Everybody may love RAYMOND. But, Thom Tillis? (Not so much.)
It appears Senate Republican leader John Thune is sick of him. President Donald Trump is fed up. Now it appears that nearly HALF of North Carolina’s Republicans in the US House don’t want any part of Thom Tillis‘s kickoff fundraiser for his 2026 reelection bid.
Things got started when THIS invite got circulated around various political circles:
Then, some folks started wondering aloud about how in the hell their names ended up on this invitation:
Sen. Thom Tillis’ (R-N.C.) campaign is holding a major fundraiser in Raleigh on March 21, seeking to highlight a deep bench of in-state Republican supporters.
But in a sloppy start to Tillis’ high-stakes reelection campaign, a number of House Republicans mentioned in the invite were included without their knowledge.
One House Republican listed as a special guest on the invite — Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-N.C.) — told us he isn’t endorsing Tillis and wasn’t aware he was included in the fundraiser.
“Congressman Harrigan did not authorize or approve the use of his name in any materials for an event supporting Senator Tillis,” Lexi Kranich, Harrigan’s communications director, said in a statement. “While we recognize the importance of holding this critical Senate seat for Republicans, Congressman Harrigan’s focus remains on advancing President Trump’s America First agenda.”
We’re also told that Reps. Addison McDowell (R-N.C.) and Brad Knott (R-N.C.) weren’t consulted on their inclusion on the fundraising invite.
Tillis’ team didn’t comment.
The snafu shows how Tillis will face issues uniting the North Carolina GOP as he faces a brutal fight for his political future in 2026. On top of a potential primary challenge, Democrats are likely to pour tens of millions of dollars into the Tarheel State to flip the seat, meaning Tillis will need to maximize his Republican voteshare to win.
Another North Carolina Republican, Rep. Mark Harris, told us he isn’t endorsing Tillis yet. Harris wasn’t included on the fundraising invite. […]
Perhaps the good reverend recalls Tillis’s lack of help when RINOs and Democrats ganged up on him following the 2018 congressional races.
MORE:
[…] “I haven’t had much time to start thinking about [the] 2026 elections,” Harris told us. “Sen. Tillis and I haven’t talked about his race nor has he asked me for my endorsement in his reelection campaign.”
Tillis’ willingness to work across the aisle has angered his home state’s base in recent years. In 2023, hardline delegates from the state Republican Party voted to censure Tillis after he supported the Respect for Marriage Act and the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Tillis has also been a prominent GOP supporter of Ukraine, often challenging members of his own party on the issue. […]
Isn’t it *funny* how the drive-bys label you a *hardliner* for simply standing by your party’s platform and doing what you told the voters you would do?
MORE:
[…] As a result, right-wing activists have vowed to unseat Tillis. Local businessman Andy Nilsson has already announced a primary run. One potential challenger, former Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, won’t be running against Tillis.
Tillis has brushed off the censures and stood by his dealmaking tendencies. And following President Donald Trump’s victory, Tillis has voted for every single one of Trump’s nominees and tied himself closely to the administration. […]
These folks are neglecting to mention how Tillis got caught creeping around behind the scenes trying to derail Pete Hegseth’s nomination as defense secretary.
MORE:
Tillis was instrumental, for example, in Kash Patel’s confirmation as FBI director.
Tillis responded to being taken to the woodshed by Team Trump over his Hegseth antics by voting to approve every ensuing Trump nominee. (You know. Exactly what he got sent to Washington to do.)
So, let’s see: Harrigan, McDowell, Harris, and Knott. That’s FOUR out of the TEN GOP members our state sent to DC. Those guys apparently do not want their names associated with Thommy and his hijinks.
The liberal media loves Thom Tillis because he ticks off conservatives and gives the Democrats a lot of help. For the first time in what seems like forever, you’re going to see an amazing amount of love being showered on Thommy by the likes of The N&O and WRAL. Folks like those two media entities do not have the best interests of our state or nation at heart.
Thom has shaken down a lot of special interests to create a huge campaign war-chest. But there’s little love or respect for him from the people who actually cast the ballots. (Voting to the left of socialist Bernie Sanders — I’m sure — has not helped Tillis with the GOP base.)
You can only thumb your nose at people so much before they finally wash their hands of you and walk away.
Thommy may slither his way out of the primary, but he is very likely to cost the GOP a Senate seat in November.
I will not support Tillis. I will not vote for Tillis.. I personally don’t know one person that supports him, with the exception of the NCGOP. They love them some RINO TILLIS!
He did not support Trump in his first term. We had to BEG Tillis to support the Wall.
Tillis has voted for the Trump Cabinet Nominees in hopes of currying favor. Nope. NOT.
Tillis was a RINO in the NCGA and has NOT changed.
We have to cull the RINO HERD in NC and in DC!
I will be happy to volunteer for the Tillis Primary Candidate.
#TrumpAgenda #AmericaFirst
Not a chance in hell will I support this guy, I knew he was a RINO and a traitor since his NC Legislature days. His biggest betrayal yet will be giving us Senator Roy Cooper, if he weasels his way into another primary win. Looking at you, Donald Trump.
I will pledge my time and treasure in the primary to unseat Tillis. As a delegate I voted for his censure. If he wins the primary, I will not vote for him nor will those in my universe.
It looks like Tillis has already won the primary, whatever results may follow in the general election. Unless Tillis opponents in the GOP can put forward one and only one strong, conservative, well-funded candidate to run against him in the primary (and I see two poorly funded, less well known ones already), he will prevail by plurality against a split vote. Guaranteed. And, by the way, if he prevails in the primary as it looks like he will, I do not see anything to be gained by putting Cooper in the Senate. So all the talk about never ever, ever voting for slippery Thom had best be contained.
I appreciate Harris saying no from the beginning. Why no comment from Knott or McDowell? They are complicit unless they condemn this use of their names.
I’ve been saying for weeks that Mark Harris and Lara Trump gives us our best chance to beat Tillis.
Harrigan, Dan Forest, Hal Weatherman or Dale Falwell would be good as well.
I think ALL named above WANT Tillis returning to DC. The wagons have been circled. It’s Tillis or Coop. Take your pick or poison.
My pick? Neither.
The RNC and NCGOP never learn until it’s too late. Want to keep that seat in GOP hands? Leadership at the top is required. We haven’t had leadership there in over a decade.