Thom Tillis

Thom Tillis
Born	Thomas Roland Tillis 30 8, 1960
Birthplace	Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, businessman
Known for	U.S. Senator from North Carolina (2015–present), Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives (2011–2015)
Education	University of Maryland, University College (BS)
Children	2
Website	[tillis.senate.gov Official site]

Thomas Roland Tillis (born August 30, 1960) is an American businessman and politician of the Republican Party who has served as a United States senator from North Carolina since January 3, 2015. Before entering the Senate, Tillis represented the 98th district in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 2007 to 2015 and served as Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives from 2011 to 2015. He won election to the Senate in 2014 by defeating Democratic incumbent Kay Hagan and secured a second term in 2020. Following the retirement of Richard Burr in January 2023, Tillis became North Carolina's senior U.S. senator. Considered a moderate Republican, Tillis has at times broken with party orthodoxy, supporting legislation such as the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and the Respect for Marriage Act. He has also supported a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. In 2025 and 2026, Tillis drew national attention for publicly criticizing the Trump administration on several fronts, including calling for the resignation of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and vowing to block Federal Reserve nominees. On June 29, 2025, Tillis announced that he would not seek reelection to a third term in 2026.

Early Life

Thomas Roland Tillis was born on August 30, 1960, in Jacksonville, Florida. He grew up in a working-class family and has spoken publicly about the financial difficulties his family faced during his youth. Tillis did not follow a traditional path to higher education; he worked for several years before completing his college degree. His brother, Rick Tillis, is also a public figure.

Details about Tillis's childhood and upbringing in Jacksonville remain limited in publicly available sources. He eventually relocated to North Carolina, where he would build both a business career and a political life in the Charlotte metropolitan area, settling in the town of Cornelius in Mecklenburg County.

Education

Tillis attended Chattanooga State Community College before transferring to the University of Maryland, University College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. His educational journey was notable for its nontraditional trajectory; Tillis did not complete his undergraduate degree until he was in his thirties, having worked in the private sector for years before finishing his studies. He has cited his own experience as evidence that nontraditional educational paths can lead to success, a theme he has referenced in his political career.

Career

Business Career

Before entering politics, Tillis built a career in the private sector, primarily in the technology and consulting industries. He held positions at IBM and PricewaterhouseCoopers, among other firms. His business background became a central element of his political identity, and he was recognized by Business North Carolina magazine in 2012 as a significant figure in the intersection of business and politics in the state.

North Carolina House of Representatives

Tillis was first elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives in 2006, representing the 98th district, which encompassed parts of Mecklenburg County in the northern Charlotte suburbs. He succeeded John Rhodes in the seat and took office on January 1, 2007.

Tillis rose quickly within the Republican caucus. When Republicans won a majority in the North Carolina House in the 2010 elections — the party's first majority in the chamber since 1870 — Tillis was elected Speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives on January 26, 2011, succeeding Democrat Joe Hackney. He served as Speaker until January 3, 2015, when he departed for the U.S. Senate and was succeeded by Tim Moore.

As Speaker, Tillis presided over a period of significant legislative activity. He worked closely with Governor Pat McCrory and the Republican-controlled Senate on a range of policy priorities. One notable achievement during his tenure was the passage of a comprehensive tax reform package. Tillis, along with McCrory and other legislative leaders, announced a tax deal that lowered the state's personal and corporate income tax rates and broadened the sales tax base.

Tillis also oversaw what he described as "thoughtful, methodical regulatory reform" aimed at reducing the burden of state regulations on businesses. His speakership was marked by the implementation of a conservative policy agenda that included education reforms, changes to unemployment insurance, and restrictions on voting access, the latter of which drew significant criticism from Democratic opponents and civil rights organizations.

2014 U.S. Senate Campaign

In 2013, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) identified North Carolina as a key target for the 2014 midterm elections, visiting the state in search of a strong challenger to first-term Democratic Senator Kay Hagan. Tillis emerged as the establishment-backed candidate in a contested Republican primary.

His campaign received a significant boost when former Massachusetts Governor and 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney endorsed Tillis on the eve of the North Carolina primary. Governor Pat McCrory also endorsed Tillis's candidacy.

Tillis won the Republican primary on May 6, 2014, securing the nomination without the need for a runoff.

During the primary campaign, scrutiny arose over the overlap between Tillis's campaign fundraising and his role as House Speaker. The News & Observer reported on connections between his campaign donors and legislative actions.

The general election contest between Tillis and Hagan was one of the most expensive and closely watched Senate races in the 2014 cycle. Tillis defeated Hagan in November 2014, part of a broader Republican wave that gave the party control of the U.S. Senate.

U.S. Senate: First Term (2015–2021)

Tillis took office as a U.S. senator from North Carolina on January 3, 2015, succeeding Kay Hagan. He was assigned to several prominent committees, reflecting both his policy interests and the priorities of the Republican conference.

During his first term, Tillis established himself as a senator willing to work across the aisle on certain issues while maintaining a broadly conservative voting record. On the issue of gun control, Tillis participated in Senate debates on firearms legislation, though the chamber remained largely gridlocked on the issue during this period.

Tillis's relationship with President Donald Trump during the latter's first term was complex. He initially opposed Trump's national emergency declaration to divert funding to a border wall, though he ultimately did not vote against it. On immigration policy more broadly, Tillis expressed support for a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, a position that placed him at odds with portions of the Republican base.

In 2018, Tillis and the North Carolina Republican Party faced scrutiny over ties to Cambridge Analytica, the data firm at the center of a major Facebook data breach scandal. Reports indicated that Tillis's campaign may have benefited from the firm's data practices.

U.S. Senate: Second Term (2021–present)

Tillis won reelection in 2020 in a closely contested race, securing a second six-year term. Following Richard Burr's retirement in January 2023, Tillis became North Carolina's senior U.S. senator, serving alongside junior Senator Ted Budd.

During his second term, Tillis continued to demonstrate a willingness to break with Republican leadership on select issues. He voted in favor of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, a gun safety bill signed into law in 2022 that provided states with funding for red flag laws and other measures. He also voted for the Respect for Marriage Act, which repealed the Defense of Marriage Act and codified federal recognition of same-sex and interracial marriages. Both votes drew criticism from conservative activists but were praised by moderate and centrist observers.

Tillis has served on several key Senate committees during his second term, including the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; the Senate Finance Committee; the Senate Judiciary Committee; and the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. He also serves on the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (the Helsinki Commission). He chairs the Subcommittee on Personnel of the Senate Armed Services Committee, the Subcommittee on Intellectual Property of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight of the Senate Finance Committee.

Criticism of the Trump Administration (2025–2026)

After announcing on June 29, 2025, that he would not seek a third term, Tillis became one of the most vocal Republican critics of the Trump administration. In early 2026, Tillis publicly criticized Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem over delays in disaster recovery aid to North Carolina, particularly in the aftermath of hurricanes that had devastated parts of the state. Speaking on the Senate floor, Tillis described Noem as "incompetent" and called for her resignation — becoming the first Republican senator to do so. Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska subsequently joined Tillis in calling for Noem's resignation. Tillis railed against the delays in aid delivery, framing his criticism as a matter of accountability for his constituents in North Carolina.

In a separate confrontation with the administration, Tillis vowed to block the confirmation of Kevin Warsh, President Trump's nominee to chair the Federal Reserve, until a Department of Justice investigation into outgoing Fed Chair Jerome Powell was "resolved." Tillis characterized the investigation as politically motivated and stated he would oppose all central bank nominees until the matter was addressed.

Tillis also attracted attention for broader criticisms of Trump White House staff, particularly senior adviser Stephen Miller. Observers noted that Tillis's willingness to challenge the administration increased after his retirement announcement freed him from the pressures of a future Republican primary electorate.

In February 2026, Tillis participated in a public event at Duke University where he assessed the Trump administration's foreign policy agenda, discussing topics including Greenland, Ukraine, and congressional oversight of executive power.

Other Legislative Activities

Beyond his confrontations with the executive branch, Tillis has continued to engage in legislative work during his final term. He has focused on intellectual property law through his chairmanship of the Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Intellectual Property. He has also been involved in veterans' affairs issues and tax policy through his other committee assignments.

In a 2026 statement, Tillis praised a grand jury decision in a case he characterized as "political lawfare," arguing that the prosecution attempt "undermines America's criminal justice system."

Personal Life

Tillis resides in Cornelius, North Carolina, a suburb of Charlotte in Mecklenburg County. He has two children. His brother, Rick Tillis, is also a public figure.

Tillis has spoken publicly about his upbringing in a working-class family and his nontraditional educational path, often citing these experiences as formative influences on his political views regarding economic opportunity and education policy.

In terms of health, Tillis has publicly discussed several medical challenges he has faced. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2021 and underwent treatment, later announcing that his prognosis was positive.

Recognition

During his tenure as Speaker of the North Carolina House, Tillis was recognized by Business North Carolina magazine for his influence at the intersection of business and state governance.

Tillis's Senate career has been marked by national attention on several occasions. His votes for the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act and the Respect for Marriage Act positioned him as one of a small number of Republican senators willing to support bipartisan legislation on gun safety and marriage equality. His 2026 criticisms of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem and his opposition to the Warsh nomination without conditions made him a prominent figure in intraparty debates about executive accountability.

Legacy

As of 2026, Tillis's legacy in North Carolina and national politics remains a subject of active assessment. His tenure as Speaker of the North Carolina House coincided with a transformative period in the state's politics, as Republicans held unified control of state government for the first time in more than a century. The tax reforms, regulatory changes, and other legislative initiatives passed during his speakership reshaped North Carolina's fiscal and regulatory landscape.

In the U.S. Senate, Tillis has been characterized as a moderate Republican — a label that has at times earned him both praise and criticism. His willingness to cross party lines on issues such as gun safety, marriage equality, and immigration distinguished him from many of his Republican colleagues, particularly in the context of an increasingly polarized political environment. His late-career criticisms of the Trump administration, coming after his announcement that he would not seek reelection, prompted commentary about the constraints that primary elections place on Republican senators and the freedom that retirement announcements can provide.

Tillis's decision not to seek a third term in 2026 set the stage for what is expected to be a competitive race for his seat, with North Carolina's status as a closely contested state ensuring national interest in the outcome.