Editor and publisher of PoliticsNC. Erstwhile Democratic political consultant with 30 years on the campaign battlefield. Now offering insight into North Carolina and national politics. Father, grandfather, dogfather. Tar Heel. https://politicsnc.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/tmillsnc.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/tmillsnc.bsky.social/post/3mupcintckc2iDemocrats will have a good year, but Republicans have maintained a historical advantage in turnout in the state that could mitigate the impact of the impending wave. https://open.substack.com/pub/politicsnc/p/history-in-north-carolina-should?r=7b98k&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true04 Sep 2026 15:42 +0000at://did:plc:eahhmjmn2hdp7mm56xey7ase/app.bsky.feed.post/3mupcintckc2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/tmillsnc.bsky.social/post/3muk7qgd2vs2uThe wave political prognosticator Charlie Cook describes is the type that washes people into office. In North Carolina, two Democrats could be swept into Congress. https://open.substack.com/pub/politicsnc/p/adding-districts-to-the-equation?r=7b98k&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true02 Sep 2026 15:09 +0000at://did:plc:eahhmjmn2hdp7mm56xey7ase/app.bsky.feed.post/3muk7qgd2vs2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/tmillsnc.bsky.social/post/3muf3n4jl422oRepublicans are still fighting the last war, ignoring rising prices and talking about COVID. https://open.substack.com/pub/politicsnc/p/high-gas-prices-hit-the-gop-outrage?r=7b98k&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true31 Aug 2026 14:12 +0000at://did:plc:eahhmjmn2hdp7mm56xey7ase/app.bsky.feed.post/3muf3n4jl422ohttps://bsky.app/profile/tmillsnc.bsky.social/post/3mu5qu2souk2oDonald Trump has made the GOP both ridiculous and dangerous. https://open.substack.com/pub/politicsnc/p/the-pathetic-party?r=7b98k&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true28 Aug 2026 16:11 +0000at://did:plc:eahhmjmn2hdp7mm56xey7ase/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu5qu2souk2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/tmillsnc.bsky.social/post/3mtywo6zwik2oJesse Watters isn’t running and doesn’t live in Michigan. Why did El-Sayed debate him? https://open.substack.com/pub/politicsnc/p/next-time-just-say-no-to-fox-news?r=7b98k&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true26 Aug 2026 18:12 +0000at://did:plc:eahhmjmn2hdp7mm56xey7ase/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtywo6zwik2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/tmillsnc.bsky.social/post/3mtqxhfrlys2oMichael Whatley’s latest ad exploits a tragic death to lie about Roy Cooper. His campaign is flailing. https://open.substack.com/pub/politicsnc/p/whatleys-act-of-desperation?r=7b98k&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true23 Aug 2026 14:04 +0000at://did:plc:eahhmjmn2hdp7mm56xey7ase/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtqxhfrlys2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/tmillsnc.bsky.social/post/3mtgxn6am6c2oThis is a long piece about my experience using technology to navigate the medical system. https://open.substack.com/pub/politicsnc/p/wilsons-disease-bing-neel-and-the?r=7b98k&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true19 Aug 2026 14:41 +0000at://did:plc:eahhmjmn2hdp7mm56xey7ase/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtgxn6am6c2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/tmillsnc.bsky.social/post/3msvhsgifu22eWhatley is like the guy at the back of a large crowd, waving his arms, yelling, “Look at me!” https://open.substack.com/pub/politicsnc/p/just-flailing?r=7b98k&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true12 Aug 2026 15:42 +0000at://did:plc:eahhmjmn2hdp7mm56xey7ase/app.bsky.feed.post/3msvhsgifu22ehttps://bsky.app/profile/tmillsnc.bsky.social/post/3mssnm5ux5s2eCooper holds a steady lead over Whatley who is still largely undefined. Dems lead in legislative generic ballot, but there are warning signs for Democrats as well. https://www.politicsnc.com/p/heading-toward-the-final-stretch11 Aug 2026 12:48 +0000at://did:plc:eahhmjmn2hdp7mm56xey7ase/app.bsky.feed.post/3mssnm5ux5s2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/tmillsnc.bsky.social/post/3msdraawqhk2eThe GOP forced Edwards out after sexual harassment scandal. https://open.substack.com/pub/politicsnc/p/they-chucked-him?r=7b98k&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true05 Aug 2026 14:43 +0000at://did:plc:eahhmjmn2hdp7mm56xey7ase/app.bsky.feed.post/3msdraawqhk2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/tmillsnc.bsky.social/post/3ms6zpy5fuc2eTodd Blanche is still the guy who will bend over for Trump before standing up for the country. https://open.substack.com/pub/politicsnc/p/he-pulled-a-tillis-again?r=7b98k&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true03 Aug 2026 17:32 +0000at://did:plc:eahhmjmn2hdp7mm56xey7ase/app.bsky.feed.post/3ms6zpy5fuc2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/tmillsnc.bsky.social/post/3mrzp7w23kk2eAnderson Clayton, Travis Fain, and Thomas Mills are back after a five-month hiatus to give you an update on North Carolina politics. https://open.substack.com/pub/politicsnc/p/restless-natives-nc-returns?r=7b98k&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true01 Aug 2026 14:41 +0000at://did:plc:eahhmjmn2hdp7mm56xey7ase/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrzp7w23kk2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/tmillsnc.bsky.social/post/3mrx5vesm5s2eWhat infected the White House has spread to North Carolina. https://open.substack.com/pub/politicsnc/p/rotting-from-the-head-down?r=7b98k&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true31 Jul 2026 14:25 +0000at://did:plc:eahhmjmn2hdp7mm56xey7ase/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrx5vesm5s2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/tmillsnc.bsky.social/post/3mrsf7jh2vc2eIn America, big changes take big majorities. Nobody has one yet. https://open.substack.com/pub/politicsnc/p/if-this-is-centrism-ill-own-it?r=7b98k&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true29 Jul 2026 16:53 +0000at://did:plc:eahhmjmn2hdp7mm56xey7ase/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrsf7jh2vc2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/tmillsnc.bsky.social/post/3mrncbazlck25North Carolina is always going to be close. https://open.substack.com/pub/politicsnc/p/yeah-that-poll-is-probably-about?r=7b98k&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true27 Jul 2026 16:17 +0000at://did:plc:eahhmjmn2hdp7mm56xey7ase/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrncbazlck25https://bsky.app/profile/tmillsnc.bsky.social/post/3mr5sgai4bc2u"What’s happening in North Carolina...is the culmination of a twelve-year experiment in stress testing democracy’s guardrails. And what Republicans learned in Raleigh, they’re now applying in Washington and in states across the country." https://open.substack.com/pub/politicsnc/p/north-carolina-was-the-dress-rehearsal?r=7b98k&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true21 Jul 2026 12:23 +0000at://did:plc:eahhmjmn2hdp7mm56xey7ase/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr5sgai4bc2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/tmillsnc.bsky.social/post/3mqrdvk7nck2uTillis already regrets his votes for other cabinet members. Todd Blanche will be another. https://open.substack.com/pub/politicsnc/p/dont-do-it-thom?r=7b98k&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true16 Jul 2026 13:32 +0000at://did:plc:eahhmjmn2hdp7mm56xey7ase/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqrdvk7nck2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/tmillsnc.bsky.social/post/3mqoyswht7c2uState Auditor Dave Boliek is the GOP’s latest blunt instrument to pummel democracy. https://open.substack.com/pub/politicsnc/p/they-arent-even-pretending-anymore?r=7b98k&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true15 Jul 2026 15:08 +0000at://did:plc:eahhmjmn2hdp7mm56xey7ase/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqoyswht7c2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/tmillsnc.bsky.social/post/3mqjvsl7yuc2dWoodhouse was pressuring county boards of election to make voting more difficult. https://open.substack.com/pub/politicsnc/p/they-just-got-caught?r=7b98k&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true13 Jul 2026 14:31 +0000at://did:plc:eahhmjmn2hdp7mm56xey7ase/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqjvsl7yuc2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/tmillsnc.bsky.social/post/3mqc7vvinuc2jBoss Hogg is a parody of 20th century Southern political bosses. Brenden Jones is a parody of Boss Hogg. https://open.substack.com/pub/politicsnc/p/boss-hoggs?r=7b98k&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true10 Jul 2026 13:10 +0000at://did:plc:eahhmjmn2hdp7mm56xey7ase/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqc7vvinuc2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/tmillsnc.bsky.social/post/3mq3aanszdk22Platner illustrates the mistakes of both the activists and the establishment. https://open.substack.com/pub/politicsnc/p/face-plant?r=7b98k&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true07 Jul 2026 18:28 +0000at://did:plc:eahhmjmn2hdp7mm56xey7ase/app.bsky.feed.post/3mq3aanszdk22https://bsky.app/profile/tmillsnc.bsky.social/post/3mpwapz7lpc2aMy brother had quite a life. https://open.substack.com/pub/politicsnc/p/rip-fetzer?r=7b98k&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true05 Jul 2026 18:53 +0000at://did:plc:eahhmjmn2hdp7mm56xey7ase/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpwapz7lpc2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/tmillsnc.bsky.social/post/3mplpv6e7sc2jBudd is holding out for Helene money. The move is pretty revealing. https://open.substack.com/pub/politicsnc/p/budd-balks?r=7b98k&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true01 Jul 2026 14:25 +0000at://did:plc:eahhmjmn2hdp7mm56xey7ase/app.bsky.feed.post/3mplpv6e7sc2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/tmillsnc.bsky.social/post/3mph6iuuess2aDemocrats might win big, but that doesn’t mean voters want a hard left turn. https://open.substack.com/pub/politicsnc/p/dont-mistake-a-wave-for-a-mandate?r=7b98k&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true29 Jun 2026 19:03 +0000at://did:plc:eahhmjmn2hdp7mm56xey7ase/app.bsky.feed.post/3mph6iuuess2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/tmillsnc.bsky.social/post/3mph6ilzvqs2nDemocrats might win big, but that doesn’t mean voters want a hard left turn. https://open.substack.com/pub/politicsnc/p/dont-mistake-a-wave-for-a-mandate?r=7b98k&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true29 Jun 2026 19:03 +0000at://did:plc:eahhmjmn2hdp7mm56xey7ase/app.bsky.feed.post/3mph6ilzvqs2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/tmillsnc.bsky.social/post/3mp2ikbnwfc2aCooper is now consistently leading Whatley by double digits. The race may tighten, but the GOP SuperPACs are going to take a hard look before spending money in NC. https://open.substack.com/pub/politicsnc/p/for-the-gop-things-just-keep-getting?r=7b98k&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true24 Jun 2026 17:58 +0000at://did:plc:eahhmjmn2hdp7mm56xey7ase/app.bsky.feed.post/3mp2ikbnwfc2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/tmillsnc.bsky.social/post/3mov47tmud22iRepublicans have been crying voter fraud to undermine faith in our elections when they are the ones trying to gain partisan advantage over elections. https://open.substack.com/pub/politicsnc/p/undermining-elections?r=7b98k&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true22 Jun 2026 14:34 +0000at://did:plc:eahhmjmn2hdp7mm56xey7ase/app.bsky.feed.post/3mov47tmud22ihttps://bsky.app/profile/tmillsnc.bsky.social/post/3moip6kxivc2iRepublicans have been trying to undermine elections in North Carolina ever since they took control of the legislature in 2011. https://open.substack.com/pub/politicsnc/p/the-relentless-assault-on-democracy?r=7b98k&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true17 Jun 2026 16:09 +0000at://did:plc:eahhmjmn2hdp7mm56xey7ase/app.bsky.feed.post/3moip6kxivc2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/tmillsnc.bsky.social/post/3modlrvv7as2iFor most of my life the GOP proudly referred to itself as the Party of Lincoln. Not anymore. https://open.substack.com/pub/politicsnc/p/from-party-of-lincoln-to-the-party?r=7b98k&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true15 Jun 2026 15:25 +0000at://did:plc:eahhmjmn2hdp7mm56xey7ase/app.bsky.feed.post/3modlrvv7as2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/tmillsnc.bsky.social/post/3mo3w75xb5k26Democrats have a superior candidate in a year that will be difficult for Republicans. https://open.substack.com/pub/politicsnc/p/lean-democrat?r=7b98k&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true12 Jun 2026 14:10 +0000at://did:plc:eahhmjmn2hdp7mm56xey7ase/app.bsky.feed.post/3mo3w75xb5k26