History of Thom Tillis in Timeline

Thom Tillis is a Republican politician serving as a U.S. Senator for North Carolina since 2015. Prior to his Senate tenure, he was a member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from 2007 to 2015, holding the position of State House speaker from 2011. Tillis was elected to the Senate in 2014, defeating incumbent Kay Hagan, and secured reelection in 2020. He assumed the role of the state's senior U.S. senator upon Richard Burr's retirement in 2023.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Controversies & Scandals

August 30, 1960: Birth of Thom Tillis

On August 30, 1960, Thomas Roland Tillis was born.

Others born on this day/year

1976: Reference to the Copyright Act of 1976

In April 2020, during a discussion regarding the Internet Archive's "National Emergency Library", the Internet Archive cited that the Copyright Act of 1976 "provides flexibility to libraries and others to adjust to changing circumstances."

1978: Worked at Provident Life and Accident Insurance Co.

After graduating from Antioch High School in 1978, Tillis worked at Provident Life and Accident Insurance Co. in Chattanooga, Tennessee, helping to computerize records.

1978: Graduation from high school

In 1978, Tillis graduated from high school and left home to get a job.

1990: Recruited to work for Price Waterhouse

In 1990, Tillis was recruited to work for the accounting and consulting firm Price Waterhouse.

1996: Received Bachelor of Science degree

In 1996, Tillis received a Bachelor of Science in technology management from the University of Maryland University College.

1996: Promoted to Partner at Price Waterhouse

In 1996, Tillis was promoted to partner at Price Waterhouse.

1998: Moved to Cornelius, North Carolina

In 1998, Tillis and his family moved to Cornelius, North Carolina.

2002: Joined IBM

In 2002, after PricewaterhouseCoopers sold its consulting arm to IBM, Tillis went to IBM as well. He began his political career by pushing for a local bike trail and getting elected to the town's park board.

2003: Ran for Town Commissioner

In 2003, Tillis ran for town commissioner and tied for second place.

2006: Elected to the General Assembly

In 2006, Tillis was elected to the General Assembly, defeating John W. Rhodes in the Republican primary.

2007: Elected to NC House of Representatives

In 2007, Thom Tillis was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives.

2007: Voted for renewable portfolio standard

In 2007, Tillis voted in favor of a measure to give North Carolina a renewable portfolio standard.

2008: Reelected unopposed

In 2008, Tillis was reelected unopposed to the General Assembly.

2009: Left IBM

In 2009, Tillis formally left IBM.

2010: Opposed increasing North Carolina's minimum wage

In 2010, Tillis opposed increasing North Carolina's minimum wage from $7.25 an hour.

2010: Reelected and became campaign chairman

In 2010, Tillis was reelected unopposed and became campaign chairman for the House Republican Caucus.

2011: Named 'GOP Legislator to Watch'

In 2011, Governing magazine named Tillis and Phil Berger "GOP Legislators to Watch".

2011: Became State House Speaker

In 2011, Thom Tillis became the State House Speaker in North Carolina.

2011: Divide and conquer remark

In 2011, Tillis made controversial remarks about dividing and conquering people on public assistance, which drew criticism when publicized later during his Senate run.

2011: Helped pass abortion law

In 2011, while serving as speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives, Tillis helped the House pass a law requiring abortion providers to perform an ultrasound on women seeking abortions four hours before the procedure.

2012: Voted to defund Planned Parenthood

In 2012, Tillis voted to defund Planned Parenthood in North Carolina.

2012: Reelected unopposed

In 2012, Tillis was reelected unopposed to the General Assembly.

2012: Presided over controversial voting legislation

In 2012, after Republican Pat McCrory was elected governor, Tillis presided over legislation reducing early voting days, invalidating ballots cast outside one's precinct, and requiring specific kinds of photo ID in order to vote, which was later struck down by the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals.

2012: Role in North Carolina Amendment 1

In 2012, while serving as speaker of the North Carolina House of Representatives, Thom Tillis played a key role in advocating for North Carolina Amendment 1, which banned same-sex marriage and civil unions in the state.

2013: Supported motorcycle safety bill

In 2013, Tillis supported a motorcycle safety bill that had been surreptitiously amended to include restrictions on abortion.

2013: Reelected as Speaker

In 2013, Tillis was unanimously reelected as Speaker of the North Carolina House.

2014: NRA Spending During 2014 Senate Campaign

During Thom Tillis' 2014 Senate campaign, the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) spent $4.4 million, with half supporting Tillis and half opposing his opponent, Hagan.

2014: Campaign used Cambridge Analytica for microtargeting

During the 2014 campaign, the Tillis campaign and the North Carolina Republican Party paid $345,000 to Cambridge Analytica for voter microtargeting, using "psychographic profiles for all voters in North Carolina".

2014: Protests and Arrests in Tillis's Office

In 2014, 14 people protesting cuts to the earned income tax credits program and Tillis's refusal to expand Medicaid were arrested after staging a sit-in in his office.

2014: Appeal of Ruling on Amendment 1

In 2014, Thom Tillis appealed a ruling that North Carolina's Amendment 1, which banned same-sex marriage and civil unions, was unconstitutional.

2014: Elected to the U.S. Senate

In 2014, Thom Tillis was elected to the United States Senate, defeating Kay Hagan.

2014: Announced run for U.S. Senate

In 2014, Tillis announced that he would not seek reelection to the state House, instead running for U.S. Senate against Kay Hagan. He was endorsed by several prominent Republicans.

2014: Denied climate change was occurring

In 2014, Tillis denied that climate change was occurring.

2014: Opposed increasing federal minimum wage

In 2014, Tillis opposed increasing the federal minimum wage.

2014: Spokesman stated Tillis would support personhood bill

In 2014, a Tillis spokesman told The Washington Post that Tillis would support a personhood bill if it were brought to the Senate floor, but only if abortion would continue to be legal in certain cases and if women would continue to have access to contraceptives.

2014: Received significant 'dark money' in election

In the 2014 election, Tillis received $22,888,975 in 'dark money,' which was a substantial portion of the outside spending supporting him.

2015: Called for opening up Atlantic coast for offshore drilling

During his first speech on the Senate floor in 2015, Tillis called for opening up the United States' Atlantic coast for offshore drilling.

2015: Became a U.S. Senator

In 2015, Thom Tillis began his service as a United States Senator from North Carolina.

2015: Coffee shop hand washing regulation comment

In 2015, Tillis suggested coffee-shop companies should be able to 'opt out' of hand-washing regulations if they post a sign indicating they don't require it, stating that 'the market will take care of that'.

2015: Voted against amendment acknowledging climate change

In 2015, Tillis voted against an amendment acknowledging the existence of climate change and the contribution of human activity.

2015: Vote on Same-Sex Marriage Amendment

In 2015, while serving in the Senate, Thom Tillis voted for an amendment to a non-binding resolution that would have allowed same-sex married couples residing in states that did not recognize same-sex marriage to access government resources.

2015: Membership in Senate Whistleblower Protection Caucus

Since 2015, Thom Tillis has been a member of the Senate Whistleblower Protection Caucus. The caucus was formed in 2015 to raise awareness about the need for adequate protections for private-sector and government employees who report wrongdoing.

2016: Opposed filling Supreme Court vacancy

In 2016, Tillis opposed filling the then Supreme Court vacancy until after the election, arguing it should be left to the next president.

2016: Called Trump's comments 'indefensible'

In 2016, after the release of the Access Hollywood tape, Tillis called Trump's comments 'indefensible'.

2016: Votes on Gun Control Bills After Orlando Shooting

In 2016, following the Orlando nightclub shooting, Thom Tillis voted for Republican bills that aimed to increase funding for the federal background check system and delay gun sales for 72 hours for individuals on the terrorist watchlist. However, he voted against Democratic bills that sought to ban individuals on the terrorist watchlist from purchasing guns and require background checks at gun shows and during online sales.

March 2017: Vote on Broadband Consumer Privacy Proposal

In March 2017, Thom Tillis voted for the Broadband Consumer Privacy Proposal that removed the FCC's internet privacy rules, which allowed internet service providers to sell customers' browsing history without their permission.

November 2017: Opposition to EPA Nomination

In November 2017, Thom Tillis opposed President Trump's nomination of Michael Dourson for a role at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

2017: Condemnation of Rohingya Genocide

In 2017, Thom Tillis was among 21 senators who signed a letter condemning the genocide of the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar.

2017: Called on Trump to withdraw from Paris Agreement

In 2017, Tillis called on Trump to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement.

2017: Aligned himself with the president

In 2017, Tillis stated he had not deviated once from supporting any nomination or vote that the president supports.

2017: Proposal for Undocumented Youth Residency

In 2017, amid moves by President Trump to cancel DACA, Thom Tillis proposed legislation to allow some undocumented youth brought to the U.S. as children to apply for renewable five-year residency, and eventually citizenship, as a more conservative alternative to the bipartisan DREAM Act.

2018: Beneficiary of NRA Funding in Congress

As of 2018, Thom Tillis was the third-largest beneficiary of funding from the National Rifle Association (NRA) in Congress.

2018: Expressed belief in climate change

In 2018, Tillis said he believed climate change is happening and that humans may contribute to it, but remained unclear about whether he agrees with the scientific consensus on climate change that it is human-caused.

2018: Legislation to Compensate for ACA Preexisting Conditions Requirement

In 2018, amid attempts to repeal the ACA, Thom Tillis introduced legislation intended to compensate for the ACA's requirement that insurers cover people with preexisting conditions. The bill was criticized for loopholes, and Tillis later stated it was intended to start a discussion.

February 2019: Opposition to Trump's National Emergency Declaration

In February 2019, Thom Tillis wrote an op-ed in The Washington Post opposing President Trump's national emergency declaration concerning the southern border, citing concerns about executive overreach. The declaration diverted funding from the Department of Defense to build a border wall between the United States and Mexico.

December 2019: Garland Tucker dropped out of primary race

In December 2019, Garland Tucker, a conservative businessman, dropped out of the Republican primary race after spending $1.3 million on his campaign after Trump endorsed all incumbent Republican senators up for election in 2020, including Tillis.

2019: Letter to EPA Regarding PFAS

In 2019, Thom Tillis was one of 20 senators who signed a letter asking the EPA to regulate the levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water due to reports that they would not be regulated otherwise.

April 2020: Concerns About Internet Archive's National Emergency Library

In April 2020, Thom Tillis, as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee's intellectual property panel, expressed concerns that the Internet Archive's "National Emergency Library" initiative, which expanded access to its 1.4 million-book collection during the COVID-19 shutdown, violated copyright law.

May 2020: Vote Against Amendment to FISA

In May 2020, Thom Tillis voted against an amendment to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) that would have barred warrantless surveillance of web browser history.

September 2020: Status of Medicaid Expansion in North Carolina

As of September 2020, North Carolina remained one of only 12 states not to have expanded Medicaid, due to legislation Thom Tillis led in the state House of Representatives, which prevented the governor from expanding the program.

September 2020: Supported immediate vote on Trump's nominee

In September 2020, with less than two months to the next presidential election, Tillis supported an immediate vote on President Trump's nominee for the Supreme Court.

October 2, 2020: Tillis tested positive for COVID-19

On October 2, 2020, Tillis tested positive for COVID-19 after attending a White House event.

October 2020: Cunningham acknowledged extramarital affair

In October 2020, Democratic nominee Cal Cunningham acknowledged having an extramarital affair, reducing his lead in the polls against Tillis.

2020: North Carolina second in solar energy production

In 2020, North Carolina was second in solar energy production.

2020: Support for Soleimani Assassination

In 2020, Thom Tillis expressed support for the US military's assassination of Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani via drone strike at Baghdad International Airport.

2020: Reelected to the U.S. Senate

In 2020, Thom Tillis was reelected to the United States Senate.

2020: Pressure and Reversal on Emergency Declaration

In 2020, after facing pressure from President Trump and conservatives, Thom Tillis reversed his previous opposition and voted in favor of Trump's national emergency declaration concerning the southern border.

2020: Tried to remake himself

In his 2020 Senate campaign, Inside Climate News described Tillis as trying to 'remake himself as a moderate proponent of market-based climate solutions' despite a 'record as a fossil fuel advocate closely aligned with Trump'.

January 2021: Voted with Trump's stated positions

As of January 2021, Tillis voted with Trump's stated positions 90% of the time.

March 29, 2021: Announcement of Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

On March 29, 2021, Thom Tillis announced that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer and would undergo surgery and treatment. He noted that he had no symptoms and the cancer was discovered during a routine annual physical, and he encouraged all men to have regular prostate health screenings.

May 28, 2021: Vote Against Independent Commission for Capitol Attack

On May 28, 2021, Thom Tillis voted against the creation of an independent commission to investigate the January 6, 2021, United States Capitol attack.

August 2021: Statement on Accountability for Capitol Attack

In August 2021, Thom Tillis stated that "many involved" in the January 6, 2021, United States Capitol attack "needed to be held accountable and go to prison."

2021: Amendment on Commercial Streaming of Copyrighted Material

In 2021, Thom Tillis inserted an amendment to the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 that made the unauthorized commercial streaming of copyrighted material a felony, potentially leading to a three-year prison sentence for violators.

July 2022: Potential Support for Bipartisan Same-Sex Marriage Bill

In July 2022, Thom Tillis indicated that he would "probably" support a bipartisan bill aimed at codifying same-sex marriage in the United States.

November 2022: Description of Senate Same-Sex Marriage Bill

In November 2022, Thom Tillis described the Senate's same-sex marriage bill as "'a good compromise... based on mutual respect for our fellow Americans'".

November 29, 2022: Vote for Respect for Marriage Act

On November 29, 2022, Thom Tillis voted in favor of the Respect for Marriage Act, which successfully passed the Senate and was subsequently enacted. This law repealed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and codified rights to both same-sex and interracial marriage into federal law.

2022: Vote Against Honoring our PACT Act

In 2022, Thom Tillis was among the 11 senators who voted against the Honoring our PACT Act of 2022, which aimed to fund research and benefits for up to 3.5 million veterans exposed to toxic substances during their service. Tillis expressed concerns regarding the Department of Veterans Affairs' ability to effectively implement the legislation.

2022: Support for Bipartisan Safer Communities Act

In 2022, Thom Tillis was one of 15 Republican senators who supported the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, a bill that included funding for state red flag laws, school safety resources, enhanced background checks for buyers under 21, and penalties for straw purchases.

2023: Became Senior U.S. Senator

In 2023, Thom Tillis became the senior U.S. Senator for North Carolina upon Richard Burr's retirement.

2023: North Carolina Republican Party censured Tillis

In 2023, the North Carolina Republican Party voted to censure Tillis, particularly over his stances on immigration and gay marriage.

February 2025: Comments on Vladimir Putin

In February 2025, Thom Tillis called Russian President Vladimir Putin a war criminal and the "greatest threat of democracy in my lifetime". He also described Putin as a liar, murderer, and a man responsible for ordering systematic torture, kidnapping, and rape of innocent civilians.

May 2025: Opposition to Ed Martin Nomination

In May 2025, Thom Tillis publicly announced his opposition to the confirmation of Ed Martin, President Trump's nominee for United States Attorney for the District of Columbia. Tillis cited Martin's defense of rioters involved in the January 6 United States Capitol attack as the reason for his opposition, leading to the withdrawal of Martin's nomination.

June 2025: Opposed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

In June 2025, Tillis opposed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act due to concerns about Medicaid cuts. As a result, Trump threatened to support primary challengers against him.

June 29, 2025: Announcement not to seek reelection

On June 29, 2025, Tillis announced he would not seek reelection to a third term in 2026.

2025: Allegations Regarding Hegseth Nomination

In 2025, Thom Tillis allegedly told Pete Hegseth's ex-sister-in-law that a sworn statement about Hegseth's alcohol abuse and abuse of his second wife would influence his vote on Hegseth's nomination. After she provided the statement, Tillis ultimately voted to confirm Hegseth despite initial concerns.

2026: Term End Date

Thom Tillis will not be seeking a third term in 2026.

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