Missouri's 1st District: Clay Defeats Hamlin

In a win that surprised no one, Rep. William Lacy Clay defeated his Republican challenger Robyn Hamlin in Missouri's First Congressional District. 

This is the second time Clay has defeated Hamlin. 

With 214 of 497 precincts counted on the Missouri Secretary of State's website, the unofficial results show Clay won with 75.6 percent of the vote. Hamlin collected 20.9 percent. Libertarian candidate Robb Cunningham received 5,898 votes, or 3.5 percent.

In the 214 precincts, Clay had 128,610 votes to Hamlin's 35,629.

The First District trends Democratic and the big election of 2012 was the August primary when Clay faced off against fellow House member Russ Carnahan. 

Carnahan's residence moved from the 3rd District to the 1st when Missouri's districts were redistricted following the 2010 Census. 

The Clay/Carnahan fight was closely watched and divided the local Democratic party as Gov. Jay Nixon and St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay backed Clay.

Clay was at the Chase Park Plaza Tuesday with Sen. Claire McCaskill and other Democratic candidates. Hamlin encouraged voters to join her watch party at Fallon's in Olivette. 

See our previous coverage:

• Republican Candidate Joins 1st District Ad War
• Should Missouri Require Voters to Have a Photo ID?