In Philadelphia's suburbs, a crucial battleground in statewide politics, Republican incumbents appeared to be holding off spirited Democratic challenges to their control of county governments.

Scattered early returns in the four counties surrounding the city suggested that GOP majorities would stand up against some of the most well-funded challenges in decades, dashing Democratic hopes of capitalizing on national discontent with the Republican administration in Washington.

With the election of Democrat Michael Nutter as Philadelphia mayor considered a lock long before Election Day, the battles for control of the surrounding county governments were the chief source of suspense in the southeastern corner of the state.

Despite their Republican traditions and voter registration advantages, these counties have been increasingly hospitable to Democrats in national and statewide races over the last 15 years. In local elections, however, they have remained truer to their Republican roots, and that record seems to be secure for the next four years.

Democrats held a majority in Bucks County for one term in the mid-1980s, but aside from that brief interregnum, GOP control over the four courthouses extended through the last century and beyond. The Republican rule in Montgomery County goes back 136 years; in Chester, 148 years.

In the Montgomery County commissioners' race, Republican District Attorney Bruce Castor and GOP Commissioner Jim Matthews appeared likely to give the board of commissioners yet another Republican majority. Former Democratic Congressman Joe Hoeffel appeared to have gained the third seat on the Norristown board, but his running mate, Ruth Damsker, a two-term incumbent, was trailing in the race in which the four candidates were vying for three spots.

Democrats did their best to nationalize this election with an extensive mail campaign that focused on Mr. Matthews, the former lieutenant governor candidate, and his record of support for President Bush.

The Republicans countered by pointing to their record of lowering taxes. Despite Democratic denials, they contended that a Democratic victory would be a prelude to county property tax reassessment.

Mr. Castor is a former unsuccessful candidate for the GOP nomination for state attorney general. He appeared to be heading to a first-place tally in the Montgomery vote, a result sure to revive speculation about his statewide ambitions.

Early on, unofficial returns showed Mr. Castor leading the four-person field. His running mate, Mr. Matthews, was in second place, followed by Mr. Hoeffel and Ms. Damsker.

In Bucks County, which emerged with the closest of the suburban contests, the Democrats, township Supervisors Steve Santarsiero and Diane Marseglia, appeared to have fallen just short in their challenge to the majority control of Republican incumbents Charles Martin and James Cawley.

With about half of the vote counted, Mr. Santarsiero was just behind Mr. Martin in the battle for the crucial third seat on the board that would determine the next majority, although the margin between them was close enough that the order could change before the night was over. Mr. Cawley and Ms. Marseglia held the first two places.

In Chester County, Democrats Bill Scott and Kathi Cozzone were falling short in their challenge to a Republican incumbent, Carol Aichele, and Terence Farrell, the county's recorder of deeds.

In Delaware County, which has a home rule-council government rather than a board of commissioners, Republicans held onto all three contested seats, preserving their perfect streak in countywide elections. No Democrat has managed to capture a seat on the county's five-person council since that government structure was put in place in 1980.