David McLennan Meredith College Political Science Professor

Republican Senator Thom Tillis’ announcement that he will not seek re-election opens up plenty of speculation about who will run for his seat. 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. It could also make Tillis a wild card in a party where few lawmakers are willing to risk Trump’s wrath by opposing his agenda or actions. Trump had already been threatening him with a primary challenge, and posted Sunday that Tillis’ announcement was “Great News!” David McLennan is a Meredith College Political Science Professor. He joined Jeff Hamlin to discuss where things go from here.