Republican Senator Thom Tillis chose to retire after Donald Trump’s rage over changes to his disaster bill proved to be consequential. Rumors of Lara Trump entering the key Senate seat race spark panic over holding a majority in the chamber.
John Iadarola and Jayar Jackson break it down on The Damage Report.
“GOP Sen. Thom Tillis’ surprise retirement announcement has shaken up not only North Carolina’s Senate race, but also the broader fight for the majority in the chamber heading into next year’s midterm elections.
Democrats face a difficult task of netting four seats to win the Senate majority. Aside from battleground North Carolina, the party’s top pickup opportunity is in Maine, where Sen. Susan Collins is the only Republican senator representing a state that former Vice President Kamala Harris won in 2024. But the five-term incumbent has proved difficult to unseat.
And beyond that, Democrats would need to win races in traditionally red states, in addition to holding a handful of swing-state seats.
But with Tillis now declining to seek a third term, Democrats are starting to see a clearer, if still uphill, path to the majority.”
Read more here: Thom Tillis’ exit shakes up the battle for the Senate as key races take shape
