Lunsford wins primary to face McConnell in Ky.

Former gubernatorial hopeful Bruce Lunsford withstood a spirited primary challenge from businessman Greg Fischer on Tuesday, winning the Democratic nomination to face Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).

Fischer was well-funded and looked to be closing on Lunsford early in the race. But despite a series of late attack ads from Fischer, Lunsford held on to his lead and prevailed.

{mosads}According to unofficial results, Lunsford led Fischer 50-35 with 54 percent of precincts reporting.

Lunsford has run in a pair of Democratic gubernatorial primaries, in 2003 and 2007, winning neither.

The race against McConnell is considered a second-tier target for Democrats, who saw a series of other candidates pass on the race.

A Lexington Herald-Leader/WKYT poll from earlier this month showed McConnell leading Lunsford 48-36.

In House primaries, state Sen. David Boswell and Daviess County Judge-Executive Reid Haire faced off in the Democratic primary for retiring Rep. Ron Lewis’s (R) open seat. The winner will face state Sen. Brett Guthrie, who was unopposed in the GOP primary and will likely be favored in the conservative-leaning district.

Boswell led 59-41 with 99 percent of precincts in.

Former Rep. Anne Northup (R) easily won the GOP nomination with more than three-fourths of the vote and will face freshman Rep. John Yarmuth (D), who took her seat in 2006.

Northup entered the race when a previous GOP recruit was called to active duty in the Army Reserves. She unsuccessfully challenged then-Gov. Ernie Fletcher (R) in a 2007 primary.