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Public disputes concerning the 2026 U.S. midterm election cycle, including campaigns, candidates, conventions, advertising, endorsements, and election-related policy promises.
Counts show individual statements. They do not assign an overall position.
6 statements on this page. Dates: March 19, 2026 to October 25, 2026
6 matching statements. Dates: March 19, 2026 to October 25, 2026
6 published statements. Dates: March 19, 2026 to October 25, 2026
2 published statements. Dates: September 24, 2026 to September 28, 2026
2 statements on this page. Dates: September 24, 2026 to September 28, 2026
Role at the time: U.S. senator from North Carolina
Statement summary
Tillis said he disliked the ad he saw during an NFL game, that it was not a clear public service announcement, and that it made no sense to him that it was paid for with taxpayer dollars.
“And what most didn't make sense to me, it was paid for by taxpayer dollars.”
Roll Call quotes Thune approving the message while opposing taxpayer payment.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)The conduct under scrutiny is federal payment for Trump-promoting ads. Tillis says that what made the least sense to him was that taxpayers paid for the spot, which rejects public payment. The closest competing label is Mixed or conditional, because he says a clear public service announcement would be fine; it does not fit because he says this ad was not one.
Role at the time: U.S. Senator, North Carolina
Statement summary
Thom Tillis voted yea on H.Con.Res. 89, a vote to direct the removal of U.S. forces from unauthorized hostilities with Iran.
“On the Concurrent Resolution H.Con.Res. 89: A concurrent resolution directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.”
Official Senate roll call on H.Con.Res. 89, a concurrent resolution directing the President under section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran. Rejected 49-50 on September 24, 2026. Fetterman was the only Democratic nay; Republicans Collins, Murkowski, Paul and Tillis voted yea; Alsobrooks did not vote.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Voted to direct the removal of U.S. forces from unauthorized hostilities with Iran, a vote to end U.S. involvement absent congressional authorization.
1 published statement. Dates: June 23, 2026
1 statement on this page. Dates: June 23, 2026
Role at the time: U.S. Senator, North Carolina
Statement summary
Thomas Tillis voted Nay on H.Con.Res. 86, the Senate resolution directing the President to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.
“On the Concurrent Resolution H.Con.Res. 86: Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran.”
Official Senate roll call on H.Con.Res. 86, directing the President under section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution to remove U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran. Agreed to 50-48 on June 23, 2026 — the first Iran war powers resolution to pass both chambers. Republicans Cassidy, Collins, Murkowski and Paul voted yea; Fetterman was the only Democratic nay.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)A nay vote opposed the resolution directing the removal of U.S. Armed Forces from hostilities with Iran, allowing U.S. military operations in the war to continue.
2 published statements. Dates: September 27, 2026 to October 25, 2026
2 statements on this page. Dates: September 27, 2026 to October 25, 2026
Role at the time: U.S. senator for North Carolina, interviewed on CBS's Face the Nation
Statement summary
Tillis says he does not mind scrutiny of the Alaska race but objects to the appearance of filing a lawsuit before the facts that would support one have occurred.
“So, I don't mind looking at it, but I do mind the appearance of filing a lawsuit before we know if the facts that would substantiate a lawsuit actually occur.”
CBS News transcript of Margaret Brennan's interview with Sen. Thom Tillis. Brennan asks about the Justice Department's Alaska lawsuit and Lisa Murkowski's objection to it.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)The case concerns DOJ's requested conditional intervention in certification of Alaska's Senate election. Tillis supports watching the Alaska result for voter confusion but questions filing a lawsuit before facts support one.
Role at the time: U.S. Senator for North Carolina at the statement date.
Statement summary
Tillis supports confronting Iran but requires congressional engagement and clear goals to sustain support; he criticizes the administration’s failure to provide them.
“we can be their cheerleaders, but only if we're informed on what the intent and the goals are.”
Tillis supports confronting Iran but requires congressional engagement and clear goals to sustain support; he criticizes the administration’s failure to provide them. He says the administration failed to engage Congress after his requested 60-day period and criticizes the quality of military briefings.
1 published statement. Dates: March 19, 2026
1 statement on this page. Dates: March 19, 2026
Role at the time: United States Senator for North Carolina, responding to questions from Axios
Statement summary
Asked by Axios for his position on Hawley's bill, Senator Thom Tillis said he had not seen it. Asked whether Republicans were talking about the issue in general, he answered no.
“No.”
The fullest available account of Senate Republican reluctance on the bill, with direct responses from Husted and Tillis, Hawley's reply to Axios, and Marjorie Dannenfelser's criticism of the Trump administration's handling of mifepristone litigation.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Tillis withholds a position on the bill and then closes down the broader subject, which is a refusal rather than a substantive response. The closest competing label is a finding that this is not a position event at all, since not having read a bill can be a simple statement of fact. That loses because the exchange was an express request for his position and he declined it twice, the second time foreclosing discussion of the issue itself.
Relative to U.S. military involvement in the 2026 Iran war, Tillis supports confronting Iran but requires congressional engagement and clear goals to sustain support; he criticizes the administration’s failure to provide them.
