Connecticut, Georgia, Minnesota, Vermont, and Wisconsin are concluding primaries and runoffs tonight. Due to an influx in mail voting, however, it’s possible we won’t know all the winners for some time. We’re liveblogging all of the key races below, and you can also follow us on Twitter for blow-by-blow coverage.
Resources: Primary preview | Cheat-sheet
Results: Key races | CT | GA | MN | VT | WI
Wednesday, Aug 12, 2020 · 1:07:59 AM +00:00
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Steve Singiser
Good evening! We’re kicking off hour #3 of this primary liveblog, and polls have just closed in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Thus far, a lot of interesting results have already come our way:
- In the happiest news of the night for Democrats, the blue team picked off a state legislative seat in SC-HD-115, and did so convincingly. In a district that barely leaned Trump in 2016 (48-45), and was carried by Democrats in 2018, the momentum was preserved as local city administrator Spencer Wetmore crushed Republican attorney Josh Stokes by a 59-39 margin.
- In the darkest news of the night for Republicans, their worst instincts continue to be rewarded. In GA-14, QAnon devotee Marjorie Greene now leads surgeon John Cowan in their runoff by a yawning 60-40 gap. Democrats will now undoubtedly nationalize Greene, whose history of racist and extremist views is well documented.
- In the other Georgia Congressional runoff (GA-09), gun store owner Andrew Clyde has lost a bit of his lead, but still leads state Rep. Matt Gurtler by a 56-44 margin.
- Elsewhere, in Georgia, Fulton County DA Paul Howard is in a world of hurt, trailing fellow Democrat Fani Willis in their runoff by a 74-26 margin with the early vote and about 16% of precincts tallied.
- Lastly, we are at maybe a quarter of the vote tallied in VT-Gov, and Lt. Governor David Zuckerman continues to lead former state education secretary Rebecca Holcombe comfortably (51-38).
Wednesday, Aug 12, 2020 · 1:32:59 AM +00:00
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Steve Singiser
VT-Gov (D): The Associated Press has called the Democratic gubernatorial primary in Vermont for Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman. At present, he leads Rebecca Holcombe by thirteen points (52-39). He will face incumbent Republican Governor Phil Scott in November.
Wednesday, Aug 12, 2020 · 1:34:25 AM +00:00
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Steve Singiser
MN-05 (D): We go from a smattering of votes to more than half of the potential vote recorded in this Minneapolis-based district. And while incumbent Rep. Ilhan Omar certainly got a challenge from Antone Melton-Meaux, she holds a clear edge with about 85,000 votes tallied. Omar is currently leading Melton-Meaux 57-40.
Wednesday, Aug 12, 2020 · 1:42:45 AM +00:00
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Steve Singiser
WI-03 (R): In the one major primary on the docket in Wisconsin tonight, the Republicans appear en route to getting their preferred candidate. Military vet Derrick Van Orden, who had been the leading fundraiser on the GOP side in this mildly Trump-friendly Democratic district, has a clear early lead over Jessi Ebbin (65-35).
Wednesday, Aug 12, 2020 · 1:50:43 AM +00:00
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Steve Singiser
MN-Sen: Absolutely zero surprises here, but the AP has already called the Senate primaries. Incumbent Sen. Tina Smith has easily won on the Democratic side, while former Congressman Jason Lewis has won the Republican primary by an equivalent margin.
Wednesday, Aug 12, 2020 · 1:56:33 AM +00:00
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Steve Singiser
CT-02 (R): We are finally at the vote count threshold, and Thomas Gilmer, who notably left the race in the last 24 hours after getting arrested on a domestic violence charge, is within 58 votes of the lead. Right now, your leader (albeit narrowly) is retired correctional officer Justin Anderson.
Wednesday, Aug 12, 2020 · 2:40:26 AM +00:00
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Steve Singiser
MN-07 (R): The Associated Press has called the Republican primary for former Lt. Governor Michelle Fischbach. She leads 2016/2018 Republican nominee Dave Hughes by a 59-21 margin. This sets up a showdown with one of the more vulnerable Democrats in the House, Rep. Collin Peterson.
Wednesday, Aug 12, 2020 · 3:24:37 AM +00:00
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Steve Singiser
CT-02 (R): I really wanted to stick this one out for you all, but the count here is so glacially slow, and still quite close, that I can’t imagine us getting a legitimate resolution tonight. With 39% of precincts reporting, former corrections officer Justin Anderson still leads the recently arrested businessman Thomas Gilmer 51-49.
Wednesday, Aug 12, 2020 · 3:26:39 AM +00:00
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Steve Singiser
And with that update, we are going to call it a night. But it is merely a short goodbye: we will be back here next Tuesday for a primary trifecta: Alaska, Wyoming, and Florida. Thanks for reading along tonight. Congrats to South Carolina state Rep-Elect. Spencer Wetmore—Democrats can sure hope that she is a bellwether for the suburban districts of America in November. Good night, all!