WRAL News hosted an April 23 debate for leading Republican candidates for U.S. Senate between state House Speaker Thom Tillis, Dr. Greg Brannon of Cary, Rev. Mark Harris of Charlotte and Wilkesboro nurse Heather Grant.

During the televised debate, WRAL Multimedia Investigative Reporter Mark Binker engaged people in an online chat.

Afterward, WRAL News anchor and debate moderator David Crabtree, Binker and Capitol Bureau Chief Laura Leslie provided some post-debate analysis of things they heard and didn't hear in candidate responses.

The candidates broke little ground and threw few punches, instead solidifying their roles for their constituencies.

Campaign coverage

The candidates also made some questionable claims regarding climate change, the public assistance that people in the U.S. illegally receive and the separation of church and state.

Previous Fact Checks

WRAL News also hosted a debate for the other four GOP Senate candidates – former Shelby mayor Ted Alexander, researcher and computer programmer Alex Bradshaw of Icard, retired Dr. Edward Kryn of Clayton and Lexington lawyer Jim Snyder – which aired on April 26. WRAZ-TV Fox 50 will broadcast the second debate at 11 p.m. April 28.

Those candidates took their only opportunity at widespread exposure during the campaign to make some candid observations and champion some positions not often taken on the campaign trail.