Georgia, Oregon, Idaho and Kentucky primaries 2024: Willis, McAfee win; tough night for progressives

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

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.


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Scott leading in Georgia's 13th

With over a third of the expected vote in, incumbent Scott is leading in the Democratic primary in Georgia's 13th congressional district with 60 percent of the vote so far, according to the AP. The race is a microcosm of the issues affecting the entire Democratic Party, with his younger, newer challengers attacking his age, potential health and time in office. But the crowded field my split the vote against him.

—Monica Potts, 538


Massie didn't get Trump's nod this time around

We've been tracking Trump's endorsements of House candidates, and despite getting an endorsement from the former president in 2022, this time around Trump withheld his nod. Massie was the only incumbent Republican in tonight's races that Trump did not endorse -- though Trump didn't endorse any of his opponents, either. As Tia alluded to, Trump and Massie haven't always gotten along in the past.

—Mary Radcliffe, 538


Massie and Rogers both cruise in Kentucky

Of Kentucky's five GOP incumbents, two tonight faced challengers, and both prevailed easily.

ABC News reports that Republican incumbent Rep. Thomas Massie — noted obstructionist and slinger of social media sass — will prevail over challengers Eric Deters and Michael McGinnis in Kentucky's 4th District. With around 58 percent of the expected vote reporting, he leads with 75 percent of the vote. Rep. Hal Rogers — who holds the title of House Dean, or longest serving member of the House of Representatives — had an even easier time in the 5th District. With around 52 percent of the expected vote reporting, he's garnered 81 percent.

While both these contests went as expected, Massie's did see some intrigue. Deters tried to get Massie thrown off the ballot earlier this year, and the incumbent has certainly made enemies within his own party with his hardline opposition to foreign spending and other legislation. AIPAC-affiliated ad spending in this House race was apparently intended to weaken him for potential future runs for higher office.

P.S. If you're bored waiting for results, I highly recommend browsing the #sassywithmassie hashtag.

—Tia Yang, 538


First results out of Georgia’s 3rd District

According to The Associated Press, 10 percent of the expected vote is now reporting in the GOP primary for Georgia's 3rd District, and Jack leads Dugan 42 percent to 30 percent. Remember, though, if no one wins a majority today, this race will go to a runoff.

—Nathaniel Rakich, 538


Oregon voters care about good governance

When asked what the most pressing issue in America is, Oregon voters were most likely to select "government leadership" from a list of issues in an April poll from The Bullfinch Group/The Independent Center. Twenty percent of registered voters surveyed selected the issue, more than in any other state included in the Pacific states survey. While we haven't seen a similar outcome in issue polls of other states so far this cycle, it's also fairly uncommon for pollsters to include the issue when this type of question is asked. However, even in other states in the survey with similar partisanship as Oregon, such as California, voters were less focused on governance (just 9 percent of California voters selected the issue as the most pressing) and more focused on the kinds of issues we've seen in other states: immigration and the economy.

The next most chosen issues for Oregon voters were "jobs and the economy" (14 percent), immigration (11 percent) and abortion (8 percent). Seven percent of Oregon voters selected each of "energy and the environment," health care, and national security.

—Mary Radcliffe, 538