Capt. John Wheeler is in line to be Cole County's next sheriff.
In unofficial results, Wheeler, 49, captured 7,240 votes from Republican primary voters, or 46.32 percent of the votes cast.
Wheeler must still win the Nov. 8 general election, but with no Democrat filed for the office, his primary win is essentially a November victory as well.
Randy Dampf, 54, the prosecuting attorney's investigator and a 30-year Jefferson City police veteran, came in second with 4,474 votes, or 28.63 percent of the GOP primary votes cast.
Gary Hill, 42, the sheriff's patrol division commander, came in third in the three-way race with 3,915 votes, or 25.05 percent.
Wheeler told the News Tribune he was humbled by the support.
"Running for office in the first place is just an emotional roller coaster," Wheeler said. "You get ups and downs, and then you start to fall back on your faith (and) on your family.
"It's an amazing thing that I did as well as I did."
Dampf said he called Wheeler and offered his congratulations.
"I ran a clean race and am very appreciative of the support I had," Dampf said.
Hill couldn't be reached for a comment.
Wheeler said all three candidates had pledged to run a clean race and did.
"You're always going to have a little bit of stuff going on, but it was nothing among the candidates themselves," Wheeler said. "It was a really good race."
Incumbent Sheriff Greg White announced 17 months ago he would retire at the end of this year and not seek another four-year term, then backed Wheeler as his successor.
"One of the biggest things" in his victory Tuesday, Wheeler said, "was Sheriff White endorsing me.
"The fact that Sheriff White has been such a great community servant these past 11 years, and me being under him and, more or less, training, was a big plus in my favor."
ADDITIONAL COVERAGE
Cole County primary stories:
Two races key Cole County voters' interest
Kuensting wins GOP public administrator nomination
Scheperle wins GOP bid for Cole County commissioner
Estes retains Cole County assessor job
Jefferson City sales tax sails to a win
Cole County voter turnout tops 35 percent
Mid-Missouri primary results:
Boone County primary final results
Callaway County primary final results
Cole County primary final results
Miller County primary final results
Moniteau County primary final results
Morgan County primary final results
Osage County primary final results
Other Missouri primary results
Missouri statewide and Congressional primary results
Missouri state representative primary results
Missouri state senator primary results
Missouri primary stories: