In a striking blow to the Republican Party's moderate wing, two prominent anti-Trump lawmakers have declared they will not seek reelection in the 2026 midterms.
According to the Daily Mail, the announcements from Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska and Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina highlight deepening divisions within the GOP, fueled by disagreements over President Donald Trump's controversial budget proposal.
The internal conflict within the Republican Party has come to a head over Trump's self-described "big, beautiful" budget bill. This proposal, currently under consideration in the U.S. Senate, includes significant cuts to Medicaid, a federal healthcare program aiding low-income individuals. Both Bacon and Tillis have voiced strong reservations about these reductions, reflecting broader tensions between the party's moderate and MAGA factions.
The first sign of this fracture appeared on Saturday evening when Senator Tillis, alongside Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, voted against a procedural motion to advance Trump's budget bill. Tillis, representing the swing state of North Carolina, has been outspoken about the potential impact of the Medicaid cuts on his constituents. He cited projections estimating that North Carolina could lose $38.9 billion in funding, affecting over 600,000 residents who rely on the program.
On Sunday, Tillis officially announced his decision to step away from the 2026 midterm race, where he was expected to face a tough reelection battle. "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.
"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," he added.
"It's not a hard choice, and I will not be seeking re-election," Tillis concluded. His decision has drawn sharp criticism from President Trump, who publicly rebuked the senator for opposing the budget plan. "Thom Tillis has hurt the great people of North Carolina. Even on the catastrophic flooding, nothing was done to help until I took office. Then a Miracle took place! Tillis is a talker and complainer, Not A Doer! He's even worse than Rand 'Fauci' Paul," Trump stated.
Following closely on Tillis' heels, Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska made his announcement on Monday, confirming he, too, would not run in 2026. "After consultation with [his] family & much prayer, [he] decided not to seek reelection in 2026," Bacon stated in a public release.
Bacon, a moderate voice in the GOP, represents Nebraska's Second District, a unique area that splits its electoral votes and has supported Democratic presidential candidates like Joe Biden and Kamala Harris despite the state's Republican tilt.
Bacon has often found himself at odds with Trump and the more conservative MAGA wing of the party during his time in Congress. Currently, he remains undecided on the Senate version of the budget bill, expressing unease over the proposed Medicaid reductions. These cuts are seen by some within the GOP as necessary to fund other priorities in Trump's agenda, such as a $150 billion allocation for border security requested by the White House.
In North Carolina, a critical swing state narrowly won by Trump in his three presidential runs, Tillis's departure opens the door for new Republican contenders. Potential frontrunners include nationally recognized figures like NRCC Chairman Richard Hudson and RNC Chairman Michael Whatley, both hailing from the state. Additionally, Lara Trump, the president's daughter-in-law and former RNC Co-Chair in 2024, who now hosts a show on Fox News, could emerge as a candidate for Tillis' Senate seat.
Despite the controversy, some Republican leaders in North Carolina are showing a willingness to engage with the budget proposal. State Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger expressed optimism, stating, "@realDonaldTrump’s Big Beautiful Bill and the legislature will work through any implementation issues." Berger's stance contrasts with Tillis' opposition, underscoring the varied perspectives within the state's GOP establishment.
Meanwhile, in Nebraska, Bacon's retirement is seen as a significant opportunity for Democrats aiming to flip his district in the 2026 midterms. The area's history of supporting Democratic presidential candidates makes it a prime target for the party seeking to gain ground in Congress. Bacon's exit, combined with his moderate stance, may reshape the dynamics of the race in a district already considered competitive.
The decisions by Bacon and Tillis to step away from their respective races signal a challenging period ahead for the Republican Party. The ongoing dispute over Trump's budget bill, particularly the Medicaid cuts, has exposed rifts that could influence party unity leading into the midterms. As both lawmakers exit the political stage, the GOP faces the task of reconciling its internal differences while preparing for potential shifts in key electoral battlegrounds.