Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri will be on the Republican ticket in November.
Gualtieri fended off challenger and former sheriff Everett Rice in Tuesday's primary, picking up about 57 percent of the vote to Rice's 42 percent.
All 299 precincts had reported by 10 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections website.
A technical glitch , according to Supervisor of Elections Deborah Clark. Vote totals had to be delivered to the elections office in Largo to be counted.
Gualtieri celebrated his victory Tuesday evening at Bascom's Chop House in Clearwater. Rice's campaign held a private gathering in Treasure Island.
Gualtieri was appointed interim sheriff , after Jim Coats retired from the job.
He will face Democratic challenger Scott Swope and independent candidate Greg Pound in the November general election.
In another ballot showdown, Republican State Rep. Peter Nehr, representing District 65 in North Pinellas, easily held off three challengers, winning 53 percent of the vote.
To see updated election results from the Aug. 14, 2012, primary elections in Pinellas County, visit this link.
The only change I've seen in the Pinellas County crime rate since moving here is that it has been increasing. I keep getting the feeling that Rice nor Gualtieri have been able to get a grip on crime. One other thing I've noticed is that Gualtieri isn't even able to keep his own department under control. The choices for November keep getting easier.
Go Swope!
Vote SWOPE!