WASHINGTON (AP) — North Carolina House Speaker Thom Tillis will be on the ballot in November in a contest against Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan.

Tillis coasted to a win in the Republican primary against seven candidates, including tea party rivals. He had substantial support including the backing of the National Rifle Association and former presidential hopeful Mitt Romney. Hagan is being targeted in a bid to give the GOP control of the Senate.

Anti-war Republican Rep. Walter Jones defeated his challenger in North Carolina. Voters in the Tar Heel state also had a celebrity on the ballot. Former “American Idol” runner-up Clay Aiken has a narrow lead in a race for the Democratic nomination to oppose Republican Rep. Renee Ellmers in the fall. He might have to do an encore — a July 15 runoff.

In Ohio, Cuyahoga (ky-uh-HOH’-guh) County Executive Ed FitzGerald won the Democratic nomination to challenge Gov. John Kasich (KAY’-sik) in the fall.

And House Speaker John Boehner (BAY’-nur) had an easy time against two tea party challengers. Boehner is seeking a 13th term.

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