Retiring Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina organized his last bipartisan dog parade in a Senate office building atrium, blending fun with his independent political stance amid criticism of President Trump. The event featured costumed dogs and aimed to ease partisan tensions on Capitol Hill. Tillis, known for pushing back against some Trump policies, used the gathering to highlight shared joys like pets.
On a recent Wednesday, the atrium of a Senate office building on Capitol Hill filled with onlookers for a bipartisan dog parade, hosted by retiring Republican Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina. This marked the final such event under Tillis's leadership, who has been a vocal critic of certain actions by President Trump. Dogs arrived in festive attire, including a dachshund wrapped in a green and purple feather boa, a beagle mix sporting a tutu and sequin bow tie, and others like a mini goldendoodle named Izzy and a rescue dog called Bo. Tillis, donning Mardi Gras beads and wielding a megaphone, introduced each pup to the crowd.
The tradition began years ago as a Halloween dog parade but was canceled last fall due to a government shutdown and later adapted for Mardi Gras. Amid congressional debates on health insurance, immigration, and shutdowns, Tillis emphasized the value of levity. "I mean, you can be good at this job and not be serious 24/7," he said. "As a matter of fact, if you're serious 24/7, you're probably not good at this job."
The parade drew some online backlash for occurring before a U.S. attack on Iran, but Tillis defended it as a brief, unifying moment. "There's never a bad time to get people to come together and have a little laugh over something that we share," he noted, pointing to dogs as a bipartisan bond. Tillis owns two canines: Theo, named after Theodore Roosevelt, and Mitch, after former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
West Virginia Republican Senator Jim Justice attended with his bulldog Babydog, who rides in a wagon around the Capitol. Justice credited the dog with reducing partisan friction: "Here, we too often line up Republicans against Democrats, in my opinion. She just amps the temperature down with everybody."
As 1 in 8 members of Congress opt not to seek reelection, Tillis has gained attention for challenging Trump, including criticizing former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem over disaster aid after Hurricane Helene, an immigration-related shooting in Minneapolis, and an anecdote from her memoir about shooting a dog. He voted against the One Big Beautiful Bill Act over Medicaid cuts, plans to scrutinize Trump's Federal Reserve nominee, and dismissed proposals to acquire Greenland. Tillis seeks a successor to continue the parade and remains focused on impactful work in his remaining time: "I'm not counting the days until I leave. I'm mindful of the amount of time I have left to make a difference."
