Updated 10:15 p.m. CST

According to unofficial results, Mark Bosma will face Craig Doyal in a runoff election for the Republican nomination for Montgomery County Judge on May 27.

After the March 4 primary election, Bosma received 43.64 percent of the vote to Doyal's 43.39 percent with all 89 precincts reporting. Doris Golemon, the third candidate vying for the nomination, received 12.97 percent of the vote. All results are unofficial until canvassed.

Doyal said he was not surprised by the race going to a runoff given there were three candidates seeking the nomination.

"We hoped to have won the race without a runoff, but it's not surprising in a three-person race," Doyal said. "We are in a good spot, we are going to gear up and get ready to go win the runoff."

Bosma said he was pleased with the results of the primary election and that he is looking forward to the runoff election against Doyal.

"I am very fortunate and blessed to be in the position I am in after the primary," Bosma said. "We will move forward from here and prepare for the runoff."

The winner of the race will replace Alan Sadler as Montgomery County Judge, who has served in that capacity since 1990 and did not seek re-election to spend more time with his family. The winner, who will serve a four-year term, will run unopposed in the November general election, as there is no challenger from the Democratic Party.

Early voting for the runoff election will take place May 19-23.

Posted 7:55 p.m. CST

Mark Bosma has a slight edge in the race for the Republican nomination for Montgomery County Judge after early returns with 44 percent of the vote and 23,392 votes counted.

Bosma holds a lead over his opponents Craig Doyal, who has 43 percent of the vote, and Doris Golemon who has garnered 13 percent of the vote.

The winner of the race will replace Alan Sadler as Montgomery County Judge, who has served in that capacity since 1990 and did not seek re-election to spend more time with his family. The winner will run unopposed in the November general election, as there is no challenger from the Democratic Party.

Bosma has served as director of infrastructure since 2006 after working as a purchasing agent with the county for 14 years. He also worked for the city of Huntsville for seven years in a variety of capacities, including construction inspection, public works and finance. Bosma said he oversees special projects for the county, which includes building construction.

Doyal has been Precinct 2 commissioner for 12 years and served previously as administrative assistant to former commissioner Malcolm Purvis for 15 years.

Golemon was named Sadler's chief of staff in February 2012. Before serving in that capacity, she was the executive director for the Montgomery County Food Bank for nine years, managing a $10 million annual budget.