Senator Thom Tillis was among 20 Senate Republicans who voted against bipartisan legislation to expand Social Security benefits for over 2 million Americans, including teachers, firefighters, and law enforcement officers. The bill, known as the Social Security Fairness Act, passed the Senate in December 2024 in a 76-20 vote and was signed into law by President Biden on January 5, 2025.
The legislation repealed two provisions—the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset—that had long reduced retirement benefits for many public sector workers. Following Biden’s signature on the legislation, retirees began receiving an average of $360 more a month.
Tillis’s vote put him squarely in the crosshairs of Democrats, who are already gearing up for the 2026 election cycle. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) announced its first round of digital ads this month, specifically targeting Sen. Tillis and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) over their records on Social Security.
Political Fallout and Targeted Messaging
The DSCC’s ad campaign highlights the Trump administration’s past plan to slash Social Security phone services—a move the White House has since reversed. The digital ads, running on Meta platforms, aim to reach seniors and other likely voters in North Carolina, a top Democratic pickup opportunity in 2026.
“In 2026, voters will hold Susan Collins, Thom Tillis, and Senate Republicans accountable for their toxic plan to slash Social Security in order to pay for a tax giveaway to billionaires,” said Maeve Coyle, DSCC communications director.
Tillis vs. Bipartisanship
Despite strong bipartisan support for the bill, Tillis sided with fiscal conservatives who warned of its potential cost. Critics, led by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), argued the bill was too expensive. Paul proposed an amendment to raise the retirement age gradually from 67 to 70 to offset costs—a measure that was overwhelmingly defeated.
Split in the GOP
Tillis’ stance placed him at odds with a significant number of his Republican colleagues who voted in favor of the bill. Even Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN), a noted fiscal conservative, supported the measure, saying that restoring millions of Americans’ full Social Security benefits wouldn’t cost that much in the grand scale of Washington spending. “That was simple logic for me, even though I’ve been one of the loudest fiscal conservatives,” he said. “It was addressing in my opinion a real issue of inequity.”
The Road to 2026
North Carolina remains a critical battleground in the upcoming Senate cycle, and Democrats are wasting no time framing Tillis’ vote as part of a broader Republican effort to undermine Social Security and safety net programs. Alongside ongoing GOP efforts to cut Medicaid as part of budget reconciliation talks, Democrats see a potent campaign message forming.
As pressure mounts, Tillis will likely face a steady drumbeat of attacks over his opposition to the Social Security Fairness Act, a vote that could define his re-election campaign in a state where senior voters hold considerable sway.
Read more from Axios.
