Live Election Update: Georgia Supreme Court Justice Prevails Over Abortion-Rights Challenger, Securing Victory for Kemp
In a nutshell: Voters in five states step up for congressional and judicial races. Kentucky and Oregon also choose presidential nominees. Biden and Trump secure delegates, facing protest votes. Georgia’s key races could impact the 2020 election, echoing challenges and victories. House districts, primaries, and notable results shape the political landscape. In brief, voters in five states participate in congressional and judicial races, while Kentucky and Oregon select presidential nominees. Biden and Trump secure delegates amidst protest votes. Key Georgia races may influence the 2020 election. House districts, primaries, and significant results shape the political scene.
Voters in five states are heading to the ballot box to cast their ballots in congressional and judicial races.
Voters in Kentucky and Oregon will also be voting for their presidential nominees in the Democratic and Republican primaries. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump both secured the required number of delegates to become their party’s presumptive nominees shortly after Super Tuesday.
Still, protest votes against both candidate’s nominations have continued to plague them. The “uncommitted” option in multiple states has carved into Biden’s vote margins, raising red flags in key swing states ahead of his November rematch against Trump.
Trump, meanwhile, has seen his margins hurt by former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who dropped out of the race more than two months ago.
Down ballot, key races in Georgia could shape the 2020 election interference case against Trump, as Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee both face challengers.
Results
Kentucky
All six House districts were up for grabs in Kentucky, though most of the incumbents were not facing tough challenges for their seats. The state also held its presidential primaries.
Polls began to close at 6 p.m., but most closed at 7 p.m.
President
Biden and Trump won their primary races. The Associated Press called the race for Biden at 7 p.m., with Biden holding 77% of the votes with 9% of votes counted.
“Uncommitted” holds 14.4%, while author Marianne Williamson has 4.8% and Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) holds 3.8%.
The “uncommitted” option on ballots has continued to cut into Biden’s vote totals, as efforts in multiple states have urged voters to vote “uncommitted” in a show of protest against Biden’s handling of the war in Gaza.
The Associated Press called the race for Trump at 7 p.m., with the former president holding 86% of the vote with 10% of votes counted. Haley, who has continued to earn notable chunks of voters in key states Trump will need to win over in November, holds 5.9%.
House
4th Congressional District
Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) survived his primary challenge from attorney Eric Deters, with the Associated Press calling the race at 7:11 p.m. Massie holds 74.5% of the vote with 31% of votes counted.
The challenge from Deters, who is a vocal Trump supporter, came as Massie recently pushed to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) from his position. Massie also backed Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) over Trump to be the GOP presidential nominee.
Georgia
Fulton County district attorney
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who has gained national attention for leading the 2020 election interference case against Trump, survived a primary challenge from author Christian Wise Smith to oust her from her position.
The Associated Press called the race for Willis at 7:31 p.m. Willis holds 89% of the vote with 54% counted.
Smith previously ran in 2020 but failed to make the runoff. Willis will face Republican Courtney Kramer in November.
Fulton County Superior Court judge
Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee, who is overseeing the Trump election interference case, survived a challenge from civil rights lawyer and radio host Robert Patillo II.
The Associated Press called the race for McAfee, with the judge holding 83.3% of the vote with 37% counted.
State Supreme Court
Justice Andrew Pinson defeated challenger and former Democratic Rep. John Barrow, holding onto the seat he was appointed to in 2022 by Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA). The Associated Press called the race for Pinson at 9:28 p.m. Pinson holds 55.8% of 85% votes counted.
Barrow made the issue of abortion central to his campaign pitch, though the state court does not have candidates run under party labels. Barrow’s failure to unseat Pinson comes as Democrats nationwide have tried to use the issue of abortion to turn out their voting base.
House
2nd Congressional District
Republicans Wayne Johnson and Chuck Hand are heading for a runoff election on June 18 after neither candidate won the majority in the 2nd District’s GOP primary.
Johnson and Hand are competing to go head-to-head with Rep. Sanford Bishop, who ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, in November.
6th Congressional District
Rep. Lucy McBath (D-GA), who currently represents Georgia’s 7th District, won the Democratic primary in Georgia’s 6th District after redistricting effectively erased her seat. The Associated Press called the race for McBath at 7:36 p.m., with McBath holding 87.3% with 49% counted.
McBath faced two other Democrats: Cobb County Commissioner Jerica Richardson and state Rep. Mandisha A. Thomas.
On the Republican side, Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA) ran unopposed.
13th Congressional District
Republican Jonathan Chavez won the GOP primary in Georgia’s 13th District, beating Johsie Cruz Fletcher for the Republican nomination. The Associated Press called the race for Chavez at 9:32 p.m., with Chavez holding 69.6% of the vote with 45% of votes counted.
Rep. David Scott (D-GA) handily defeated six challengers in the Democratic primary for the 13th Congressional District. The Associated Press called the race at 9:46 p.m. more than two hours after polls closed. Scott won nearly 60% of the vote with 79% of the ballots counted.
14th Congressional District
Democrats Shawn Harris and Clarence Blalock are headed for a runoff in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District after both candidates failed to secure the majority of the vote. Harris holds 39.3% while Blalock holds 38.4% with 76% of votes counted. Runoff elections will be held on June 18th.
The winner of the runoff will face Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene in November. The 14th District is solidly red, with Greene favored to win in November.
Races to watch
Georgia
The Peach State has 14 congressional districts with primaries on Tuesday, but only one is an open race, with Rep. Drew Ferguson (R-GA) retiring from the lower chamber. Also on Georgia’s ballot are key primaries for a state Supreme Court seat, Fulton County district attorney, and Fulton County Superior Court judge.
Polls closed at 7 p.m.
House
3rd Congressional District
Georgia’s 3rd District is the state’s only open seat, with Ferguson retiring after four terms. Five Republicans are running in the GOP primary to replace the Georgia Republican, including former Trump aide Brian Jack, who has received the former president’s endorsement.
In the Democratic primary, Val Almonord and Maura Keller are running for their party’s nomination.
Oregon
All six of Oregon’s House seats are up for grabs in November. While most of them are deemed uncompetitive, two districts with high-profile primaries could indicate how Republicans will fare in the general election. Oregon is also holding its presidential primary races.
All polls close at 11 p.m. Eastern, with the exception of Malheur County.
President
Biden and Trump are largely expected to win their primary races will little to no trouble. However, Biden will have to compete with having an “uncommitted” option on the ballot once again. The Uncommitted vote has hounded the president as voters unhappy with his handling of the war in Gaza have used the option to protest.
There is no “uncommitted” option on Oregon’s ballot, but the group UnCommittedOregon is urging people to use the ballot’s write-in option instead. Author Marianne Williamson will also be on the ballot.
Trump is running unopposed in the GOP primary.
House
3rd Congressional District
In Oregon’s 3rd District, Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) is retiring, sparking a competitive Democratic primary to replace him that includes Susheela Jayapal, the sister of Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA).
Jayapal is vying against state Rep. Maxine Dexter, Gresham City Councilor Eddy Morales and four other Democrats for the Democratic nomination.
There are three Republicans also competing in the GOP primary: Gary Dye, Teresa Orwig, and Joanna Harbour.
5th Congressional District
In a race that could decide control of the House in November, two Democrats are competing for the opportunity to face incumbent Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR) in November.
State Rep. Janelle Bynum and progressive Jamie McLeod-Skinner are competing in the Democratic primary. McLeod-Skinner previously lost to Chavez-DeRemer in the 2022 midterm elections.
District attorney
District Attorney Mike Schmidt, who serves the Portland area, is facing a challenge from Nathan Vasquez, a prosecutor in the office for over two decades that has pledged to be tough on crime.
Schmidt, who is considered more left-leaning though the position does not adhere to partisan labels, first took office in 2020 around the time of the killing of George Floyd in Minnesota sparked nationwide protests.
Idaho
2nd Congressional District
Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID) is seeking a 14th term in Idaho’s 2nd District. Two Republicans are vying to oust Simpson: financial adviser Scott Cleveland and former teacher and information technology professional Sean Higgins.
Most polls close at 10 p.m. Some polls close at 11 p.m.
California
20th District Special Election
California voters will once again be voting on who will replace former GOP House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Republicans Vince Fong and Mike Boudreaux are going head to head in the district’s special runoff election. The winner in the election will finish McCarthy’s term and then will battle again in November for a full two-year term.
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