While North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis launched his 2026 reelection campaign with a fundraiser at the Carolina Country Club, more than 100 protesters gathered outside, demanding a town hall meeting with him, according to NC Newsline. Later that evening, hundreds more attended an “empty chair town hall” at Raleigh Brewing Company, using a vacant seat as a stand-in for Tillis as they voiced their frustrations.
Amongst concerns over Elon Musk’s so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and its impact on federal programs, as well as Trump’s unqualified selections for his cabinet, Tillis is bracing for what may be one of the most contentious Senate races in the country. He faces criticism from both the left and the right, yet has remained aligned with his party, voting for all of President Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees, no matter how questionable some were. Notably, despite privately encouraging Pete Hegseth’s former sister-in-law to come forward with abuse allegations against the then-Defense Secretary nominee, Tillis ultimately cast the deciding vote for his confirmation. Hegseth has since been scrutinized for sharing military plans on an unsecured platform in a group chat that included a journalist.
In nearly a decade in the Senate, Tillis has never held an in-person town hall. Republican U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson, another North Carolinian, recently advised colleagues to avoid such meetings, dismissing angry constituents as “professional protesters,” per Politico. Attendees at Friday’s protests recounted numerous attempts to contact Tillis’s office through calls, emails, and meetings with staff, only to receive generic responses. Still, they believe the growing pressure will force him to engage—or face electoral consequences.
Tillis’s office did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Protest at the Carolina Country Club
Over 100 protesters lined the street outside the Carolina Country Club, where Tillis was hosting a campaign kickoff luncheon with state and federal Republican lawmakers and donors. The demonstrators, including federal workers and veterans, chanted slogans such as “Thom Tillis sucks”, “Tillis is a coward” and “Get a spine or resign!”. Signs labeled him “Country Club Tillis” and condemned Trump, Musk, and DOGE. Some passing drivers honked in support, including one in a Tesla, prompting cheers from the crowd.
Kelly Keating, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 2065, criticized Tillis for failing to “honor his oath,” emphasizing that many federal employees are veterans whose jobs and healthcare are jeopardized by government cutbacks. “He needs to have a town hall so people can communicate with him,” she told NC Newsline.
The protest was organized by the Triangle Labor Council, which had previously demonstrated against federal worker firings and Social Security office closures. It drew a broad coalition of North Carolinians, including veterans and professionals concerned about the cuts.
Dave Smith, a North Carolina Army National Guard veteran, said he had reached out to Tillis about cuts to veterans’ services but received only “boilerplate” responses. He expressed disappointment over Tillis’ vote for Hegseth, calling him a “disastrously unqualified choice.”
Mike Senn, a software engineer from Raleigh, attended both protests and has been calling Tillis’ office weekly since Trump’s inauguration, only to be sent to voicemail. “I’m calling to get attention from him, to tell him to pick up the phone, to tell him to listen to his constituents and to hold a town hall with his constituents here in North Carolina,” Senn told NC Newsline.
Audrey Fischer, the daughter of a veteran and a volunteer with the Wilson County Democratic Party, called for Tillis to acknowledge the human toll of federal cuts. She emphasized the bipartisan nature of the frustration, citing support from truckers and bus drivers honking in solidarity.
An ‘Empty Chair’ Town Hall
That evening, about 700 people gathered at Raleigh Brewing Company for an “empty chair town hall” organized by the Triangle Area Indivisible Collaborative. Approximately 200 attendees filled the brewery’s main hall, some holding signs like “Tillis Do Your Job” and another depicting Tillis as a chicken.
Among the speakers were Jake and Aden Kalinowski, who shared their concerns about their seven-year-old sister Evelyn, who suffers from Dup15q syndrome and relies on Medicaid for treatment. Aden, 21, said he had previously avoided politics but felt compelled to speak up after seeing his sister’s care jeopardized. “Even though she can’t walk or talk or even say to me my name, she has given me so much love and so much of everything that I am as a man and a brother,” Aden told the crowd. “Why do people like her have to get her medicine taken away, or get her physical therapy taken away, or get her everything taken away — her equipment, her school — for what? For more money in billionaires’ pockets? I will never understand it.”
Federal workers at the town hall condemned agency cuts affecting environmental protection, consumer safety, and education. Pediatrician and Bull City Indivisible co-founder Anna Ruderman described explaining to Tillis’ staff why treating children with complex medical needs is inherently inefficient but essential. “Their lives are important,” she said.
State Democratic leaders also spoke, including North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton, former U.S. Rep. Wiley Nickel, former Agriculture Commissioner candidate Sarah Taber, and Chapel Hill Town Councilor Theodore Nollert. Nickel criticized Tillis for refusing to hold a town hall, highlighting his own record of 16 such events as a congressman. He also condemned Tillis’ reversal on Hegseth’s nomination, saying, “His vote is no longer for North Carolinians; it is just for Donald Trump.”
A Contentious Reelection Campaign
Tillis faces a difficult reelection bid. His unwavering alignment with Trump, even on issues where he initially hesitated, suggests he is more concerned about a primary challenge than a general election loss.
Two Republicans, Don Brown of Charlotte and Andy Nilsson of Winston-Salem, have already filed primary challenges, though neither has significant backing. Former Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson, despite his frequent criticism of Tillis, has stated he does not plan to run. However, Trump’s potential endorsement of a challenger remains a looming threat.
According to The New York Times, Trump recently asked North Carolina lawmakers whether any of them would like his support to challenge Tillis in a primary, particularly after the senator’s wavering on Hegseth’s nomination. Punchbowl News reports that U.S. Representatives Pat Harrigan and Mark Harris are withholding their endorsements, with some lawmakers listed as fundraiser guests allegedly unaware of their inclusion.
On the Democratic side, former Gov. Roy Cooper is widely speculated to run but has yet to announce his plans. Former Rep. Wiley Nickel has filed with the FEC but has not formally launched a campaign.
As Tillis navigates this challenging political landscape, whether he chooses to engage with constituents or continue avoiding town halls could prove pivotal in shaping his reelection prospects.
Original Source – https://ncnewsline.com By: Brandon Kingdollar
Photo Credit – Brandon Kingdollar/NC Newsline
