Rockaway Mayor Michael Puzio on Tuesday fended off a primary challenge from Republican Council President Tucker Kelley.
Puzio won 1,712 votes, nearly doubling the 934 ballots cast in Kelley’s name.
The incumbent will face Democratic Councilman Jonathan Sacket in the general.
Running uncontested, Sacket got 761 votes.
There has been some speculation that Sacket will withdraw from the race and had put his name on the ballot as an insurance policy in the event that Puzio, a political ally, lost the primary.
Puzio was elected mayor last November to fill the unexpired term of the late Michael Dachieson.