Senate Republicans are entering what is shaping up to be a messy battleground Senate race in North Carolina after Sen. Thom Tillis’s (R-NC) surprise retirement. The Senate GOP’s campaign arm made its first jab on Monday at the Democrats’ possible top candidate,

The move comes less than 48 hours after reports emerged that centrist Rep. Don Bacon intends to announce his retirement Monday, opening up a swing seat in Nebraska in one of only three GOP-held districts Kamala Harris won in the 2024 presidential election.

Hours after voting to defy President Donald Trump on his signature “One Big Beautiful Bill” legislation, North Carolina GOP Sen. Thom Tillis announced he wasn’t running again in 2026.The surprise move from Tillis moves this race into the Toss Up category and officially makes the Tar Heel State Democrats’ top pickup opportunity.