History of Thom Tillis in Timeline

Thom Tillis is an American politician and businessman, currently serving as a United States Senator from North Carolina since 2015. A Republican, he previously served in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 2007 to 2015, holding the position of State House Speaker from 2011. Tillis was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2014, defeating the incumbent Kay Hagan, and secured reelection in 2020. Following Richard Burr's retirement in 2023, Tillis became the senior U.S. Senator for North Carolina.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Controversies & Scandals

August 30, 1960: Thomas Tillis Born

On August 30, 1960, Thomas Roland Tillis was born. He is an American businessman and politician.

Others born on this day/year

1976: Copyright Act

In April 2020, Thom Tillis expressed concern that the Internet Archive's "National Emergency Library" initiative violated copyright law. The Internet Archive argued that the Copyright Act of 1976 provides flexibility to libraries and others to adjust to changing circumstances.

1978: High School Graduation

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

1978: Worked at Provident Life

In 1978, Thom Tillis worked at Provident Life and Accident Insurance Co. in Chattanooga, Tennessee, helping computerize records in conjunction with Wang Laboratories.

1986: University Degree

In 1986, Thom Tillis received a Bachelor of Science in technology management from the University of Maryland University College.

1990: Joined Price Waterhouse

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

1996: Promoted to Partner

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

1998: Moved to North Carolina

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

2002: Joined IBM and Started Political Career

In 2002, Thom Tillis joined IBM after PricewaterhouseCoopers sold its consulting arm. He also began his political career in Cornelius, pushing for a local bike trail and being elected to the town's park board.

2003: Ran for Town Commissioner

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

2006: Elected to General Assembly

In 2006, Thom Tillis ran for the General Assembly, defeating incumbent John W. Rhodes in the Republican primary and winning the election unopposed.

2007: NC House of Representatives

In 2007, Thom Tillis served in the North Carolina House of Representatives.

2007: Renewable Portfolio Standard

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

2008: Reelected Unopposed

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

2009: Left IBM

In 2009, Thom Tillis formally left IBM.

2010: Minimum Wage Opposition

In 2010, Thom Tillis opposed the idea of increasing North Carolina's minimum wage.

2010: Campaign Chairman & Reelected

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

2011: "GOP Legislator to Watch"

In 2011, Thom Tillis and North Carolina Senate President pro tempore Phil Berger were named "GOP Legislators to Watch" by Governing magazine.

2011: "Divide and Conquer" Speech

In 2011, Thom Tillis said, "What we have to do is find a way to divide and conquer the people who are on assistance" by getting people who "had no choice" but to receive public assistance "to look down at these people who choose to get into a condition that makes them dependent on the government." After a video of the speech was publicized three years later while he was running for the US Senate, Tillis faced some blowback, with some likening the comment to Mitt Romney's "47%" remark. Tillis said he regretted the phrasing "divide and conquer" but defended the remark's substance.

2011: State House Speaker

In 2011, Thom Tillis served as the State House speaker.

2011: Abortion Law

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

2012: Pushed for North Carolina Amendment 1

In 2012, Thom Tillis played a leading role in pushing for North Carolina Amendment 1, a state constitutional amendment that banned same-sex marriage and civil unions.

2012: Defund Planned Parenthood

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

2012: Reelected Unopposed

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

2012: Legislation on Voting

In 2012, after Republican Pat McCrory was elected governor, Thom 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. The U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the restrictions, writing in its opinion that they "target African Americans with almost surgical precision".

2013: Motorcycle Safety Bill

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

2013: Speaker Reelected

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

2014: Campaign with Cambridge Analytica

During the 2014 campaign, the Thom Tillis campaign and the North Carolina Republican Party paid $345,000 to the data analysis firm Cambridge Analytica to microtarget voters, utilizing "psychographic profiles for all voters in North Carolina".

2014: Protests in Office

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

2014: Runs for U.S. Senate

In 2014, Thom Tillis announced that he would not seek reelection to the state House, instead running for U.S. Senate against first-term Democratic incumbent Kay Hagan. He was endorsed by Jeb Bush, Pat McCrory, Mitt Romney, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

2014: Appealed ruling on Amendment 1

In 2014, Thom Tillis appealed a ruling that North Carolina Amendment 1 was unconstitutional.

2014: Denied climate change

In 2014, Thom Tillis denied that climate change was occurring.

2014: Opposed Minimum Wage Increase

In 2014, Thom Tillis opposed increasing the federal minimum wage.

2014: Elected to the Senate

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

2014: Support Personhood Bill

In 2014, a Thom 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 cases of rape, incest and when the life of the mother is in danger" and if women would continue to "have access to contraceptives."

2014: NRA support during Senate campaign

In 2014, during Thom Tillis' Senate campaign, the National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) spent $4.4 million, half in support of Tillis and half in opposition to Hagan.

2014: Campaign Finance

In the 2014 election, Thom Tillis received $22,888,975 in "dark money", which constituted 81% of non-party outside spending in support. OpenSecrets placed the final cost of outside spending at $8.5 million for Hagan and $35.5 million attacking Tillis, and $13.7 million for Tillis and $20.9 million attacking Hagan, placing the totals by candidate at $44 million for Hagan, and $34.6 million for Tillis.

2015: Became US Senator

In 2015, Thom Tillis became a United States senator from North Carolina.

2015: Offshore Drilling

In 2015, Thom Tillis called for opening up the United States' Atlantic coast for offshore drilling.

2015: Opt Out of Regulations

In 2015, Thom Tillis illustrated his attitude towards regulation by suggesting coffee-shop companies should be able to "opt out" of hand-washing regulations if they post a sign.

2015: Voted against climate change amendment

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

2015: Voted for amendment on same-sex marriage

In 2015, Thom Tillis voted for an amendment to a non-binding resolution that would allow same-sex married couples living in states that do not recognize same-sex marriage to have access to government resources.

2015: Joined Senate Whistleblower Protection Caucus

Since 2015, Thom Tillis has been a member of the Senate Whistleblower Protection Caucus, which raises awareness of the need for protections against retaliation for employees who report wrongdoing.

2016: Trump Comments "Indefensible"

After the release of the Access Hollywood tape during the 2016 United States presidential election, Thom Tillis called Trump's comments "indefensible".

2016: Opposed Supreme Court Filling

In 2016, Thom Tillis opposed filling the then Supreme Court vacancy until after the election, adding the nomination "would be best left to the next president."

2016: Voted on gun control bills

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

March 2017: Voted for Broadband Consumer Privacy Proposal

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

November 2017: Opposed EPA Nomination

In November 2017, Thom Tillis opposed Trump's nomination of Michael Dourson for an EPA role.

2017: Paris Agreement

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

2017: Supportive of Trump

In 2017, Thom Tillis said that he had "not deviated once from any nomination or any vote that the president happens to be supportive of".

2017: Condemned genocide in Myanmar

In 2017, Thom Tillis was one of 21 senators to sign a letter condemning the genocide of the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar.

2017: Proposed legislation on DACA

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.

January 2018: Letter on Trade Agreement

In January 2018, Thom Tillis was one of 36 Republican senators to sign a letter to Trump requesting he preserve the North American Free Trade Agreement.

2018: Beneficiary of NRA funding

As of 2018, Thom Tillis was the third-largest beneficiary of NRA funding in Congress.

2018: Climate change stance

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

2018: Introduced legislation on preexisting conditions

In 2018, amid attempts to repeal the ACA, Thom Tillis introduced legislation to compensate for the ACA's requirement that insurers cover people with preexisting conditions, but the bill was criticized for loopholes. Tillis later stated he could make improvements to the bill.

February 2019: Opposed Trump's emergency declaration

In February 2019, Thom Tillis wrote an op-ed opposing Trump's national emergency declaration concerning the southern border.

December 2019: Tucker Drops Out of Primary

In December 2019, Garland Tucker dropped out of the Republican primary race after Trump endorsed all incumbent Republican senators up for election in 2020, including Thom Tillis.

2019: Signed letter to EPA

In 2019, Thom Tillis was one of 20 senators to sign a letter asking the EPA to regulate the amount of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in drinking water.

April 2020: Concern over Internet Archive initiative

In April 2020, Thom Tillis expressed concern that the Internet Archive's "National Emergency Library" initiative violated copyright law, arguing it rewrote copyright law at the expense of creators.

May 2020: Voted against FISA amendment

In May 2020, Thom Tillis voted against an amendment to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to bar warrantless surveillance of web browser history.

September 2020: Opposition to Affordable Care Act

As of September 2020, North Carolina remains one of only 12 states not to have expanded Medicaid, due to legislation led by Thom Tillis which prevents the governor from expanding the program. Tillis has stated healthcare is "not a government responsibility".

September 2020: Supported Immediate Vote on Trump Nominee

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

October 2, 2020: Tillis Tests Positive for COVID-19

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

October 2020: Cunningham Affair Acknowledged

In October 2020, Cal Cunningham acknowledged having an extramarital affair, reducing his lead in the polls against Thom Tillis before election day.

2020: Senate campaign climate stance

During his 2020 Senate campaign, Tillis was described as trying to appear as a moderate proponent of market-based climate solutions, despite a record as a fossil fuel advocate.

2020: Solar Energy Production

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

2020: Expressed support for Soleimani assassination

In 2020, Thom Tillis expressed support for the US military's assassination of Iranian major general Qasem Soleimani by drone strike.

2020: Reelected to the Senate

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

2020: Reversed position on emergency declaration

In 2020, after initially opposing Trump's national emergency declaration, Thom Tillis reversed his position and voted for it.

January 2021: Vote Alignment with Trump

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

March 29, 2021: Announced prostate cancer diagnosis

On March 29, 2021, Thom Tillis announced he had prostate cancer and would be undergoing surgery and treatment, discovered during a routine annual physical.

May 28, 2021: Voted against Capitol attack commission

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

August 2021: Called for accountability for Capitol attack

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

2021: Amendment on copyright streaming

In 2021, Thom Tillis inserted an amendment to the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 to make the unauthorized commercial streaming of copyrighted material a felony, with penalties of up to three years in prison.

July 2022: Supported bipartisan bill on same-sex marriage

In July 2022, Thom Tillis said that he would "probably" support a bipartisan bill to codify same-sex marriage in the U.S.

November 2022: Called Senate's same-sex marriage bill a good compromise

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

November 29, 2022: Voted for the Respect for Marriage Act

On November 29, 2022, Thom Tillis voted for the Respect for Marriage Act, which passed the Senate and was enacted, repealing the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and codifying rights to same-sex and interracial marriage into federal law.

2022: Voted against Honoring our PACT Act

In 2022, Thom Tillis was among the 11 senators who voted against the Honoring our PACT Act of 2022, a bill that funded research and benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances, citing concerns about the Department of Veterans Affairs' ability to implement the legislation effectively.

2022: Supported Bipartisan Safer Communities Act

In 2022, Thom Tillis was one of 15 Republican senators to support the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which included funding for state red flag provisions, school safety resources, stronger background checks for buyers under 21, and penalties for straw purchases.

2023: Senior US Senator

In 2023, Thom Tillis became the state's senior U.S. senator when Richard Burr retired.

2023: Censured by NC Republican Party

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

February 2025: Called Putin a war criminal

In February 2025, Thom Tillis called Russian President Vladimir Putin a war criminal and the "greatest threat of democracy in my lifetime", while not directly criticizing Trump's approach to the conflict.

May 2025: Opposed Ed Martin nomination

In May 2025, Thom Tillis announced he would oppose the confirmation of Ed Martin as United States Attorney for the District of Columbia due to Martin's defense of January 6 rioters. Trump withdrew the nomination.

June 2025: Opposed One Big Beautiful Bill Act

In June 2025, Thom 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 2025: Opposed Bill and Announces No Reelection

In June 2025, Thom Tillis was one of three Republican senators to oppose the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. After Trump criticized him, Tillis announced he would not seek reelection, saying, "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."

June 29, 2025: Tillis Announces No Reelection

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

2025: Involvement in Hegseth nomination

In 2025, Thom Tillis allegedly told Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth's ex-sister-in-law that a sworn statement from her would carry weight regarding his potential alcohol abuse and abuse of his second wife. He ultimately voted to confirm Hegseth, citing lack of corroboration, though there were reports he changed his vote due to pressure from President Trump.

2025: Score from Humane World Action Fund

In 2025, Thom Tillis received a score of 50 out of 100 from the Humane World Action Fund on animal protection issues.

2026: Retirement Year

In 2026, Thom Tillis will not seek reelection to a third term.

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