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Thom Tillis on Principles & Values

 

 


I have a habit of mirroring the behavior I'm presented with

When asked whether he'll be a thorn in the president's side, "that's President Trump's choice," Tillis told Semafor. "I've tried to defer to him and show him respect, but I do have a habit of mirroring the behavior that I'm presented with."

"You can just ask the poor guy in the National Airport about seven weeks ago what happens when you get up in this former trailer park resident's face. There's no human being on the face of the planet whose behavior I wouldn't mirror if it's disrespectful."

Source: Semafor on 2026 North Carolina Senate race , Jul 15, 2025

Outspoken in my defense of our freedom of religion

Q: Do you promise to protect the freedom of Christians to share the Gospel and to practice Biblical principles?

A: Yes.

Q: What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?

A: I have been outspoken in my defense of our freedom of religion. One example of my commitment to this cause was when Pastor Andrew Brunson was being held in a Turkish prison for practicing his faith and I helped free him and get him returned safely to America.

Q: Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values?

A: I am Catholic, which informs my belief in the dignity of work and that every life is a precious gift from God.

Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2020 North Carolina Senate race , Nov 3, 2020

Judeo-Christian values established our government framework

Question topic: Efforts to bring Islamic law (shariah) to America do not pose a threat to our country and its Constitution.

Tillis: Disagree.

Question topic: Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted our system of limited government.

Tillis: Strongly Agree.

Question topic: Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

Tillis: Catholic.

Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 North Carolina Senate race , Sep 30, 2014

A self-made man who grew up in a trailer park

Tillis' spokesman countered Hagan's attacks by noting that that tax cuts and regulatory changes passed by the General Assembly since Republicans gained power in 2010 have boosted middle-class families and small businesses.

Tillis aides concede that Hagan has gotten a head start raising money and making her pitch to voters, but said voters would come to respect his life story. Tillis, they said, grew up in a trailer park and is a "self-made man."

"Only one candidate has been telling a story," said a Tillis strategist. "The Thom Tillis story has yet to be told."

Tillis's campaign, meanwhile, has called Hagan a "rubber stamp" for Obama's policies, chiding her for her vote supporting the president's health-care overhaul. The voters' negative feelings toward Obama, Tillis aides say, will help mobilize the Republican base. "North Carolinians are really not happy with the direction our country is going in," Keylin said.

Source: Washington Post on 2014 North Carolina Senate race , Aug 13, 2014

Served on town commission; ousted sitting State House Rep.

More than a decade ago, a push for a mountain bike trail in his hometown of Cornelius led Thom Tillis to politics, first leading him to serve on a park board and then a year later on the town commission.

The Republican is returning to the story of his political roots as he campaigns for the US Senate. "I've only been in office since 2007," he said after filing his candidacy papers last week. "I served for a small time in the town of Cornelius. I was PTA president 8 years ago."

The effort is designed to portray Tillis as the candidate who can deliver results and push back against his label as the establishment candidate. But it also highlights his start in state politics in 2006 when he ousted a conservative lawmaker in a GOP primary, 2-term Republican state Rep. John Rhodes. The Tillis-Rhodes race is seared into the minds of some conservative activists; the the leader of the Charlotte Tea Party, said Tillis' effort to beat Rhodes helped sow "a level of distrust among conservatives."

Source: Charlotte Observer on 2014 North Carolina Senate race , Mar 5, 2014

Moral Mondays are for whining losers who oppose GOP agenda

N.C. House Speaker Thom Tillis described opponents of the Republican agenda in the General Assembly as "losers" in an interview. "I think for the most part, what I see from the folks who are opposing our agenda is whining coming from losers," Tillis told Politico.com when asked about the current political environment. "They lost, they don't like it, and they are going to try to do everything they can to cast doubt on things that I think are wise and that the average citizen will like."

Tillis is one of Gov. Pat McCrory's closest allies and helped engineer majorities in the state House and Senate for the GOP in 2010. McCrory is the state's first Republican governor since 1993.

Democrats and others frustrated by the sharp turn to the right participated in a series of protests dubbed "Moral Mondays" throughout the General Assembly session. Ministers, teachers and other activists participated in the protests, which migrated to Charlotte and other cities.

Source: Charlotte Business Jnl. on 2014 North Carolina Senate race , Dec 12, 2013

Endorsed Endorsed by Donald Trump/MAGA during presidency.

Tillis is endorsed by Trump/MAGA endorsement list

Endorsements by Donald Trump, implying support of Trump's agenda and electoral style. The phrase `Make America Great Again` was popularized in Trump`s 2015 book Time to Get Tough:Making America Great Again. It is the campaign slogan embroidered on the ubiquitous red caps seen at Trump rallies (which after Trump`s presidency, became known as `MAGA rallies`).

Source: Ballotpedia 2016-2022 endorsement list 2022-MAGA on Jan 1, 2022

Strongly protect religious liberty, according to AFA survey.

Tillis supports the AFA survey question on religious liberty

The AFA inferred whether candidates agree or disagree with the statement, 'Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law'? Self-description: (American Family Association helps produce iVoterGuides): `Grounded in God; rooted in research`; they `thoroughly investigate candidates`; when they cannot `evaluate with confidence, they receive an `Insufficient` rating` (& we exclude)

Source: AFA Survey 20AFA-4A on Sep 11, 2020

Strongly pro-Judeo-Christian morality, according to AFA survey.

Tillis supports the AFA survey question on Judeo-Christian values

The AFA inferred whether candidates agree or disagree with the statement, 'Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government'? Self-description: (American Family Association helps produce iVoterGuides): `Grounded in God; rooted in research`; they `thoroughly investigate candidates`; when they cannot `evaluate with confidence, they receive an `Insufficient` rating` (& we exclude)

Source: AFA Survey 20AFA-4B on Sep 11, 2020

Certify 2020 Presidential election as fully & fairly counted.

Tillis voted NAY blocking certification of the Electoral vote

Explanation of 1/6/21 Electoral Certification, by Emily Brooks, Washington Examiner:Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Paul Gosar led an objection to counting Electoral College votes from the state of Arizona, the first formal objection to state results in a series of moves that will delay the certification of Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 presidential election over President Trump. Cruz is advocating for an `emergency 10-day audit` of election returns in disputed states. The usually ceremonial joint session of Congress that convenes to count and accept Electoral College votes will be put on hold as the House and Senate separately debate the objection.