House Speaker Thom Tillis, Wilkesboro nurse Heather Grant, Dr. Greg Brannon of Cary and Rev. Mark Harris of Charlotte engaged in a debate among leading Republican candidates for U.S. Senate on April 23, 2014. Former Shelby mayor Ted Alexander, Alex Bradshaw, a computer programmer from Icard, Edward Kryn, a retired doctor from Clayton, and Lexington lawyer Jim Snyder debated on April 24, 2014.