Thom Tillis

Thom Tillis
United States Congress · Public domain · source
Name	Thom Tillis
State	North Carolina
Party	Republican
Term start	January 3, 2015
Preceded	Kay Hagan
Birth date	August 30, 1960
Birth place	Jacksonville, Florida

Thom Tillis is a Republican U.S. Senator from North Carolina, serving since 2015. He was born in Jacksonville, Florida, and grew up in Miami, Florida, and Cornelius, North Carolina. Tillis graduated from University of Maryland University College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Technology Management. He later earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business.

● Early Life and Education

Thom Tillis was born on August 30, 1960, in Jacksonville, Florida, to Richard Tillis and Margaret Tillis. He spent his early childhood in Miami, Florida, before moving to Cornelius, North Carolina, where he attended South Iredell High School. Tillis later attended Appalachian State University but did not graduate. He then enrolled in University of Maryland University College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Technology Management. Tillis also holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business, which he earned in 1996. During his time at Duke University, Tillis was influenced by the works of Milton Friedman and Friedrich Hayek, which shaped his views on free market economics.

● Career

Before entering politics, Tillis worked as a management consultant for PriceWaterhouseCoopers and IBM. He also served as the Chief Information Officer for Wachovia and Aon Corporation. Tillis's experience in the private sector has been influenced by the ideas of Alan Greenspan and Ben Bernanke, former Chairman of the Federal Reserve. In 2006, Tillis was elected to the North Carolina House of Representatives, where he served as the Speaker of the House from 2011 to 2015. During his tenure, he worked closely with Pat McCrory, the Governor of North Carolina, to pass legislation such as the North Carolina Budget and Policy Center.

● U.S. Senate

Tillis was elected to the United States Senate in 2014, defeating Kay Hagan in a closely contested election. He took office on January 3, 2015, and has since served on several committees, including the Senate Committee on Armed Services, Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Tillis has worked with Mitch McConnell, the Senate Majority Leader, to pass legislation such as the First Step Act and the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. He has also collaborated with Lindsey Graham, the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, on issues related to immigration reform and national security.

● Political Positions

Tillis is a conservative who has taken positions on various issues, including taxation, healthcare, and immigration. He has supported the repeal of the Affordable Care Act and has advocated for a free market approach to healthcare reform. Tillis has also been a strong supporter of Israel and has worked with AIPAC to promote United States-Israel relations. He has been influenced by the ideas of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher, and has spoken at events hosted by the Heritage Foundation and the Cato Institute.

● Elections

Tillis was first elected to the United States Senate in 2014, defeating Kay Hagan by a margin of 1.5%. He won the Republican primary election with 45.7% of the vote, defeating Greg Brannon and Mark Harris. In the general election, Tillis received support from Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush, and Marco Rubio, among other prominent Republican figures. Tillis was re-elected in 2020, defeating Cal Cunningham by a margin of 1.8%. He received endorsements from Donald Trump, Mike Pence, and Ted Cruz, among others. Tillis has also been supported by organizations such as the National Rifle Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.