You’re right, absolutely true that Tillis was afraid to engage grassroots Republicans. The last state GOP Convention he spoke at was in 2018. My wife saw him as he entered the venue and said’ “Senator Tillis, please support our President.” Indeed, the first line in his speech was a defense of his support of Trump, a sign of his vulnerability 8 years ago. He has not come to a State Convention since. Of course, he was censured in 2023 for his compromises with Democrats on immigration and gun rights. Another censure was proposed at 2025 Convention for obstructing Trump, but no vote occurred. He saw the writing on the wall, was afraid or unable to defend himself, and dropped out of the race.
Same with Burr, another Senator who only showed his face every 6 years to ask for votes. He announced his retirement (at the young age of 65 for a Senator, LOL) just before his vote to impeach Trump, knowing the consequences. Sure enough he was immediately censured by the Executive Committee led by grassroots fury.
So, in these two examples, at least, we have not seen a primary contest between a weak vulnerable incumbent and a grassroots pick. And that’s the other side of the coin. It’s hard for grassroots to establish a bench to advance candidates to the big leagues—a Catch-22, you work your way up the system and only to become branded “establishment.” Ted Budd would be an exception and we do have up and coming grassroots favorites, but they are only in their first terms as U.S. Representatives.
1) I was surprised to see you not mention Morrow’s relentless attack against critical race theory and social emotional learning, both of which were impossible for Truitt to defend. That message was what drove a stake in Truitt’s political future, methinks.
2) Your observation on “anti-establishment” Republicans vs. any predecessors are a natural progression form the Perot voters, TEA Party, and now MAGA. You may have missed what I suspect is their common denominator: America First. And THAT’S the message likely to survive beyond the Trump era.
3) And finally, Tillis. He showed absolute distain for that America First movement once, by assuring a Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce luncheon that he would make sure they have continued access to cheap immigrant labor. Not everyone in the audience was thrilled with such a Globalist perspective. Some of them loved our country more than their stock dividends.
Andrew; Another superb article. I take exception to your premise that Tillis has only recently revealed his true nature. The 6th Congressional District actually censured Tillis way back in 2018 after he opposed Trump's border wall plans, expressed support of the terrorist group CAIR, and spoke openly about his opposition to Trump's plans in social media and on TV. My county GOP Executive Committee sent him numerous letters of concern and admonition for his very vocal and visible hold up of Trump's Senate and cabinet appointments, first and second terms. And the state party officially censured Tillis during the 2023 convention- despite Chairman Michael Whatley's fervent attempts to protect his mentor. Tillis has not been secretive about his disdain for the MAGA crowd- he vigorously condemned the J6ers and opposed Trump's pardons.
Frankly, the only surprise I have witnessed involving Thom Tillis is the media's complete lack of association between him and Michael Whatley, who many refer to as Tillis's "Mini-Me." After all, Tillis and his wife originally recruited Michael Whatley to run for State Party Chair in 2019, after State Party Chair Robin Hayes was federally indicted for attempted bribery. The establishment wing of the party was genuinely nervous about a grassroots leader being elected to take over the party and expose the Tillis political machine. Lobbyist and politically disengaged Michael Whatley was the answer. Whatley actually drove up from Gaston County to see me in early 2019 and he told me, "...the most important race for us in 2020 is re-electing Thom Tillis, not Donald Trump...." He truly meant that. He eked out a win at the 2019 State GOP convention and then spent 5 years opposing all attempts to expose Tillis or to recruit and groom another to replace Tillis.
The stories are legion about how disassociated Tillis has been with the GOP and constituents. I can name dozens of grassroots conservatives that he has insulted or mistreated over the past 10 years. Most GOP insiders recognized early just how poorly Tillis was representing the state, but the party apparatus kept a political lid on it. No, many of us have known Thom Tillis for who he was and is: there have been no surprises for us.
You’re right, absolutely true that Tillis was afraid to engage grassroots Republicans. The last state GOP Convention he spoke at was in 2018. My wife saw him as he entered the venue and said’ “Senator Tillis, please support our President.” Indeed, the first line in his speech was a defense of his support of Trump, a sign of his vulnerability 8 years ago. He has not come to a State Convention since. Of course, he was censured in 2023 for his compromises with Democrats on immigration and gun rights. Another censure was proposed at 2025 Convention for obstructing Trump, but no vote occurred. He saw the writing on the wall, was afraid or unable to defend himself, and dropped out of the race.
Same with Burr, another Senator who only showed his face every 6 years to ask for votes. He announced his retirement (at the young age of 65 for a Senator, LOL) just before his vote to impeach Trump, knowing the consequences. Sure enough he was immediately censured by the Executive Committee led by grassroots fury.
So, in these two examples, at least, we have not seen a primary contest between a weak vulnerable incumbent and a grassroots pick. And that’s the other side of the coin. It’s hard for grassroots to establish a bench to advance candidates to the big leagues—a Catch-22, you work your way up the system and only to become branded “establishment.” Ted Budd would be an exception and we do have up and coming grassroots favorites, but they are only in their first terms as U.S. Representatives.
A few quick thoughts on this well written post:
1) I was surprised to see you not mention Morrow’s relentless attack against critical race theory and social emotional learning, both of which were impossible for Truitt to defend. That message was what drove a stake in Truitt’s political future, methinks.
2) Your observation on “anti-establishment” Republicans vs. any predecessors are a natural progression form the Perot voters, TEA Party, and now MAGA. You may have missed what I suspect is their common denominator: America First. And THAT’S the message likely to survive beyond the Trump era.
3) And finally, Tillis. He showed absolute distain for that America First movement once, by assuring a Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce luncheon that he would make sure they have continued access to cheap immigrant labor. Not everyone in the audience was thrilled with such a Globalist perspective. Some of them loved our country more than their stock dividends.
Andrew; Another superb article. I take exception to your premise that Tillis has only recently revealed his true nature. The 6th Congressional District actually censured Tillis way back in 2018 after he opposed Trump's border wall plans, expressed support of the terrorist group CAIR, and spoke openly about his opposition to Trump's plans in social media and on TV. My county GOP Executive Committee sent him numerous letters of concern and admonition for his very vocal and visible hold up of Trump's Senate and cabinet appointments, first and second terms. And the state party officially censured Tillis during the 2023 convention- despite Chairman Michael Whatley's fervent attempts to protect his mentor. Tillis has not been secretive about his disdain for the MAGA crowd- he vigorously condemned the J6ers and opposed Trump's pardons.
Frankly, the only surprise I have witnessed involving Thom Tillis is the media's complete lack of association between him and Michael Whatley, who many refer to as Tillis's "Mini-Me." After all, Tillis and his wife originally recruited Michael Whatley to run for State Party Chair in 2019, after State Party Chair Robin Hayes was federally indicted for attempted bribery. The establishment wing of the party was genuinely nervous about a grassroots leader being elected to take over the party and expose the Tillis political machine. Lobbyist and politically disengaged Michael Whatley was the answer. Whatley actually drove up from Gaston County to see me in early 2019 and he told me, "...the most important race for us in 2020 is re-electing Thom Tillis, not Donald Trump...." He truly meant that. He eked out a win at the 2019 State GOP convention and then spent 5 years opposing all attempts to expose Tillis or to recruit and groom another to replace Tillis.
The stories are legion about how disassociated Tillis has been with the GOP and constituents. I can name dozens of grassroots conservatives that he has insulted or mistreated over the past 10 years. Most GOP insiders recognized early just how poorly Tillis was representing the state, but the party apparatus kept a political lid on it. No, many of us have known Thom Tillis for who he was and is: there have been no surprises for us.