Election results in Ohio, Kansas too close to call — live updates
Tuesday ended without a clear winner in the final special election before Election Day in Ohio, where provisional and absentee ballots may determine the race's outcome. The race for Kansas governor also remains too close to call. Four other states, meanwhile -- Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, and Washington -- held primary elections.
- In Ohio, the race remains extremely close in the special election to replace Rep. Pat Tiberi in Ohio's 12th District. With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Balderson has 50.1 percent of the vote to O'Connor's 49.3 percent. The result may rely on provisional and absentee ballots.
- The contest between Trump ally and Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach and incumbent Gov. Jeff Colyer is even tighter. Kobach has a margin of under 200 votes Wednesday morning. This race may not be called for several days.
Follow live updates of 2018 primary election results below
Trump takes credit for victories
Mr. Trump on Wednesday morning took credit for Republican victories overnight, claiming the media is muting those victories.
"The Republicans have now won 8 out of 9 House Seats, yet if you listen to the Fake News Media you would think we are being clobbered," the president tweeted. "Why can't they play it straight, so unfair to the Republican Party and in particular, your favorite President!"
The Republicans have now won 8 out of 9 House Seats, yet if you listen to the Fake News Media you would think we are being clobbered. Why can't they play it straight, so unfair to the Republican Party and in particular, your favorite President!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 8, 2018
The president again predicted a "red wave" in November.
As long as I campaign and/or support Senate and House candidates (within reason), they will win! I LOVE the people, & they certainly seem to like the job I'm doing. If I find the time, in between China, Iran, the Economy and much more, which I must, we will have a giant Red Wave!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 8, 2018
Congress set for first Muslim woman
Rashida Tlaib is set to become the first Muslim woman to be elected to Congress after securing the Democratic primary in Michigan's 13th congressional district. Tlaib's grassroots campaign for the House seat long held by former Rep. John Conyers raised more than $1 million.
She previously told CBSN's "Red and Blue" back in May that her background will give her the kind of lens that is currently lacking in the U.S. Congress now.
"Me being elected is a big message to the whole country that we are part of the got we are part of society and we want to give back just like anyone else," said Tlaib.
She'll be unopposed on the November general election ballot.
Ohio special election — too close to call
The race is extremely close in Ohio's 12th Congressional District, where Democrat Danny O'Connor is facing off against Republican state Senator Troy Balderson. The winner will take over the term of Pat Tiberi, who resigned to work for a business group earlier this year.
With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Balderson has 50.1 percent of the vote, to O'Connor's 49.3 percent. The vote may come down to counting provisional and absentee ballots -- but that could take days. County boards of elections reported that 3,435 provisional ballots were cast and there were 5,048 outstanding absentee ballots. State law dictates election officials cannot begin counting these ballots until the 11th day after the election, which would be Aug. 18.
Balderson appeared to claim victory, saying in a statement, "THANK YOU #OH12! I am honored for the opportunity to represent Ohio's 12th Congressional District. I will work relentlessly for everyone in this district. Congratulations to Danny O'Connor on running a hard-fought race."
The NRCC claimed victory for Balderson, although no major news outlet has called the race, and Mr. Trump took credit for Balderson's edge.
When I decided to go to Ohio for Troy Balderson, he was down in early voting 64 to 36. That was not good. After my speech on Saturday night, there was a big turn for the better. Now Troy wins a great victory during a very tough time of the year for voting. He will win BIG in Nov.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 8, 2018
If the vote margin is ultimately within half a point, an automatic recount would be triggered.
Speaking to supporters late Tuesday night, O'Connor thanked his family and those who came out to vote for him. He did not concede.
"Tomorrow we rest and then we keep fighting through to November," O'Connor told supporters.
Whatever the outcome of the special election race, the two could be running against each other again in just a few months. Both Balderson and O'Connor are the candidates for the November election as well.
This central Ohio district isn't a place where Democrats should be competitive, CBS News correspondent Ed O'Keefe points out. Mr. Trump won the 12th District by 11 points in 2016. Now, 31-year-old O'Connor tightened the race for an open House seat that the GOP has held since the early 1980s.
Mr. Trump stumped in Ohio last week before heading to New Jersey for a working vacation, where he told the state's supporters that they're the "real elite."
To date, O'Connor has raised more money than Balderson this election cycle, CBS News' Caitlin Conant points out. The Congressional Leadership Fund has spent $2.6 million in the race and the NRCC and DCCC have both invested money as well, with the NRCC spending almost $600,000 so far.
Balderson insults part of his district
At a campaign event in Zanesville on Monday evening, Balderson attempted to gin up support in his hometown by disparaging Franklin County.
"My opponent is from Franklin County, and Franklin County has been challenging. We don't want somebody from Franklin County representing us," Balderson said. Franklin County encompasses a relatively small portion of the district, on the outskirts of Columbus. It is one of the most populous areas of the district, and less Republican than the other, rural counties. Around a third of the vote is expected to come from Franklin County on Tuesday.
O'Connor quickly seized upon Balderson's comments. "Our district deserves someone who is going to represent all of us," O'Connor wrote on Twitter, adding that Balderson "just made it crystal clear that's not him."
Chair of Ohio Democratic Party says there's a lot of energy
David Pepper, chair of the Ohio Democratic Party, said there's a lot of energy on the Democratic side Tuesday night, evidenced by how close the race is in a traditionally red district.
"This district is gerrymandered for an easy win, no competition ... this is Republican Ohio," Pepper told CBS News correspondent Ed O'Keefe.
Pepper said there are a number of races Democrats in Ohio are looking forward to. They key, he said, is to bring in great candidates and talk about issues that matter to to swing voters.
Pepper said Balderson's comment disparaging Franklin County will "haunt" him for the next 90 days.
Kansas primary results — Kobach, Colyer race too close to call
Kansas Secretary of State and Trump ally Kris Kobach is hoping to defeat incumbent Gov. Jeff Colyer in the Republican gubernatorial primary.
But with 87 percent reporting at 1 a.m. Wednesday, the race was too close to call. The two remained deadlocked with Kobach leading Colyer by under two hundred votes. That race may not be called for days.
If there is a recount, Kobach, as secretary of state, would oversee it unless he recuses himself. He has not offered to do so, and in Topeka Wednesday, he suggested that he does not plan to step away from overseeing any recount. "The recount thing is done on a county level, so the secretary of state does not actually participate directly in the recount," he said, according to the Kansas City Star.
Mr. Trump has voiced his support for Kobach, a firebrand who concerns many Republicans.
Kobach previously served as the the vice chair of the president's controversial "voter fraud" commission, which has since been disbanded over states' concerns that the commission was demanding states hand over voter data, leading to several lawsuits against the panel. Kobach was endorsed by Mr. Trump on Monday ahead of Tuesday's election, calling him a "fantastic guy" who will be "strong on crime, border and military."
Moderate State Senator Laura Kelly is the likely Democratic nominee for governor.
CBS News rates Kansas' 2nd and 3rd congressional districts as "very likely" or "probably" competitive in November.
Polling places open at 8:00 a.m. ET and close at 8:00 p.m. ET.
Michigan primary results
In Michigan, Gretchen Whitmer is projected to win the Democratic nomination for governor, besting Abdul El-Sayed, who was backed by rising Democratic Party star Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
The AP also projected State Attorney General Bill Schuette won the GOP primary, advancing in the race to succeed term-limited Republican Gov. Rick Snyder. Mr. Trump had endorsed Schuette via tweet, saying he will be a "fantastic" governor.
In the Senate race, incumbent Democratic Senator Debbie Stabenow is running for re-election. She is expected to run against Iraq veteran John James, who was leading in his primary race Tuesday night. Mr. Trump congratulated James late Tuesday night, calling him a "future star" of the party.
Congratulations to a future STAR of the Republican Party, future Senator John James. A big and bold victory tonight in the Great State of Michigan - the first of many. November can't come fast enough!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 8, 2018
CBS News also rates Michigan's 8th and 11th congressional districts as "very likely" or "probably" competitive in November's midterm elections.
Hillary Clinton recorded a robocall ahead of Tuesday for Haley Stevens in Michigan's 11th, endorsing Stevens' experience as chief of staff for the auto bailout during the Obama administration.
Polls are open from 7 a.m. ET to 8 p.m. ET in Michigan
Missouri primary results — voters strike down right-to-work law
Missouri has a Senate primary election on Tuesday night -- incumbent Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill is expected to run against Republican State Attorney General Josh Hawley. Mr. Trump stumped for Hawley late last month, calling him a "great young man" and urging supporters that Missouri needed him in the Senate "badly."
McCaskill is the clear leader in the Democratic primary, and the AP projected that Hawley would win his race. Mr. Trump tweeted to congratulate Hawley early Wednesday.
Congratulations to Josh Hawley on your big Senate Primary win in Missouri. I look forward to working with you toward a big win in November. We need you in Washington!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 8, 2018
McCaskill meanwhile is one of 10 Democratic U.S. senators trying to defend their seats in states that Mr. Trump won in 2016.
Missouri voters also overwhelmingly struck down the state's right-to-work law through a referendum.
Washington primary — results coming in
In Washington, incumbent Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell is expected to easily win re-election in the fall.
Republican Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers was roughly tied for votes with Democrat Lisa Brown in Washington's 5th Congressional District. That's not great for Republicans, who generally perform well in that district. In Washington, the top two vote-getters proceed to November.
CBS News rates Washington's 8th Congressional District as "very likely" or "probably" competitive in the November midterms.
Like California, Washington uses a top-two jungle primary system -- regardless of party affiliation, the top two candidates move on to the general election.
Washington state votes by mail-in ballot with drop boxes and voting centers closing at 11 p.m. ET
Which states still have primaries after today?
Although the majority of states have voted in primary elections, several have yet to pick their nominees. Most of the states hold federal and state primaries on the same day, although New York has its state primary in September, three months after the federal primary.
Here are the remaining primary elections after today's primaries in Ohio, Missouri, Michigan, Kansas and Washington:
August 11 - Hawaii; August 14 - Connecticut, Minnesota, Vermont; August 21 - Alaska, Wyoming; August 28 - Arizona, Florida; September 4 - Massachusetts; September 6 - Delaware; September 11 - New Hampshire; September 12 - Rhode Island; September 13 - New York (statewide offices only); November 6 - Louisiana.
Salvanto: No "bellwether" out of special election
CBS News' Elections and Surveys Director Anthony Salvanto reports that no single district on Tuesday is considered a "bellwether" - whatever ultimately happens on election night will not foretell November.
He adds that there's already been a string of special elections in which Democrats have over-performed. Ohio's 12th district shares a lot of the characteristics of places that are competitive in November, so it will be widely and correctly seen as a test case if it is close, or if the Democrat manages to pull an upset win.