Thom Tillis

A two-term statehouse member is leaving the North Carolina General Assembly for a job with the U.S. Senate. Representative Brian Brown is joining the staff of U.S. Senator Thom Tillis.

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.

Thom Tillis is putting together his staff for when he heads to Washington. As WFDD's Michael Burke reports, the new staff includes both long time associates and Capital Hill veterans.

Turnout was a factor in Tuesday's election, but not in the way many people expected. A record number of people voted. But it only added up to 44 percent of registered voters, pretty typical for a mid-term election. That was a problem not just for Democrats, but also for pollsters.

Millions of dollars have been spent on TV and radio ads for the U.S. Senate race.

Election Day is here and Republicans are relying on their base to show up the polls Tuesday in North Carolina. So far, Democrats have outpaced the GOP in the early voting numbers. But social issues may be revving up evangelical Christians and it could make a difference in the final outcome.

The long lines and cold windy weather didn't keep voters away during the last day of early voting in North Carolina.  State election officials estimate that more than 1 million people cast ballots before the deadline. Forsyth and Guilford Counties saw record numbers compared to the number of early voters in 2010 mid-term election.

 A new poll shows Democratic incumbent Kay Hagan is maintaining a narrow lead over Republican challenger Thom Tillis in their race for U.S. Senate.