Georgia, Oregon, Idaho and Kentucky primaries 2024: Tough night for progressives

Abortion didn’t help liberals flip a Georgia Supreme Court seat.

By538 Staff via five thirty eight logo
Last Updated: May 21, 2024, 5:28 PM EDT

On May 21, voters in Georgia, Idaho, Oregon, Kentucky and California held key elections for Congress and nationally watched local races. Two key figures from one of Trump’s legal cases, Fani Willis and Scott McAfee, easily won their races, while conservatives won a Georgia Supreme Court election fought largely over abortion. In the House, progressives lost two key races in Oregon, while California voters picked a successor to Kevin McCarthy.

As usual, 538 reporters and contributors broke down the election results as they came in with live updates, analysis and commentary. Read our full live blog below.

Latest headlines:

Here's how the news is developing.
Meredith Conroy Image
ByMeredith Conroy
May 21, 2024, 11:55 PM EDT

Is progressive influence waning?

That's a good question, Nathaniel. It could be that big spending wins primaries. Another takeaway could be that progressive candidates are losing steam. In the 3rd and the 5th, the candidates more aligned with the progressive wing ended up losing (Jayapal and McLeod-Skinner). But I don't think that's the take away. I think it's more so a consequence of progressive's effective movement. Voters had their pick of several progressive candidates in those races, and yes, the candidates who spent more prevailed.

—Meredith Conroy, 538 contributor

Nathaniel Rakich Image
ByNathaniel Rakich
May 21, 2024, 11:52 PM EDT

The lesson out of Oregon

Based on the blowouts in Oregon’s 3rd and 5th District Democratic primaries, is the lesson here just “big spending works”?

—Nathaniel Rakich, 538

Meredith Conroy Image
ByMeredith Conroy
May 21, 2024, 11:46 PM EDT

More results in Oregon's 4th District

With 55 percent of the expected vote reporting in the Republican primary for Oregon's 4th District, DeSpain's lead has increased over former Keizer city councilmember, Amy Ryan Courser. It now stands at 58 percent to 41 percent, respectively.

—Meredith Conroy, 538 contributor

ByMary Radcliffe
May 21, 2024, 11:46 PM EDT

Progressive Portland DA badly trailing his more conservative challenger

In the Multnomah County District Attorney race, incumbent Mike Schmidt is trailing challenger Nathan Vasquez, 42 percent to 58 percent, with about half the expected votes reporting, according to the New York Times. Multnomah County is the most populous county in Oregon, and includes the city of Portland.

In an April survey, Portland area residents told DHM Research/The Oregonian that the two biggest concerns in their area were homelessness (53 percent) and crime (20 percent), two issues where the DA might make a difference. Respondents were particularly supportive of cracking down on homeless encampments: 63 percent said that "local governments should be allowed to ban people from camping in public spaces and fine or arrest anyone who refuses to leave," while just 27 percent disagreed.

Vasquez has blamed Schmidt and his policies for the rise in homelessness, drug use and crime in the area. And it looks like that approach may be working for him. He's off to a solid lead, and as this is a nonpartisan election, whoever wins tonight will take over the office.

—Mary Radcliffe, 538