Fact Check: "Tillis narrowly won his last election by less than 2 percentage points."
What We Know
Thom Tillis, a Republican, was elected to the U.S. Senate from North Carolina in 2014 and was re-elected in 2020. In the 2020 election, Tillis faced Democratic challenger Cal Cunningham. According to the official election results, Tillis received approximately 2,732,000 votes (49.0%), while Cunningham garnered about 2,684,000 votes (48.6%) (source-2). This indicates that Tillis won the election by a margin of roughly 48,000 votes, which translates to a difference of about 0.4 percentage points, confirming that he did indeed win by less than 2 percentage points.
Analysis
The claim that "Tillis narrowly won his last election by less than 2 percentage points" is accurate based on the election results. The data from the North Carolina State Board of Elections shows that Tillis won with 49.0% of the vote compared to Cunningham's 48.6% (source-2). This narrow margin is significant in the context of U.S. Senate races, where close elections are common, especially in battleground states like North Carolina.
However, while the claim is factually correct, it is important to consider the context. The election was highly competitive, and the close results reflect a divided electorate in North Carolina. The source of the claim does not provide additional context about the political environment or the implications of such a close race, which could be relevant for understanding the significance of Tillis's victory.
The sources used for this analysis are generally reliable. The official election results from the North Carolina State Board of Elections are authoritative and provide a clear account of the vote totals. The Wikipedia entry on the 2020 United States Senate election in North Carolina also corroborates these results (source-4). However, Wikipedia should be used cautiously as it can be edited by anyone, and while it often contains accurate information, it may lack the rigor of primary sources.
Conclusion
Needs Research: While the claim that Thom Tillis won his last election by less than 2 percentage points is accurate, further research could provide a deeper understanding of the electoral dynamics and implications of such a narrow victory. The context surrounding the election, including voter turnout and demographic shifts, would enrich the analysis and provide a fuller picture of Tillis's political standing in North Carolina.
