Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC) now has a formidable opponent in state Speaker Thom Tillas. Tillas was one of the top candidates on the rack for Republicans, and was seven points behind Hagan in a recent poll. Hagan is running for re-election in North Carolina, a state that Mitt Romney won, which makes her a top target for Republicans. Tillas on the other hand, has led the state House since 2011 and was crucial in gaining the Republicans control. The only other Republican candidate is Greg Brannon, a physician.