Republican Sen. Thom Tillis has become the latest lawmaker to announce he won't seek reelection in next year's midterm elections.
The announcement took place on Sunday as he was sustaining attacks from President Donald Trump over his opposition to his "big, beautiful" tax cut and spending bill.
"As many of my colleagues have noticed over the last year, and at times even joked about, I haven't exactly been excited about running for another term," Tillis said in a statement when announcing his decision.
"That is true since the choice is between spending another six years navigating the political theatre and partisan gridlock in Washington or spending that time with the love of my life Susan, our two children, three beautiful grandchildren, and the rest of our extended family back home. It's not a hard choice, and I will not be seeking re-election." Trump celebrated the decision, saying it was "great news."
There are now six senators who will be retiring from public office after their terms end, four Democrats and two Republicans, according to Ballotpedia. The other Republican is former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, while the four Democrats are Dick Durbin, Jeanne Shaheen, Tina Smith and Gary Peters.
Tillis appeared to compare himself with former Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, who became independents by the end of their stints in the Senate.
"Democrats recently lost two such leaders who were dedicated to making the Senate more of a functional and productive legislative body. They got things done. But they were shunned after they courageously refused to cave to their party bosses to nuke the filibuster for the sake of political expediency. They ultimately retired and their presence in the Senate chamber has been sorely missed every day since," Tillis said.
"It underscores the greatest form of hypocrisy in American politics. When people see independent thinking on the other side, they cheer. But when those very same people see independent thinking coming from their side, they scorn, ostracize, and even censure them," he added.
Tillis sustained repeated attacks from Trump after voting against advancing the bill on Saturday. "Thom Tillis is making a BIG MISTAKE for America, and the Wonderful People of North Carolina!" Trump wrote. He then celebrated the news. Fox News reported on Sunday that Rep. Pat Harrigan is already eyeing a run to replace him next year.
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