for everybody.”
