Maryland, West Virginia and Nebraska primaries 2024: Alsobrooks beats Trone

About an hour and a half south of Trone's party in Baltimore — in Angela Alsobrooks's home turf of Prince George's County — supporters and staff for the county executive are beginning to fill up Martin's Crosswinds catering center in Greenbelt. Lights are dim with crystal chandeliers glistening; jazz, oldies (and a little Beyonce) is coming out of the speakers and beef wellington, fried shrimp and salmon cakes are heating up on silver burners. Like at the "Trone HQ," Alsobrooks's election night party venue feels very much like a Sweet Sixteen or prom — and some of the attendees have said the same. Overheard moments ago was one voter remarking to another how she came here for high school dances. The candidate, who has captured the backing of much of the Maryland establishment, seems to be appealing to that base of supporters here on election night.

—Isabella Murray, ABC News

It's 8 p.m. Eastern, so polls have now closed in Maryland as well. Stay tuned for results from the big races there!

—Nathaniel Rakich, 538

I've arrived at "Trone HQ" for the night. His campaign has completely taken over the flashy Baltimore Museum of Industry that sits right on the city's beautiful harbor. And I mean taken over — entire event dropped right in the middle of the exhibit floor. It's clear that he spared no expense, as multiple stations of caterers are busy setting (delicious looking) sliders and finger foods in front of exhibits about the history of Bethlehem Steel as bartenders ready their area by the waterfront view.

This is not a cheap event. It reminds me of the fanciest Sweet Sixteens I attended on Long Island (a true feat, if you know you know) — and to no one's surprise, as Trone's campaign spent at least $48 million of the more than $60 million total spent on ads in this contest, according to AdImpact. In fact, the press pen is nestled next to a vintage Buffalo Springfield steamroller. Talk about hitting us over the head with metaphor! I'd be curious what it looks like over at Alsobrooks's election party ...

—Brittany Shepherd, ABC News

Nebraska has a busy electoral slate today, but only one primary looks potentially intriguing: the GOP contest in the Omaha-based 2nd District. Republican Rep. Don Bacon is seeking reelection, but Biden would have carried the seat by 6 points in 2020 and Bacon only won reelection by about 3 points in 2022 against Democratic state Sen. Tony Vargas. Bacon's reputation as a relative moderate has helped him hold onto this purple seat, but it's also made him potentially vulnerable to a more conservative primary challenger.

That has made the campaign of Dan Frei, an Omaha businessman running to Bacon's right, one to monitor tonight. Though it's unlikely given the incumbent's fundraising advantage and outside spending support, were Frei to upset Bacon, that would likely make the 2nd District more winnable in November for Vargas, who has raised $2.4 million for an anticipated rematch against Bacon. But Frei has come close to pulling off a primary upset here before: In 2014, his insurgent campaign only lost 53 percent to 47 percent against then-Rep. Lee Terry despite being outspent about 20-to-one.

—Geoffrey Skelley, 538