Oregon Public Broadcasting

More than forty percent of Oregon voters cast ballots in Tuesday night's primary election. As Rob Manning reports, that's higher than expected.

Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown predicted a 37 percent voter turnout in the days leading up to the Tuesday primary. Her spokesman, Don Hamilton, says Brown doesn't mind underestimating the electorate.

Don Hamilton: "I think the Secretary of State Kate Brown, is very gratified to have been proven wrong on this. The 41-percent turnout surpasses the primary four years ago, and puts Oregon in the top-tier of states for turnout, this primary season."

Hamilton says in some counties, turnout was quite high – reaching over 50 percent.

By contrast, Kentucky's primaries for an open seat in the U.S. Senate drew only a 33 percent voter turnout.

Another close senate primary in Pennsylvania saw just over half of Oregon's turnout.