Maui County mayoral candidate and former judge Richard Bissen solidified his lead in the primary on Saturday night and appeared headed for the general election with incumbent Mayor Michael Victorino.

Bissen had 10,028 votes, or 35.2 percent, followed by Victorino at 9,223 votes, or 32.4 percent, as of the second printout, which was released at around 10:30 p.m. Saturday.

Council Member Kelly Takaya King was the next closest challenger at 3,933 votes, or 13.8 percent.

Other candidates included Kim Brown with 1,801 votes, or 6.3 percent; Council Member Mike Molina with 1,568 votes, or 5.5 percent; Cullan Bell with 1,023 votes, or 3.6 percent; Alana Kay at 168 votes, or 0.6 percent and Jonah Lion at 69 votes, or 0.2 percent.

The scene at Binhi at Ani Filipino Community Center in Kahului where Bissen and his supporters gathered to watch the results was celebratory, with musical performances and a packed crowd who cheered as results showed Bissen out in front.

“Lots of emotions right now, all good, all positive,” Bissen said via cellphone while outside Binhi at Ani.

He added he was happy for his supporters because of all the sacrifices, support and the work that they put in.

“I feel great,” he added. “There is so many hands that … put this together.”

Bissen had showed signs of strong support during the lead-up to the primary election, out-fundraising all other candidates, including Victorino, who said Saturday evening that he’d been hoping for better results but was glad to be in the top two.

“I’m happy. I was hoping for a little better results for myself, but I’m very happy in what I see at this very moment,” Victorino said via phone from the ILWU hall in Wailuku.

“I’m excited, but of course we got to wait until the final count. That may be to midnight or something like that, I have been told.”

Victorino added that “being in this position, I like to be first, but second is good at this point in time.”

King said via phone after the first printout, “I was a little disappointed.”

“I got so much positive feedback after every forum and I wish we had more of a choice,” she added.