In a non-binding vote of the Middlesex County Republican screening committee, party leaders recommended Curtis Bashaw by a margin of nearly 5-1.
Bashaw received 29 votes (67%), followed by Mendham Mayor Christine Serrano Glassner with six votes (14%) and former News 12 New Jersey reporter Alex Zdan with five votes (12%). Two votes were cast for Brian Jackson and one for former Tabernacle Deputy Mayor Justin Michael Murphy.
The next step is the full Middlesex GOP convention, which is set for March 14.
Four years ago, Middlesex County made up 5% of the total votes cast in the Republican primary.
Bashaw, a real estate developer and hotelier from Cape May County, is making his first bid for public office.
So far, Serrano Glassner has won conventions in Hunterdon, Union, and Morris counties, while Bashaw won in Atlantic.
GOP conventions in Ocean and Monmouth, two major sources of primary votes, come up on Thursday.