Michael Galime is projected to win the Republican primary race for Utica mayor, according to the Associated Press.

Galime, who has served on the Common Council for eight years, received 72% of the vote compared to Robert Cardillo, a school board member for the last four years, who received 26% of the vote, according to the latest unofficial returns from the Oneida County Board of Elections Tuesday evening.

On the Democratic side, Celeste Friend, a Common Council member and part-time SUNY Polytechnic Institute professor and arts administrator, defeated Frank DiBrango, a lifelong Utica resident, business owner and former firefighter who is a councilor-at-large on the Utica Common Council. As of the latest returns, Friend led DiBrango 51% to 42% with 96% of the expected vote counted.

Galime and Friend will face each other in the general election in November.

Mayor Rob Palmieri is term-limited after 12 years in office.