Updated 11:17 p.m. |  Longtime Rep. Walter B. Jones, R-N.C., defeated his GOP challenger  Tuesday night, declaring victory in the toughest primary since he came to Congress 20 years ago.  

Jones defeated Taylor Griffin, a former aide to President George W. Bush , 52 percent to 45 percent, with 66 percent of precincts reporting, according to The Associated Press.  

Outside groups spent more than $1 million to paint Jones as “liberal” and boost Griffin’s candidacy in the 3rd District. But Republican operatives in North Carolina said Jones’ deep ties to the Tar Heel State were too much for Griffin to overcome.  

Jones will keep his seat this November in all likelihood. North Carolina’s 3rd District is rated a Safe Republican contest by Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call.  

North Carolina’s 6th District The GOP primary to replace retiring Rep. Howard Coble, R-N.C., will head to a July 15 runoff , after none of the nine Republicans vying for the nomination surpassed the 40 percent threshold in Tuesday’s primary.  

Rockingham County District Attorney Phil Berger Jr. took the first-place spot with 37 percent of the vote, with 70 percent of precincts reporting, according to the AP.  

Baptist Pastor Mark Walker took the second-place spot with 24 percent, according to the AP.  

Whomever emerges from the July 15 runoff will face the likley Democratic nominee, Laura Fjeld, a former administrator at the University of North Carolina system, in November. But Fjeld has a tough task ahead of her this fall.  

North Carolina’s 6th District is rated a Safe Republican contest by Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call.  

North Carolina’s 7th District Former state Sen. David Rouzer defeated New Hanover County Commissioner Woody White Tuesday night to earn the GOP nomination in this heavily Republican district.  

Rouzer defeated White 57 percent to 36 percent, with 62 percent of precincts reporting, according to The Associated Press.  

Last cycle, Rouzer was the GOP nominee to take on Democratic Rep. Mike McIntyre in this district, which Romney won with 59 percent. Rouzer lost that contest to McIntyre by less than 700 votes.  

Now that McIntyre is retiring , Rouzer is the odds on favorite to win this seat in November.  

North Carolina’s 7th District is rated a Safe Republican contest by Rothenberg Political Report/Roll Call.  

North Carolina’s 12th District State Rep. Alma Adams won the crowded Democratic primary in this heavily Democratic district outright, surpassing the 40 percent threshold to avoid a runoff.  

Adams received 43 percent of the vote, with 80 percent of precincts reporting, according to the Associated Press. Her next-closest primary opponent, state Sen. Malcolm Graham, came in second with 25 percent, according to the AP.  

The seat is open because former Rep. Melvin Watt, D-N.C., left the House when he was confirmed to lead the Federal Housing Finance Agency .  

A special election to fill Watt’s vacancy  is running concurrently with the midterm election dates, with the same candidates. Adams won that special election Democratic primary outright, too, with 43 percent, according to the AP.  

With her primary wins, Adams will likely be the next member of Congress from this majority-minority district, which voted for President Barack Obama with 79 percent in 2012.  

The winner on Election Day in November will serve out the remaining two months of Watt’s term before being sworn in to the 114th Congress.