Two slates of Republican council candidates vied for four ward seats in the primary held yesterday. Two candidates from each slate were victorious in their local ward races.

Councilwoman Maria Maruca was the incumbent in Ward 1 and was the candidate backed by the Regular Republican Organization of Ocean County. In an upset, her challenger Justin Lamb of the Make New Jersey Great Again ticket won the contest 1,207 votes to 1,023 votes. The entire slate of Democrats ran unopposed in this primary. In Ward 1, Michele Williams, current Toms River Board of Education member, gathered 498 votes.

Incumbent Councilman Daniel Rodrick also ran on the Make New Jersey Great Again ticket in Ward 2, and handily defeated his opponent Jason Crispin. Rodrick won 1,488-1,075. On the Democratic side, Jeff J. Horn received 617 votes.

James J. Quinlisk, backed by the Regular Republican Organization of Ocean County, soundly beat Grace Piscopo in Ward 3, 1,258-649 votes, a 32-point victory. Karin Sage ran for the Democrats and received 475 votes.

David J. Ciccozzi, also backed by Regular Republican Organization of Ocean County defeated John J. Loiacono in Ward 4, 890-744 votes. Incumbent Councilman Terrance Turnbach did not have a primary challenger on the Democratic side and received 478 votes.

With the 2-2 split of the Republican slates, it will be interesting to see if the two sides of the Republican Party can come together against a unified slate of Democrats for the upcoming general election.