Another state Republican party loses its damn mind by voting to censure Sen. Thom Tillis on a 799-361 vote at their yearly convention. The vote has no immediate effect, but Tillis can probably expect a primary challenge from someone from the far right for 2026. Assuming they don't find anyone with the political skill and money to knock him off though, Tillis can probably expect a lifetime Senate appointment now, with more independents and even some Democrats willing to vote for a non-batshit crazy Republican. So in that sense, the vote to censure probably helps Tillis more than it hurts.
All of which is quite ironic, as Tillis gained the senate seat in 2014 by being the far-right, batshit Republican alternative to moderate Democrat Kay Hagan. He won that election in a squeaker. Then in 2020 he was expected to lose against Cal Cunningham but survived after Cunningham's extramarital affair during the campaign came to light. The Democrats giving away a senate seat there. So, in my opinion, Tiliis' move to, in some respects at least, a pragmatic reality-based Republican isn't that surprising. He had to, in order to survive. Now the question is whether he can survive North Carolina Republicans.
Source: Associated Press
GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) — Republican delegates in North Carolina voted Saturday at their annual convention to censure Thom Tillis, the state’s senior U.S. senator, for backing LGBTQ+ rights, immigration and gun violence policies.
As Sen. Tillis has gained influence in Congress for his willingness to work across the aisle, his record of supporting some key policies has raised concerns among some state Republicans that the senator has strayed from conservative values.
Several delegates in Greensboro criticized Tillis, who has held his seat in the Senate since 2015, for his work last year on the Respect For Marriage Act, which enshrined protections for same-sex and interracial marriages in federal law.
Both the state and national GOP platforms oppose same-sex marriage. But Tillis, who had opposed it earlier in his political career, was among the early supporters of the law who lobbied his GOP colleagues in Congress to vote in favor of it.
Others criticized him for challenging former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and for supporting a measure that provided funds for red flag laws, which allow state courts to authorize the temporary removal of firearms from people who they believe might pose a danger to themselves or others.
2/3 of the vote was needed to censure Tillis.
