Tillis Wins

North Carolina Republican House Speaker Thom Tillis is the state’s next junior U.S. Senator.

Addressing supporters in Charlotte after his win over Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan, Tillis said that “we need to free the American people up to make American great again.”

“We need to free the American people up to make it an economic superpower, a military superpower and an energy superpower. These are the things that we’re going to go to Washington to do.”

Tillis also took an old standard Republican shot at President Obama. He mentioned that he was going off-script and ignoring the teleprompter, adding that he’d leave that to the president.

The tight race for Hagan’s seat was called by CNN at around 11:30 p.m., with Tillis taking 49 percent of the vote to Hagan’s 47 percent.

Libertarian candidate Sean Haugh received four percent of the vote.

Hagan did well in Orange County, which went for Hagan, by 38,470 votes to just 12,721 for Tillis. That’s 73-to-24 percent.

So did Chatham, by 54-to-43 percent.

Durham brought in big numbers for Hagan, ending the night with 77-to-21 percent.

Wake County also broke for Hagan, 55-to-42 percent.

But by 11:30, Hagan had only taken 31 of 100 counties, with Tillis winning 68, and Columbus County results pending.

In her concession speech, Hagan thanked supporters who knocked on doors and made phone calls on her behalf.

“You weren’t just standing with me, though,” said Hagan. “You were standing with working families all across North Carolina. Those are the families that I have worked to represent.”

Hagan also congratulated Tillis, and pledged to work with him and his staff during the transition period.