Tillis defeats Hagan for Senate seat

GARY D. ROBERTSON
Associated Press

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — Republican state House Speaker Thom Tillis has defeated Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan after a lengthy, expensive race in North Carolina.

The former IBM consultant and onetime architect of the GOP takeover of North Carolina state government defeated Hagan by a vote of 49 percent to 47 percent, with nearly all the votes counted.

Tillis won the race following a bruising campaign in which the candidates and outside groups spent more than $100 million, making it the most expensive Senate race.

Tillis ran on a platform that highlighted the Republican record of legislative accomplishments that included lower taxes and regulations. He and his allies also blasted Hagan for being too closely aligned with President Barack Obama.

Tillis announced his candidacy 18 months ago.

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