The first debate of the N.C. Republican U.S. Senate primary featured little in the way of actual debate — top polling candidates Rev. Mark Harris, Dr. Greg Brannon, Heather Grant, and N.C. House Speaker Thom Tillis largely agreed on the issues.

A few takeaways:

All four candidates oppose abortion, the Affordable Care Act, raising the minimum wage, and Common Core education standards.

They each have a list of federal agencies they would like to see eliminated, including the Departments of Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, and Commerce, the EPA, and the IRS.

They are concerned about federal government overreach, and support devolving more responsibilities to state and local governments, but oppose legalizing medical marijuana of any kind.

They agree that Russia is the biggest foreign policy concern.

They believe that climate change is a myth.

There were only a few instances where candidates offered distinct policy approaches.

All candidates except for Brannon, for example, said they supported term limits for members of the U.S. House and Senate.

And on the topic of gun control, Tillis came out strongly against allowing convicted felons and mentally ill individuals to buy guns, while others questioned current restrictions. Grant opposed allowing convicted felons to own guns, but said that soldiers with PTSD should have the right to buy a weapon. Brannon said that the issue should be left up to the states.

Missed the debate? Watch it at Time Warner News, or tune in to WRAL Wednesday at 7 p.m. for round two.

Here’s a roundup of news coverage of the debate:

ABC (AP) – Republicans in NC’s Senate race trade few hits

Thom Tillis, the speaker of the North Carolina House, defended his legislative record while tea party favorite Greg Brannon picked at him on the health care overhaul and national education standards. Tillis criticized Brannon on a gun rights question and said he was proud of leading the Republican takeover in North Carolina politics after the GOP had been out of power for 140 years. For his part, Tillis aimed his words largely at freshman Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan, one of the nation’s most vulnerable Democrats seeking re-election this November. Her seat is considered critical to Republicans for the six additional seats they need to win this fall to take control of the Senate.

News & Observer – Greg Brannon targets Thom Tillis in NC’s first GOP Senate debate

Greg Brannon repeatedly challenged House Speaker Thom Tillis’ conservative credentials Tuesday while Tillis saved his punches for Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan in the first debate of the Republican U.S. Senate primary. The two Republicans dominated the debate with their back-and-forth as Mark Harris and Heather Grant sought to remain largely above the fray.

News & Observer – Christensen: US Senate debate reflects fluid race in NC

The winner by default was Tillis, who had the most to risk because he has an extensive public record to defend and only rarely did he have to do so. For the other candidates, particularly Brannon and Harris, it was a missed opportunity to build a strong case about why they, rather than Tillis, would make the better opponent to Democratic Sen. Kay Hagan in the fall.

News & Record – Little separates GOP candidates for U.S. Senate at debate

“I liked what Mr. Harris had to say,” said Julie Littlefield, 44, who spent the evening wearing a Brannon sticker. “I liked his manner, his sense of humor, and just the way he presented himself,” said Littlefield, who works as a surgical technician. “I thought I came in with my mind made up, but I guess now I have two candidates to choose from.” That ability to make a personal impression is important in a statewide primary with a crowded field of eight candidates.

QNotes – First GOP Senate debate passes over LGBT issues

The candidates were posed with a variety of wide-ranging questions on issues like the Affordable Care Act, the role and size of the federal government, the minimum wage, Common Core education standards, the legalization of marijuana, gun control and more. They even got to weigh in on their favorite North Carolina sports teams, their preference between Eastern- or Lexington-style barbecue and the last book they’d read. Yet, candidates were not asked a single question on LGBT equality issues like marriage or employment protections.

Politico – Greg Brannon targets Thom Tillis in N.C. debate

Thom Tillis, the frontrunner for the Republican Senate nomination in North Carolina, presented himself as a “practical” conservative Tuesday night during the first debate before the May 6 primary. His leading opponent, tea party activist Greg Brannon, attacked the state House speaker as softer than him on immigration, health care, education, gun rights and other issues.

Davidson News – At Senate debate, civility masks GOP discord

The candidates mostly equivocated on the more complicated questions, such as what to do about a Social Security that is running short of funds. Tillis said the government has to keep its promise to people currently on Social Security and about to get on Social Security, but, like the other candidates, he was unclear about when the cut-off point should be for reductions in Social Security, saying simply, “Let’s find a different approach, a sustainable approach.”

Indy Week – U.S. Senate primary, some contenders, some loons

Five other candidates are running. We’d like to see moderate Republicans coalesce around one of them to register a desire for more centrist candidates in future Republican races. The only one whose good showing might make such a statement is former Shelby Mayor Ted Alexander.

Slate – The Second Amendment and felons: Your brand new GOP wedge issue

If you want a clear picture of the Tea Party’s lasting victory, look to North Carolina and the Republican primary for U.S. Senate. It can be viewed as a clash of factions — social conservatives represented by Mark Harris, libertarians represented by Dr. Greg Brannon, the establishment represented by Thom Tillis, the state speaker of the House. But as Ashley Parker wrote in a profile of the race, Tillis is perfectly right-wing, and presided over what he calls a “conservative revolution” of legislation to roll back some voting rights, block Medicaid expansion, end the earned income tax credit, and end long-term unemployment insurance.

ThinkProgress – All four of North Carolina’s GOP Senate candidates are climate change deniers

North Carolina’s political culture specifically has long had problems with climate and environmental issues. In 2012, the state legislature banned officials from using sea level rise predictions in designing rules for coastal development. Meanwhile, Governor Pat McCrory worked 28 years for Duke Energy and received hefty financial support from the company during his campaign. Duke runs seven coal-fired power plants in the state, along with over 30 coal ash slurry ponds. Those ponds have been the subject of an ongoing lawsuit, with environmental groups charging that poor safeguards and lax oversight have allowed the coal ash slurry to pollute North Carolina’s drinking water.

MSNBC – No, no, no, and no: GOP Senate candidates on climate change

“No,” Harris responded. “No,” Grant said, giggling. “No, God no,” Bannon said. “No,” Tillis concluded, before the moderator moved immediately on to the next question.