Tonight we're liveblogging primary results in Kentucky (where polls close at 6pm ET in the eastern half of the state at 7pm ET in the wesern part) and Arkansas (where polls close at 8:30pm ET). You can fine our preview of key races
here.
Results: Arkansas | Kentucky
3:13 PM PT: The first precinct has reported in KY-04, which is really the only interesting federal primary tonight in Kentucky.
3:35 PM PT (Steve Singiser): Numbers are trickling in from Kentucky, where the numbers are still in the dozens in any district, and barely over 4000 votes statewide. In KY-04, Bob Thomas Massie trails Alecia Webb-Edgington by 4. Not percentage points. Votes (133-129).
Meanwhile, in something the traditional press will needlessly hype, Barack Obama leads "uncommitted" by a 55-45 margin, though it is worth noting the areas in the state where Obama would be expected to run strong are not in yet. Also, we can assume that the AP will report (breaking news alert!) any second now that Mitt Romney has won the GOP presidential primary. He leads with 69 percent right now.
3:53 PM PT (Steve Singiser): With 4 percent reporting statewide, "uncommitted" is starting to fade: Barack Obama now leads 62-38. Romney sits at 68 percent on the GOP side.
Meanwhile, with only 1 percent of precincts in, Thomas Massie has moved back ahead of Alecia Webb-Edgington, though the margins remain tiny: just ten votes separate the leaders.
3:56 PM PT (Steve Singiser): Getting pretty deep into the weeds, a state House primary in Kentucky with an interesting backstory has its first votes of the night. Incumbent Democrat Wade Hurt switched from the GOP to the Democrats after being gifted the seat in 2010 when his Democratic opponent became ineligible for the ballot. That Democrat, Jeffery Donohue, is back, and challenging Hurt in the Democratic primary. With only 2 precincts (and, in a testament to absurdly light turnout, 38 votes) in, Hurt is getting smooshed (74-26) by Donohue.
3:57 PM PT: We're now up to 5% reporting, and Massie's moved out to a much more sizable 44-29 lead over Webb-Edgington, with Moore back at 22.
4:06 PM PT (James L): With 9% in, Massie's lead remains at 44-30. Moore's slipped back to 18.
4:11 PM PT (James L): Note that, so far, Massie is stomping Moore in Moore's home county (Boone) by 45-25 with 13/61 precincts reporting. Kenton County, Webb-Edgington's turf, has barely reported anything (just three precincts), and Massie trails her by only 38-35 there.
4:14 PM PT (James L): With 22% in, Massie's widened his already fat-assed lead to a 47-28 margin. Moore sits at 16.
4:20 PM PT (James L): All your base: Massie has pulled into a narrow lead in Webb-Edgington's Kenton County turf (39-38) with 26 precincts reporting.
4:22 PM PT (James L): The writing really seems to be on the wall: Massie's going to take this thing. He's beating his opponents on their own turf! The latest district-wide update gives him a 47-27 lead over Webb-Edgington with 26% of precincts reporting.
4:27 PM PT (James L): This is truly an inspirational moment for obscenely rich 21 year-old Paulist douchebags everywhere. With not a lot of hard work and a whole lot of money, you can accomplish anything!
4:41 PM PT (James L): 50% reporting now, and Massie's sitting on a 46-26 lead. Moore's picked up a few points to vault himself to 20.
4:42 PM PT: By the way, it's worth noting that Kentucky, unlike many other southern states, doesn't feature runoffs. It's first-past-the-post, baby.
4:48 PM PT (James L): It's worth noting that Webb-Edgington had to give up her House seat for this debacle. The GOP primary to replace her has only 1 of 33 precincts reporting so far, so her core base hasn't really reported yet. Still, I wouldn't expect her district to move the overall margins in any significant way.
4:49 PM PT:
Have to admit that I chuckled when someone called Massie's performance so far tonight a #Randslide. Pretty apt description. I should know!
— @KYTrey via web
5:02 PM PT: Most of Webb-Edgington's old state House district (HD 63), which should be her friendliest turf, has now reported. But it's barely changed the toplines of her own race. Massie still leads 45-28 with 62% reporting.
5:09 PM PT (James L): Time to close the book on this one: The Associated Press has just called KY-04 (R) for Paulist disciple Thomas Massie.