The biggest contest in Montgomery County Tuesday was the race for the Republican nomination for Sheriff.

The endorsed candidate, Eileen Whalon Behr, who was nominated as interim sheriff by Gov. Tom Corbett, faced a challenge from Robert J. Durante, another law enforcement veteran.

In this case, the party backing proved decisive.

Behr, 54, of Lafayette Hill, who recently retired as Whitemarsh police chief, finished with 21,493 votes while Durante, 58, of Norristown, trailed with 9,839 votes with 100 percent of precincts reporting, according to unofficial election results.

Behr, who has been in law enforcement for more than 30 years, is the heavy favorite to become the first female elected sheriff in Montgomery County history.

She was not taking anything for granted Tuesday when she spoke to Mercury reporter Carl Hessler Jr.

"It's only step one. We still have a long way to go to November," Behr said from a celebration at Montgomery County Republican headquarters. "I'm very grateful for all the people who came out to support me."

Behr's opponent in the November general election will be Democrat William A. Holt Jr., 65, of Abington, a former detective sergeant with the Abington Police Department.

The winner of the November contest will succeed longtime Sheriff John P. Durante, who died last year from a heart attack at age 60. The late sheriff is no relation to Robert J. Durante.

Turnout was low, with about 13 percent of Montgomery County voters going to the polls for the primary election.