Ben Sasse Leads In Early Vote Totals

Above, Ben Sasse.

One of the U.S. Senate candidates I contributed to is now leading in the early vote count.

With 4% of the vote counted, Ben Sasse is way ahead at 44%.

According to ABC News:

Tea party-favorite Ben Sasse seized an early lead on Tuesday in Nebraska's Republican primary for the U.S. Senate, outpacing a wealthy banker and the establishment-backed candidate in a race that highlighted the fissures within the GOP. 

With 4 percent of precincts reporting, Sasse, the president of Midland University, had 44 percent of the vote to 25 percent for Sid Dinsdale and 22 percent for Shane Osborn. 

The tea party, outside conservative groups and two of the right's heroes — Sarah Palin and Sen. Ted Cruz — had rallied behind Sasse. For months, he was locked in an increasingly negative race with former State Treasurer Osborn, who had the backing of the Washington establishment and allies of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.

 For more, go here.

UPDATE: The Associated Press via ABC News has called the race in Nebraska for Ben Sasse:

University president, tea party favorite Ben Sasse wins Nebraska GOP US Senate nomination.

UPDATE: The Lincoln, Nebraska Journal Star has also declared Sasse the winner:

Midland University President Ben Sasse emerged from a rough and tumble race to claim a substantial primary victory over Republicans battling for a U.S. Senate seat. 

The Associated Press declared the race for Sasse shortly before 9 p.m.