Sen. Thom Tillis’ (R-N.C.) campaign is holding a major fundraiser in Raleigh on March 21, seeking to highlight a deep bench of in-state Republican supporters.
But in a sloppy start to Tillis’ high-stakes reelection campaign, a number of House Republicans mentioned in the invite were included without their knowledge.
One House Republican listed as a special guest on the invite — Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-N.C.) — told us he isn’t endorsing Tillis and wasn’t aware he was included in the fundraiser.
“Congressman Harrigan did not authorize or approve the use of his name in any materials for an event supporting Senator Tillis,” Lexi Kranich, Harrigan’s communications director, said in a statement. “While we recognize the importance of holding this critical Senate seat for Republicans, Congressman Harrigan’s focus remains on advancing President Trump’s America First agenda.”
We’re also told that Reps. Addison McDowell (R-N.C.) and Brad Knott (R-N.C.) weren’t consulted on their inclusion on the fundraising invite.
Tillis’ team didn’t comment.
The snafu shows how Tillis will face issues uniting the North Carolina GOP as he faces a brutal fight for his political future in 2026. On top of a potential primary challenge, Democrats are likely to pour tens of millions of dollars into the Tarheel State to flip the seat, meaning Tillis will need to maximize his Republican voteshare to win.
Another North Carolina Republican, Rep. Mark Harris, told us he isn’t endorsing Tillis yet. Harris wasn’t included on the fundraising invite.
“I haven’t had much time to start thinking about [the] 2026 elections,” Harris told us. “Sen. Tillis and I haven’t talked about his race nor has he asked me for my endorsement in his reelection campaign.”
Tillis’ willingness to work across the aisle has angered his home state’s base in recent years. In 2023, hardline delegates from the state Republican Party voted to censure Tillis after he supported the Respect for Marriage Act and the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Tillis has also been a prominent GOP supporter of Ukraine, often challenging members of his own party on the issue.
As a result, right-wing activists have vowed to unseat Tillis. Local businessman Andy Nilsson has already announced a primary run. One potential challenger, former Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, won’t be running against Tillis.
Tillis has brushed off the censures and stood by his dealmaking tendencies. And following President Donald Trump’s victory, Tillis has voted for every single one of Trump’s nominees and tied himself closely to the administration.
Tillis was instrumental, for example, in Kash Patel’s confirmation as FBI director.
