With Republican U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina announcing Sunday he won’t seek reelection in 2026, Lara Trump, the daughter-in-law of President Donald Trump, is said to be strongly thinking about a run for that seat in Congress.
The report from NOTUS says Lara Trump, the former co-chair of the Republican National Committee during the 2024 presidential race and current Fox News host on Saturday night, is “seriously considering” a Senate run.
New: Sen. Thom Tillis Announces His Retirement After Opposing Trump’s Bill
Abrupt decision leaves GOP scrambling to run a replacement in state, already the Dems’ top target for ’26. A R operative tho says they’ve been considered Tillis alts for months https://t.co/L7GL1KXHHV
— Alex Roarty (@Alex_Roarty) June 29, 2025
She previously had considered replacing Florida U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio when the president selected the Rubio to be secretary of state.
“Certainly, the fact that my name has been mentioned among many other very qualified, highly regarded people as a potential fit for this,” Lara Trump said of possible replacing Rubio in the Senate at the time.
“Yes, it’s very intriguing, and I’m seriously considering it.”
BREAKING: Lara Trump is seriously considering making a run for Senate to replace Thom Tillis, per NOTUS
North Carolina is her home state, so it could certainly happen!
That’d be a MASSIVE upgrade! pic.twitter.com/RqWWRjQc6E
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) June 29, 2025
BREAKING Lara Trump is strongly considering a Senate run to replace Thom Tillis in North Carolina
THIS WOULD BE A HUGE WIN pic.twitter.com/4vhk8JH0oL
— MAGA Voice (@MAGAVoice) June 29, 2025
BREAKING: Lara Trump “seriously considering” a bid for the open North Carolina Senate seat in 2026 after Thom Tillis retires – NOTUS
RNC Chair Michael Whatley is also reportedly considering. pic.twitter.com/f50Xb3VAMI
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) June 29, 2025
“She is so highly respected by women!” President Trump said of Lara in December. “I mean, even her workout routines are through the roof.”
A poll taken in December showed seven of 10 Republicans in the Tar Heel State want Lara Trump in the Senate.
“The Victory Insights poll of North Carolina Republicans finds that 69% of them want the Republican National Committee Co-Chair to be their next senator, with just 11% preferring incumbent Thom Tillis,” reported Florida Politics.
“Other Republicans weighing bids include current RNC chair Michael Whatley, freshman U.S. Representative and former Green Beret Pat Harrigan, as well as Representatives Dan Bishop and Richard Hudson, according to party operatives,” reported DeepNewz.
NOTUS reported: “One RNC official pushed back on this, saying that Whatley is ‘not actively considering a bid for the North Carolina Senate seat.’”
South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, who chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman, says he’s confident Republicans will hold the seat being vacated by Tillis.
“President Trump has won North Carolina three times, and the state’s been represented by two Republican Senators for over a decade,” Scott said, according to HuffPost.
“That streak will continue in 2026 when North Carolinians elect a conservative leader committed to advancing an agenda of opportunity, prosperity, and security.”
As WorldNetDaily reported, just hours after voting no on advancing President Trump’s “big, beautiful” bill and the president’s vow to have him primaried, U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., announced Sunday he will not seek reelection.
“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.
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‘Endangered’: Republican U.S. senator defying Trump won’t seek reelection