Thom Tillis is North Carolina's senior senator, having served since 2015 after defeating incumbent Democrat Kay Hagan in one of the most competitive races of the 2014 midterms. Before the Senate, he served in the North Carolina State House, rising to become Speaker from 2011 to 2014. A business professional by background, Tillis worked for IBM and other technology companies before entering public life.
Tillis serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate Armed Services Committee, and has carved out a reputation as a moderate voice within the Senate Republican caucus on immigration, occasionally breaking with his party to support bipartisan reform efforts. He has championed workforce development, veterans' issues, and the significant military installations in North Carolina including Fort Liberty. His 2020 reelection, which he won narrowly despite being hospitalized during the campaign, established him as a durable political force in a competitive state.