Mississippi GOP Race: Too Close To Call

Polls closed in Mississippi which is home to the most contentious race of the eight states featuring primaries on Tuesday.

Polls also closed in South Dakota, Alabama, and New Jersey at 8 p.m. on Tuesday. Polls closed in Iowa at 10 p.m.

In Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS) is facing a serious primary challenge from state Sen. Chris McDaniel (R-MS). According to the Clarion-Ledger, voter turnout had been relatively low statewide.

“In comparison to previous years, as of right now, the 2014 Primary Election Day has been very quiet in Mississippi,” Mississippi Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann said. “The limited number of calls coming into our Office, coupled with the lack of activity on the Statewide Election Management System and reports from our observers, indicate we have had light turnout thus far.”

Updated: 12:20 AM

As the final election results came in it appeared that Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS) would not take the stage at his election night party.

Sen. Cochran is not coming out to speak tonight

— Kasie Hunt (@kasie) June 4, 2014

It appears Cochran will not speak tonight. You can bet that will be a storyline. Won’t inspire his base in runoff. #mssen

— Sam R. Hall (@samrhall) June 4, 2014

Updated: 11:43 PM

Just before midnight the likeliest outcome of the Mississippi GOP Senate primary seemed to be a runoff. Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS) and state Sen. Chris McDaniel were tied at about 49 percent each. If neither candidate can break 50 percent the race goes to a runoff on June 24 between the top two vote-getters.

Updated: 11:16 PM

The Republican and Democratic primaries in Montana were called shortly after 11:00 PM ET on Tuesday and the results were as expected: Sen. John Walsh (D-MT) will face Rep. Steve Daines (R-MT) in the general election. Walsh won his party’s nomination with 64 percent of the vote while Daines won with 85 percent of his party’s vote. Walsh was appointed to the seat to replace former Sen. Max Baucus (D).

Updated: 11:00 PM

Just before 11 p.m. the Iowa GOP primary was called for state Sen. Joni Ernst who will face Rep. Bruce Braley (D-IA) in the general election.

Updated 10:37 PM

With 16 percent of precincts reporting state Sen. Joni Ernst had a commanding lead in the GOP Senate primary of 52 percent followed by Sam Clovis with 19.4 percent and Mark Jacobs at 16.8 percent.

Updated: 10:01 PM

Polls in the Iowa Senate race closed. State Sen. Joni Ernst, who first gained prominence in the primary for her ad about castrating hogs, needs more than 35 percent to win the nomination and face Rep. Bruce Braley (D-IA).

Updated: 9:54 PM

Cochran pulled past 50 percent (which he needs to avoid a runoff). With 45 percent of precincts reporting Cochran had 51 percent of the vote while McDaniel had 48 percent with 45 percent of precincts reporting according to the Associated Press.

Updated: 9:38 PM

By 9:38 PM ET, the general election was set in South Dakota: Democrat Rick Weiland will face former Gov. Mike Rounds (R).

Updated: 9:37 PM

The race was too close to call with 29 percent of precincts reporting. McDaniel and Cochran were both tied at 49 percent. Just five votes separated McDaniel and Cochran.

Updated 9:14 PM:

The New York Times Upshot blog’s Nate Cohn tweeted that Cochran got a big boost out of Hinds County.

Dump of 1600 votes–about 10 percent of vote–from Hinds County (Jackson) gives Cochran big lead

— Nate Cohn (@Nate_Cohn) June 4, 2014

Updated: 9:01 PM:

Polls closed in South Dakota where there’s a divided Senate race. Former Gov. Mike Rounds is the heavy favorite there but he faces Annette Bosworth and four other candidates.

Updated: 8:49 PM:

With about 1 percent of precincts reporting at 8:49 p.m. Cochran led McDaniel 53.9 percent to 44.6 percent.

Updated: 8:17 PM:

Here is McDaniel at his election night rally:

.@senatormcdaniel speaks to crowd at election night party @CMForUSSenate #mssen pic.twitter.com/bN7p3JT1Mh

— Dustin Barnes (@DustinCL) June 3, 2014

Here is a list of which states have primaries Tuesday night and what time they close, via the Associated Press:

• Alabama – 7:00 and 8:00 p.m. ET

• Mississippi – 8:00 p.m. ET

• New Jersey – 8:00 p.m. ET

• South Dakota – 8:00 and 9:00 p.m. ET

• New Mexico – 9:00 p.m. ET

• Iowa – 10:00 p.m. ET

• Montana – 10:00 p.m. ET

• California – 11:00 p.m. ET