Stay up to date with WRAL’s Thom Tillis news and reporting coverage
Sunday, Feb. 1, 2026-- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist
Democratic Gov. Josh Stein is again slamming a proposal by Republicans to redraw North Carolina's Congressional map.
A Republican-led Medicaid oversight committee questioned top health officials about the future of the program and a decision to cut reimbursement rates.
Political advertising is already starting to ramp up for the 2026 U.S. Senate race.
The former governor, who is undefeated in statewide elections, is considered the early frontrunner for his party's nomination. Former Rep. Wiley Nickel, the only other Democrat in the race, is expected to suspend his campaign and endorse Cooper this week.
Jack Hagel, WRAL News
Democrats see 2026 as a chance to flip one of North Carolina's U.S. Senate seats for the first time in years. Republicans want a new senator who will be more loyal to President Donald Trump.
Will Doran, WRAL state government reporter
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley will run for the open Senate seat in North Carolina, a source familiar with the decision tells NBC News.
Cooper is considered the favorite to win the Democratic nomination for the seat being vacated by Republican Thom Tillis. The decision could also shape the GOP's efforts to retain the seat in the chamber it narrowly controls.
Jack Hagel, Paul Specht and Will Doran, WRAL News
Roy Cooper, a Democrat who served two terms as governor of North Carolina, has begun fundraising off of national Republicans' recent vote to slash Medicaid, asking supporters to "stand together" with him.
Paul Specht, Will Doran and Jack Hagel, WRAL News
Sen. Thom Tillis, who last month said he would not seek reelection, suggested on Wednesday that he regretted casting the deciding vote to confirm Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, calling him ill-suited to lead the Pentagon.
Annie Karni, New York Times
Tillis called out unnamed White House staffers that he said failed to grasp the real-life consequences of the new policy, particularly the spending cuts to Medicaid, which provides health care to millions of low-income Americans.
By Sarah Ferris, CNN
Attorney General Jeff Jackson spoke exclusively with WRAL about his and Roy Cooper's plans for the 2026 US Senate race.
Friday, July 4, 2025-- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist
The race to replace Senator Thom Tillis is shaping up to be one of the biggest political showdowns in the country with big stakes and big names on both sides. WRAL's NC Capitol team looks at the plans by democrats and republicans to win this seat.
Wednesday, July 2, 2025-- Capitol Broadcasting Company's editorial cartoonist
Republicans worried that North Carolina Republicans wouldn't show up to the polls for U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, who had lost support from the base over the years.
Paul Specht and Laura Leslie, WRAL News
North Carolina's next GOP nominee for U.S. Senate will likely need President Donald Trump's endorsement. Here are the three Republicans to watch, according to party insiders.
WRAL anchor/reporter Ashley Rowe examines who could possibly replace U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, who announced he won't seek reelection in 2026.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-NC, had told fellow Senators in the days before the vote on Trump's budget that it will kick more than 600,000 North Carolinians off their health insurance if it becomes law.
Shaun Gallagher and Will Doran, WRAL News
Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina spoke Sunday night on Capitol Hill about his decision to not run for reelection.
Republican Sen. Thom Tillis' decision to not seek reelection comes after he opposed President Donald Trump's so-called "Big Beautiful Bill," which would cut taxes on wages and tips while increasing spending on many of the president's priorities, including immigration enforcement.
Jordan Shaw, a former longtime aide to Sen. Thom Tillis, launched Gamechangers Strategies, a Charlotte-based firm focusing on political consulting, paid advertising, public affairs and sports communication.
