Mr. Tillis Goes To Washington

The state legislature stands in the rearview mirror for Thom Tillis after four years as one of the most powerful politicians in the state government. After defeating Democratic incumbent Kay Hagan in November, Tillis has now turned his eyes to Capitol Hill.

Following one of the nation's most expensive U.S. Senate campaigns - calculated at $114 million by the Sunlight Foundation, the outgoing House speaker has moved to Washington. He's cleaned out his Legislative Building office and set up shop in temporary spaces in DC. He's picked key staff members, learned committee assignments - armed services, veteran affairs and agriculture among them - and found an apartment nearby. He'll take the oath of office Jan. 6.

In an interview with The Associated Press in December, Tillis said his focus in Washington will be similar to his focus in Raleigh. He says he wants the regulatory environment to allow for the cost of doing business to be reduced.