GOP state Senate candidate Pete Hershberger, center, and Tim Bee, Republican congressional candidate, look over the shoulder of Bee staffer Mike Sistak, who is studying vote totals.

Jill Torrance / Arizona Daily Star

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Three Pima County supervisors appeared to survive primary challenges Tuesday. With prohibitive leads in early returns, it appears unlikely there will be any change in at least four of the five board seats.

Early voting played a prominent role in an election that saw sparse turnout at the polls.

With nearly all the early votes counted and 23 percent of precincts reporting, Democratic Supervisor Sharon Bronson, a three-term incumbent, led challenger Donna Branch-Gilby, a Democratic Party activist, 58 percent to 41 percent.

"It was my record," Bronson said. "I ran on my record. It's something I'm proud of. I'm working hard for the residents of District 3, and I think they know that."

Bronson, a Democrat, faces Republican businessman Barney Brenner in the general election. Bronson narrowly survived a challenge from Brenner eight years ago.

District 2 Democratic Supervisor Ramón Valadez led political novice Robert Robuck 70 percent to 30 percent, while Republican Supervisor Ann Day led businessman Joe Higgins 55 percent to 45 percent.

Neither faces a general election opponent.

Branch-Gilby drew support from disaffected party activists upset with how Bronson handled demands for the release of election databases. Bronson focused on constituent services and her environmental record.

Bronson, who had a significant fundraising advantage over Branch-Gilby, has directed millions of dollars to neighborhood projects in District 3, which stretches from Midtown Tucson to Ajo, and from Marana to the Mexican border.

In District 1, in the Foothills and the Northwest Side, Higgins, an entrepreneur, tried to paint Day as out of touch and ineffective at controlling the growth in spending and taxes under a Democratic majority.

Day said she had done her best as a member of the Republican minority, voting no on most budgets. She said Higgins' ideas showed a misunderstanding of how government works.

Day said she felt good about her lead but was not ready to declare victory with just 3 percent of precincts in District 1 having reported their election day vote totals.

Pima County lagged far behind other counties in reporting results. Complete returns were not expected until early this morning. Elections Director Brad Nelson said the vote count was so slow because poll workers had to drive in returns instead of sending them by modem. The county changed its procedures in response to concerns from elections integrity activists.

Republican Supervisor Ray Carroll and Democratic Supervisor Richard Elías did not face primary challenges and have no general-election opponents.

In other races, Precinct 5 Justice of the Peace Keith Bee, a Republican, was set to retain his seat against a challenge by Wes Kent. Democratic Precinct 4 constable candidate Jim Driscoll led incumbent Ralph Marmion Jr.; and Democrat Robert Cox led Bennett Bernal for Precinct 6 constable.

The other justice of the peace and constable races were not contested in the primary.