WCU political scientist Chris Cooper on the 2026 U.S. Senate race and Sen. Thom Tillis’ departure
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WCU political scientist Chris Cooper (Screengrab from News & Views interview)
North Carolina was rocked by a political earthquake this past week when its senior U.S. Senator, Republican Thom Tillis, broke with President Donald Trump and then announced that he will not seek reelection in 2026. Tillis’s announcement – which came on the heels of his decision to oppose Trump’s hugely controversial omnibus budget bill – initiated a chain of events that has just begun to play out both in Washington and here in North Carolina.
So, what will this chain look like? How will Tillis approach his final 18 months in the Senate? Who are the candidates likely to be throwing their hats in the ring to succeed Tillis? And who among them are best positioned to capture the Republican and Democratic nominations? NC Newsline recently caught up with Western Carolina University political science professor Chris Cooper to find out.
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