Pat Harrigan, Michael Whatley, Lara Trump: Republicans in run to fill Thom Tillis' North Carolina seat

Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina said Sunday he will not seek reelection

Published on: Jun 29, 2025, 23:47:16 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina said Sunday he will not seek reelection. This comes a day after he opposed President Donald Trump's Big Beautiful Bill, leading to the president threatening him about the election next year. With Tillis' seat vacated next year, several potential replacements names have surfaced, including Trump's daughter-in-law Lara.

Pat Harrigan and Lara Trump are in the run to fill Thom Tillis seat (X and Bloomberg)

“In Washington over the last few years, it’s become increasingly evident that leaders who are willing to embrace bipartisanship, compromise, and demonstrate independent thinking are becoming an endangered species,” Tillis said in a lengthy statement on Sunday.

“Sometimes those bipartisan initiatives got me into trouble with my own party, but I wouldn’t have changed a single one."

Breakdown of candidates that could replace Sen Thom Tillis

Speculated GOP contenders include Rep Richard Hudson, former Rep Patrick McHenry, Lara Trump, RNC Chair Michael Whatley, Rep Pat Harrigan, and Rep Addison McDowell.

Rep Richard Hudson

US Representative for North Carolina’s 9th District (2013–present), born November 4, 1971, in Franklin, Virginia, and a Charlotte resident since childhood. A UNC-Charlotte graduate, Hudson served as district director for Rep Robin Hayes and chairs the National Republican Congressional Committee (2023–2026).

Hudson’s re-election announcement for his House seat in 2026 suggested he’s not currently eyeing Tillis’s seat, but reports indicate that he might change his mind.

Former Rep Patrick McHenry

Served as US Representative for North Carolina’s 10th District (2005–2025), born October 22, 1975. McHenry chaired the House Financial Services Committee (2023–2025) and briefly acted as Speaker pro tempore in 2023 after Kevin McCarthy’s ousting. He retired in 2025, citing family priorities.

McHenry’s decade-long tenure and interim Speaker role give him name recognition, but no formal Senate candidacy has been announced.

Lara Trump

Former RNC co-chair (2024–2025), born October 12, 1982, in Wilmington, NC, and daughter-in-law of Donald Trump. A Victory Insights poll (November 2024) showed her leading Tillis 65% to 11% in a hypothetical primary.

RNC Chair Michael Whatley

RNC chairman since March 2024, born in Watauga County, NC. He led the North Carolina GOP (2019–2024) and served as RNC general counsel, backing Trump’s 2020 election fraud claims.

Rep Pat Harrigan

US Representative for North Carolina’s 10th District (2025–present), a former Green Beret and firearms manufacturer, born in 1979. He won McHenry’s open seat in 2024.

Rep Addison McDowell

US Representative for North Carolina’s 6th District (2025–present), a political newcomer and former aide to Rep Richard Hudson and Sen Ted Budd. Trump-endorsed, he won an open seat in 2024.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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