RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina Republican voters have selected Thom Tillis to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan.

Tillis is speaker of the North Carolina House. Seven other Republicans also sought the nomination but were outdistanced by Tillis in Tuesday’s primary.

He had the backing of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Right to Life Committee and former presidential candidate Mitt Romney. National party leaders have targeted Hagan as part of their effort to try to gain control of the Senate.

Voters in both parties also made their choices to fill the seat left vacant by former Democratic Rep. Mel Watts.

And former “American Idol” runner-up Clay Aiken was one of three contenders for the Democratic nomination to oppose Republican Rep. Renee Ellmers in the fall.

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