Mississippi Senate Runoff Too Close To Call

Tea Party supported candidate Chris McDaniel talks to supporters during campaign rally in Biloxi, Miss., Sunday, June 22, 2014. McDaniel is in a runoff for the Republican nomination with incumbent Sen. Thad Cochran. ... Tea Party supported candidate Chris McDaniel talks to supporters during campaign rally in Biloxi, Miss., Sunday, June 22, 2014. McDaniel is in a runoff for the Republican nomination with incumbent Sen. Thad Cochran. (AP Photo/The Sun Herald, Tom Isbell ) TV OUT; MANDATORY CREDIT: MISSISSIPPI PRESS OUT; LOCAL TELEVISION OUT WLOX, LOCAL ONLINE OUT; GULFLIVE.COM OUT MORE LESS
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Polls closed at 8 p.m. ET in the runoff for U.S. Senate between Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS) and Mississippi state Sen. Chris McDaniel (R).

Going into the primary there were reports of increased in turnout in Madison and Jackson counties, two of the most important counties to watch in the runoff. Madison County went for Cochran in the June 3 primary 61 percent to 38 percent. Jackson County just barely went for McDaniel, 49 percent to about 48 percent.

Recent polling has shown McDaniel with some kind of single digit lead over Cochran. McDaniel came out ahead of Cochran in the initial primary, 49.5 percent to 49 percent, though neither candidate cleared the 50 percent threshold to avoid a runoff.

See updates below:

Update: 10:44 p.m.

According to the Associated Press, with 95.3 percent of votes in Cochran barely leads 50.6 percent (175,549) to 49.4 percent (171,505). The race is too close to call.

Update: 10:28 PM ET

At 93 percent reporting Cochran still kept his lead over McDaniel. About 168,013 votes went for Cochran (50.2 percent) while McDaniel had 166,850 votes (or 49.8 percent).

Update: 9:54 PM ET

With 76 percent reporting Cochran had 124,880 votes (or 51.5 percent) to McDaniel’s 117,447 votes (or 48.5 percent).

Update: 9:33 PM ET

With about 38 percent reporting, Cochran led McDaniel 53.5 percent to 46.5 percent. Some of the key counties for McDaniel had not reported yet. Turnout for black voters also seemed to surpass the June 3rd primary night, according to The Upshot’s Nate Cohn.

Update: 9:12 PM ET

The Clarion-Ledger’s Sam Hall noted that early numbers for Jackson County looked promising for Cochran.

Update: 9:04 PM ET

With just 15 percent reporting Cochran led McDaniel 55.4 percent to 44.6 percent. That said, most of the results have not come in yet.

Update: 8:55 PM ET
Turnout seemed to be significantly higher than the June 3rd primary.

This story was updated.

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