Primary Election Results, Latest as Arizona Vote Goes to Wire

Voters in Arizona, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri and Washington went to the polls on Tuesday in crucial primary contests ahead of the 2022 midterm elections this November.

The much-watched Republican primary for Arizona governor was too close to call on Wednesday morning as Trump-endorsed Kari Lake edged ahead of her GOP rival, Karrin Taylor Robson, with around 80 percent of votes counted.

Kansas voters delivered a victory for pro-abortion rights activists in a statewide referendum that prevented Republican legislators from banning or restricting access to abortions.

Here are the key results by state.

Arizona

The Republican gubernatorial primary was down to the wire on Wednesday morning as Lake took a slim lead over Robson. Lake was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, while Robson was endorsed by former Vice President Mike Pence.

Lake led with 46.1 percent to Robson's 44.6 percent, with around 80 percent of the votes counted, according to The New York Times.

In the Democratic gubernatorial primary, Secretary of State Katie Hobbs won the nomination with 72.8 percent of the vote.

Mark Finchem, who has denied President Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election, has won the Republican primary for secretary of state. The Trump-endorsed state representative had 40.8 percent of the vote, with 74 percent reported.

He will face Democrat Adrian Fontes, who won 52.8 percent in the primary compared to 47.2 percent for opponent Reginald Bolding.

Democratic Senator Mark Kelly won his primary uncontested and he'll face Trump-endorsed Blake Masters, who won the Republican primary with 38.7 percent to rival Jim Lamon's 28.9 percent and Mark Brnovich's 18.4 percent—with 76 percent of the votes counted.

Kansas

Voters in Kansas delivered a win for abortion rights activists on Tuesday with 58.8 percent voting "no" in a statewide referendum on removing abortion protections from the state constitution. With 95 percent of votes reported, the "yes" vote came in at 41.2 percent.

Kris Kobach triumphed in the Republican primary for attorney general winning 42.3 percent of the vote, with more than 95 percent reported. His nearest rival, Kellie Warren, won 37.9 percent.

Kobach previously served as Kansas secretary of state and become well-known for his claims about voter fraud. He will face Democrat Chris Mann, whose primary was uncontested.

Michigan

Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer will face Trump-backed Republican Tudor Dixon after Dixon won the GOP gubernatorial primary with 40.5 percent of the vote—with 77 percent of votes counted.

Whitmer was unopposed in the Democratic primary, but the governor's race is expected to be hotly contested in November.

Republican Representative Peter Meijer has been defeated in Michigan's 3rd congressional district by Trump-endorsed challenger John Gibbs, who won 51.8 percent support to Meijer's 48.2 percent.

Meijer was one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump following the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.

Gibbs will face Democrat Hillary Scholten, who ran uncontested.

Missouri

Former Missouri Governor Eric Greitens failed in his bid for a political comeback and lost the GOP Senate primary to the state's attorney general, Eric Schmitt, after Trump ambiguously endorsed "Eric" and both men claimed he backed them.

Schmitt won 45.7 percent with more than 95 percent of votes reported, while Greitens was beaten into third place by Representative Vicky Hartzler. Hartzler won 22.1 percent and Greitens garnered 18.9 percent.

Mark McCloskey, who became a well-known figure after he aimed a gun at Black Lives Matter protesters, was also running the Senate primary and suffered a heavy defeat. McCloskey won around 3 percent of the vote.

Democrat Trudy Busch Valentine will face Schmitt after winning her primary with 43.2 percent of the vote.

Washington

Senator Patty Murray won the state's nonpartisan Senate primary and will advance to the November general election. She won 54 percent with 48 percent of votes reported and will face Republican Tiffany Smiley, who won 32 percent support.

Democrats are also hoping to break a long-running losing streak in the race for secretary of state. Incumbent Steve Hobbs won the special primary with 41.2 percent of the vote. But it remains to be seen who he will face in November as results are yet to come in.

Just 47 percent of votes were reported as of Wednesday morning, but Hobbes' opponent should become clear in the coming days.

Hobbes was appointed to the position by Democratic Governor Jay Inslee in November following the resignation of Republican Kim Wyman. No Democrat has won election to the position since 1960 despite Washington being a heavily Democratic state.