Former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and former Republican National Committee chairman Michael Whatley won their parties’ U.S. Senate nominations in North Carolina on Tuesday, setting up a high-stakes general election that could help decide control of the Senate.

Both men prevailed over crowded primary fields for the seat being vacated by Sen. Thom Tillis, who announced last June he would not seek a third term. Cooper and Whatley entered the race weeks later and largely ignored intraparty rivals, instead focusing their fire on each other throughout the primary season.

Cooper’s entry energized Democrats hoping to reclaim the Senate with a net gain of four seats. Party strategists view North Carolina as one of their best pickup opportunities, alongside Maine, Alaska and Ohio. Cooper brings strong name recognition as a two-term governor who served 24 consecutive years in statewide office.

Whatley, a former state GOP chairman and past head of the Republican National Committee, jumped into the race after President Donald Trump endorsed him, following Lara Trump’s decision not to run. Trump has carried North Carolina in all three of his presidential campaigns.

With both parties uniting behind heavyweight nominees, the Tar Heel State is poised to become one of the most closely watched — and most expensive — Senate races of the fall.