WASHINGTON—Centrist Sen. Thom Tillis (R., N.C.) said he won’t seek re-election in 2026, less than 24 hours after he voted against a motion to advance President Trump’s tax and spending megabill, drawing public backlash from the president.

His decision creates a political opportunity for Democrats seeking to bolster their numbers in the 2026 midterm elections, creating a wide-open Senate race in a state that has long been a contested battleground.

Republican Senator Tillis won't seek reelection in 2026 following his vote against Trump's bill, criticizing Washington's partisan politics and its scorn for independent thinkers.