With the majority of towns reporting results, Oxford County residents voted on Tuesday for Sheriff Christopher Wainwright of Dixfield over Frank “Buddy” Blauvelt Jr. of Otisfield in the Republican primary for Oxford County sheriff.

Wainwright is seeking his third term.

He will run against Democrat Timothy Holland of Peru and nonparty candidate Justin Brown of Hartford in the general election Nov. 3.

Blauvelt, a school resource officer, called Wainwright on Wednesday night to concede the election and to congratulate him on his win. Both men have over 30 years of law enforcement experience.

“We had a good conversation,” Wainwright said.

The votes counted so far give Wainwright a 2,951-to-2,260 lead. That does not include results from the small towns of Byron, Hanover, and Stoneham, which were still not available by Thursday afternoon from the towns or the Secretary of State’s Office.

Blauvelt sent a statement to the Sun Journal Wednesday night. “I would like to congratulate Sheriff Wainwright on his primary victory,” he wrote.  “It was a fair and clean race with exceptional voter turnout. The voters of Oxford County made a clear choice and I wish him the best of luck in the upcoming race in November.”

Wainwright said in a statement that he is honored and grateful to have earned the trust and support of voters in Tuesday’s Republican primary.

“Your belief and hard work made this possible, and I am truly thankful for each and every one of you,” he wrote. “For the past 35 years, it has been my privilege to serve the people of Oxford County. The responsibility entrusted to me is one I have never taken for granted. I look forward to continuing to work alongside the dedicated men and women of the Sheriff’s Office to keep Oxford County safe.”