Three GOP Senators Exit, Leaving North Carolina Seat Potentially Vulnerable

Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, John Cornyn of Texas, and Thom Tillis of North Carolina are not seeking re-election in 2026. Tillis, who announced his retirement in June 2025, won his 2020 race by 1.8 points—the narrowest margin among the three—making his North Carolina seat a potential pickup opportunity for Democrats as the party seeks open-seat gains in the 2026 midterm cycle.