Connecticut Primary Results LIVE: Joe Lieberman Senate Seat Up For Grabs

Impact

Connecticut holds a high-profile summertime primary contest on Tuesday that will likely see low turnout.

Up for grabs will be the retiring Senator Joe Lieberman’s seat. The former Democrat-turned-independent was the 2000 vice presidential nominee for the Democrats. He also unsuccessfully ran for the party nomination for president in 2004.  In 2006, he lost the Democratic primary to Ned Lamont, but refused to step aside, running and winning reelection as an independent. In 2008, Lieberman endorsed John McCain for president, and even spoke at the Republican National Convention. He has frequently been a thorn in the Democrats' side for the duration of his final term.

This marks the second time in two years that Connecticut has had an open seat for the U.S. Senate. 

Republicans and Democrats on Tuesday will choose their parties' standard-bearers for the November general election, including hotly contested races for the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives.

Wealthy, former wrestling executive with the WWE, Linda McMahon, wife of Vince McMahon, is again seeking the Republican nomination and redemption for her loss in 2010 to Democrat Richard Blumenthal after spending $50 million. She is being challenged by former Congressman Christopher Shays, a moderate Republican who lost his seat in 2008, and argues that McMahon is unqualified for the job.

Lieberman’s decision not to run for another term has had a ripple effect throughout state politics. It prompted Congressman Chris Murphy to run for the senate. Murphy, the Democratic Party's preferred candidate, is facing former Secretary of State Susan Bysiewicz.

Meanwhile, Murphy’s exit from the 5th Congressional District seat, which he has held since 2007, has led to two close primaries that have been shadowed by two unrelated federal investigations. The state’s Democratic Speaker of the House and party-endorsed candidate, Chris Donovan, is facing challenges from former state representative Elizabeth Esty and political newcomer Daniel Roberti.

Polls close at 8 p.m. EDT.

PolicyMic will be covering the Connecticut primaries LIVE. Bookmark and refresh this page for updated analysis and real-time news on the election.

LIVE UPDATES:

9:45: Live blog, out.

9:38: PolicyMic is calling the GOP 5th for Roraback and Democratic 5th for Esty.

9:31: McMahon to speak momentarily. 

9:24: Contrary to what  Austrian schoolers may be saying, the presence of Peter Schiff was not missed in this GOP primary. 

9:19: Esty is going to win the Democratic 5th.

9:16: Roraback looks like a winner in the GOP 5th.

9:06: Formica has coasted to victory in the GOP 2nd.

9:03: The triumph of McMahon over Shays, a familiar face in Connecticut politics does not bode well the GOP's old guard, even in this moderate northeast state.

8:52: Chris Murphy has defeated Susan Bysiewicz for the Democratic nomination for senate.

8:40: The GOP senate primary has been called for Linda McMahon. 

8:36: Linda McMahon is ahead 75% to 25% over Chris Shays with 20% reporting. 

8:03: Polls have been closed for three minutes. Weirdly, no results yet.