WASHINGTON (AP) — Establishment-minded Republicans and social conservatives seem to have settled on a favorite to face the North Carolina Democrat who is among the most vulnerable incumbents, Sen. Kay Hagan.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is set to endorse the speaker of the North Carolina House, Thom Tillis. The endorsement is a sign that various segments of the GOP see North Carolina as a place that could help Republicans pick up one of the six seats it needs to claim the majority in the Senate.

The chamber's political committee met Thursday and decided to back Tillis. A person familiar with the process says a formal endorsement from the business group will come later. The person was not authorized to discuss the decision by name ahead of the announcement and insisted on anonymity.