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It got much closer than many expected but in the end not close enough.

Everything that needed to happen seemed to fall into place for gubernatorial hopeful Phil Moffett and his running mate, state Rep. Mike Harmon of Boyle County, to have a big upset in the Republican primary Tuesday. In the end, though, low turnout and what appeared to be a sizable response from the Tea Party movement that swept a number of state and federal officials into office last fall were not quite enough.

In the Republican primary, Senate President David Williams and his running mate, current Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer, ended up with about 48 percent of the vote to 37.9 for Moffett and Harmon. Jefferson County Clerk Bobbie Holsclaw got 13.8 percent.

Harmon, who was with Moffett at Patrick O’Shea’s restaurant in downtown Louisville to watch the results, said he was pleased that the ticket was able to make inroads with significantly fewer resources, being outspent almost 10 to 1, about $1 million to about $119,000. Early in the night, it looked like Williams might be vulnerable as positive returns rolled in from Fayette County, which Moffett carried by about 2,000 votes.

“We were exceptionally pleased with how our people came out, and watching (Fayette), we had high hopes that the rest of the state would trend that way,” Harmon said. “I thought we made a great run and really advanced our four-corners agenda. I got a lot of great feedback that I am going to take with me as a state representative.”

The 10.34-percent turnout was almost exactly what incumbent Secretary of State Elaine Walker, who lost her Democratic primary race to Alison Lundergan Grimes, had predicted.

Despite the low totals, Moffett and Harmon took some of the state’s most populous counties, including Fayette, McCracken and Warren, and came in second to Holsclaw in her home county of Jefferson.

Harmon appeared to help the ticket in his district and the surrounding area, taking in the most votes in Boyle, Washington, Mercer and Garrard.

Harmon said he was encouraged with the way the ticket overcame the name recognition of Williams and Farmer. Williams is one of the state’s most prominent Republicans, and Farmer is a state basketball folk hero. Harmon didn’t rule out taking another crack at state office, noting that he campaigned several times for state representative before becoming the first Republican in generations to win the seat.

“This was my first primary in a statewide race, and you never know what may happen in four years,” Harmon said. “God has a reason for everything, and you never know where he may lead us.”

Harmon had said during the campaign that Williams told him he made a mistake by mounting an opposition to his candidacy. Harmon didn’t bite when asked if the encounter would pose an impediment to party unity.

“Tonight is their night, and when tomorrow comes, we have to get back to living our lives,” Harmon said. “We should let them have their night.”

Local results

Boyle

• Governor and Lieutenant Governor: Republicans, David Williams and Richie Farmer, 190; Phil Moffett and Mike Harmon, 739; Bobbie Holsclaw and Bill Vermillion Jr., 51.
• Secretary of State: Republicans, Hilda Legg, 472, and Bill Johnson, 408. Democrats, Elaine Walker, 644, and Alison Lundergan Grimes, 584.
• Auditor: Republicans, Addia Wuchner, 291, and John T. Kemper III, 516.
• Agriculture Commissioner: Republicans, Rob Rothenburger, 370, and James Comer, 472. Democrats, Robert “Bob” Farmer, 305; Stewart Gritton, 198; John Lackey, 213; David Williams, 174; and B.D. Wilson, 301.
• Treasurer: Democrats, L.J. “Todd” Hollenbach, 892, and Steve Hamrick, 303.

Casey

• Governor: Republicans: David Williams, 874; Phil Moffett, 256; and Bobbie Holtzclaw, 97.
• Secretary of State: Republicans: Bill Johnson, 427 and Hilda Legg, 752. Democrats, Allison Lundergan Grimes, 109, and Elaine Walker, 75.
• Treasurer: Democrats, Todd Hollenbach, 136, and Steve Hamrick, 40
• Auditor: Republicans, John T. Kemper III, 641, and Kathryn Wuchner, 388.
• Agriculture Comissioner: Republicans, James R. Comer, 906, and Rob Rothenburger, 194. Democrats, Robert Farmer, 54; Stewart Gritton, 37; John Lackey, 18; David Williams, 19; and B.D. Wilson, 46.

Garrard

• Governor and Lieutenant Governor: Republicans, Williams and Farmer, 408; Moffett and Harmon, 530; and Holsclaw and Vermillion Jr., 62.
• Secretary of State: Republicans, Legg, 536, and Johnson, 408. Democrats, Walker, 117, and Lundergan Grimes, 180.
• Auditor: Republicans, Wuchner, 296, and Kemper, 565.
• Agriculture Commissioner: Republicans, Rothenburger, 361, and Comer, 565. Democrats, Farmer, 64; Gritton, 60; Lackey, 60; Williams, 33; and Wilson, 63.
• Treasurer: Democrats, Hollenbach, 217, and Hamrick, 67.

Lincoln

• Governor and Lieutenant Governor: Republicans, Williams and Farmer, 420; Moffett and Harmon, 355; and Holsclaw and Vermillion Jr., 36.
• Secretary of State: Republicans, Legg, 439, and Johnson, 316. Democrats, Walker, 232, and Lundergan Grimes, 467.
• Auditor: Republicans, Wuchner, 209, and Kemper, 494.
• Agriculture Commissioner: Republicans, Rothenburger, 272, and Comer, 454. Democrats: Farmer, 203; Gritton, 182; Lackey, 102; Williams, 85; and Wilson, 111.
• Treasurer: Democrats, Hollenbach, 485, and Hamrick, 183.

Mercer

• Mercer Circuit Clerk: Sherry Horn, 894, and Beth Neal, 1,295.
• Governor and Lieutenant Governor: Republicans, Williams and Farmer, 340; Moffett and Harmon, 446; and Holsclaw and Vermillion Jr., 41.
• Secretary of State: Republicans, Legg, 403, and Johnson, 376. Democrats, Walker, 796, and Lundergan Grimes, 1,179.
• Auditor: Republicans, Wuchner, 292, and Kemper, 439.
• Agriculture Commissioner: Republicans, Rothenburger, 332, and Comer, 429. Democrats, Farmer, 553; Gritton, 554; Lackey, 232; Williams, 203; and Wilson, 311.
• Treasurer: Democrats, Hollenbach, 1,313, and Hamrick, 461.