RALEIGH, (SGRToday.com) - North Carolina Sen. Elect Thom Tillis is already drawing attention as a person to watch when Republicans take control of the U.S. Senate in January.

The Washington newspaper The Hill tagged the former state House Speaker as among five new senators who "could be deal-brokers."

Tillis defeated Democratic incumbent Kay Hagan last week in a race that was instrumental to the Republican takeover of the Senate.

Here's what The Hill had to say about Tillis.
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 - Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) made headlines hours after winning his Senate bid by saying he wanted to work with Democrats to make campaign funding and advertising more transparent. He has reason to pursue the issue. Tillis’ tough race against incumbent Sen. Kay Hagan (D-N.C.) quickly turned negative, with dozens of outside groups flooding local TV markets with ads. It was the most expensive campaign this cycle, with more than $110 million spent. The former Speaker of North Carolina’s state House spent his first two years in that body as a member of the minority party. He has said the experience forced him to learn how to work with Democrats. Tillis has vowed to reach across the aisle in the Senate.
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