Live Election Updates: Massie Triumphs in GOP Primary in Kentucky, Fani Willis Awaits Results in Georgia

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.

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.

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

On the GOP side, Republicans Jonathan Chavez and Johsie Cruz Fletcher are going head to head for the Republican nomination.

State Supreme Court

While there are multiple state Supreme Court seats on the ballot, only Justice Andrew Pinson is facing a challenge for his position.

Pinson, who was appointed to the position in 2022 by Gov. Brian Kemp (R-GA), is being challenged by former Rep. John Barrow. Barrow has made the issue of abortion central to his campaign, though the state court does not have candidates run under party labels.

Fulton County district attorney

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, who has gained national attention for leading the 2020 election interference case against Trump, is facing a challenger for her position from author Christian Wise Smith, who ran in 2020 but failed to make the runoff.

Fulton County Superior Court judge

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee, who is overseeing the Trump election interference case, is also facing a challenger. While the race is nonpartisan, McAfee was appointed to his position last year.

Civil rights lawyer and radio host Robert Patillo II is vying for McAfee’s gavel.

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).

5th Congressional District

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.