Candidates running for office are preparing to find out whether they will move on to November’s general election. Missouri’s election polls closed at 7 p.m.  Stephanie Fleming with the Secretary of State’s office says absentee ballot figures could be released around 7:30 p.m.

Unmarked Ballot

Candidates wait for Missouri primary election results

All Missouri House of Representatives seats and half of the state Senate seats are up for grabs this election cycle.

Some of the races to watch out for include:

** U.S. Senate: Incumbent Senator Roy Blunt (R) faces three primary challengers: Kristi Nichols, Bernie Mowinski and Ryan Luethy. Blunt is seeking his second Senate term. Four Democrats are running: Secretary of State Jason Kander, Chief Wana Dubie, Cori Bush and Robert Mack.

** Gubernatorial race: Governor Jay Nixon (D) cannot seek re-election because of term limits. Four Democrats are seeking the nomination: Attorney General Chris Koster, former Kansas City Mayor and former State Sen. Charles Wheeler, Leonard Steinman II and Eric Morrison. Four Republicans are seeking the GOP nomination: former House Speaker Catherine Hanaway of Warson Woods, Navy SEAL Eric Greitens, businessman John Brunner and Lt. Governor Peter Kinder.

** Lt. Governor: Republican incumbent Peter Kinder (R) is running for Governor, so the Lt. Governor position is open in November. Kinder is finishing his third term. Three Republicans are running: Bev Randles, State Sen. Mike Parson of Bolivar and Arnie Dienoff. Three Democrats are seeking their party’s nomination: former St. Louis Congressman Russ Carnahan, St. Louis State Rep. Tommie Pierson and Winston Apple.

** Secretary of State: incumbent Democrat Jason Kander (D) is running for U.S. Senate, so the Secretary of State position is open in November. Kander was elected in 2012. Three Democrats are running: Bill Clinton Young, former St. Louis television newscaster Robin Smith and MD Rabbi Alam. Three Republicans are running: State Sen. Will Kraus of Lee’s Summit, Jay Ashcroft and Roi Chinn.

** Attorney General: incumbent Chris Koster (D) is making a gubernatorial run, so this position is open in November. Koster is finishing his second term as Attorney General. Two Democrats are running: former State Rep. Jake Zimmerman, D-Olivette, and former Cass County Prosecutor Teresa Hensley. There are two Republican candidates: constitutional lawyer Josh Hawley of Columbia and State Sen. Kurt Schaefer, R-Columbia.

** Missouri’s First Congressional District: incumbent U.S. Rep. Lacy Clay (D) is being challenged by State Sen. Maria Chappelle Nadal, D-University City, and Bill Haas. Clay is in his eighth term in Congress. Two Republicans are seeking the GOP nomination: Steven Bailey of St. Louis and Bridgeton’s Paul Berry III. The First Congressional District includes St. Louis City and parts of St. Louis County.

Local election authorities project a voter turnout of 31% or 1.2 million Missourians.

Missourinet live election coverage will continue throughout Tuesday evening.

For updated election results, click here.