🗳️ Thom Tillis Kicks Off 2026 Campaign: North Carolina’s $500 Million Senate Showdown?

Thom Tillis vs. North Carolina: The $500 Million Senate Race Kicks Off

If Senator Thom Tillis has learned anything from his time in politics, it’s that nothing comes easy in North Carolina. This week, the senior Republican senator officially kicked off his 2026 reelection campaign with a Capitol Hill event featuring 20 Senate colleagues. After months of speculation, Tillis is ready to step into what could become the most expensive Senate race in U.S. history.

“Every cycle, I go through a process,” Tillis explained during an exclusive interview with McClatchy. “Do you have the kind of support you need? Are you going to have the economic policy support? Are you going to have the support of the administration? All those things have to weigh into it.”

It’s a high-stakes decision with an equally high price tag. Tillis predicts this campaign will set a new record, estimating a total cost of nearly $500 million. “I think we’re going to set the record for most expensive race again,” he said. “I would guess that the all-in cost will be somewhere close to a half-a-billion dollars, and that each of the candidates’ committees will probably have to raise between $50 and $75 million.”

Democrats Eye the Seat

Tillis has a proven ability to win tight races, having narrowly defeated Kay Hagan in 2014 and emerging victorious in 2020 after Cal Cunningham’s late-campaign scandal. But this time, Democrats are circling with renewed intensity.

Outgoing Rep. Wiley Nickel has already announced his candidacy, positioning himself as a fresh-faced challenger for the seat. Meanwhile, Governor Roy Cooper, a term-limited Democrat with significant statewide popularity, looms as a potential heavyweight contender. Cooper’s team has said he won’t decide on his next move until 2025, leaving the door open for speculation—and fundraising.

Tillis knows the importance of running a campaign on solid ground. “I don’t go after things I think I may win,” he said. “I go after things I think I will win.”

A Party Divided?

While Democrats strategize, Tillis may face turbulence within his own party. Far-right Republicans continue to float the idea of a primary challenge, despite his solid conservative record.

Among the rumored challengers is former Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, whose 2024 gubernatorial campaign imploded amid multiple scandals, including allegations of inflammatory online behavior. Robinson’s attacks on Tillis have been pointed, including a social media post proclaiming “Thom is toast” with a headstone graphic.

Tillis has also drawn criticism from the North Carolina Republican Party, which censured him in 2023 for his support of LGBTQ protections and bipartisan gun reform. Still, he’s ready to defend his record. “You want to talk about the Second Amendment, you want to talk about life, you want to talk about property rights, you want to talk about due process: look at my record,” Tillis said. “That’s what I’ll be reminding people, again, if I get an opponent from the right.”

A Record of Pragmatism

Tillis’ career has been marked by his ability to navigate contentious issues with bipartisan solutions, a fact that has earned him both praise and criticism. In 2022, he co-sponsored the largest piece of gun reform in decades, addressing mental health resources and red flag laws. He also worked across the aisle to codify protections for same-sex and interracial marriages under federal law.

Reflecting on his work, Tillis urged voters to look at the results: “All that was said about it at the time, all the fear, uncertainty, and doubt that hasn’t materialized, and a lot of positive things have.”

Still, these moves have made him a target for more extreme elements within his party, who see compromise as a liability rather than a strength.

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From Coffee Cups to Campaigns

Here at the Queen City Express, we bring you the stories that matter, whether they’re shaping the future of our state or just the flavor of your morning coffee. Thom Tillis’ 2026 campaign is already shaping up to be one for the history books, and we’ll be here to track every twist and turn.

Looking for more? Dive into our archive of local stories, from politics to the best coffee shops in town. Whether you’re a political junkie, a foodie, or just a curious Charlottean, we’ve got you covered.

Signing off with a double shot of espresso and the caffeine to cover it all,
Jack Beckett
Senior Writer, Queen City Express

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