Former Pittsburgh Police Chief Dom Costa appeared to squeeze out the victory in a tight three-way race for the Democratic nomination in the 21st state House district.

Unofficial returns last night showed Mr. Costa narrowly defeating former city Councilman Len Bodack Jr. and former Allegheny County Councilwoman Brenda Frazier.

Mr. Costa, 56, of Stanton Heights, was seeking his first elected office after a 29-year career in the police department. He was wounded during a February 2002 standoff with an armed fugitive in Homewood, and retired from the police force in 2006.

"I was the underdog in this race. But people in places like Morningside and the North Hills saw the truth in my campaign. It was a very bruising campaign, but people wanted better government. They knew the Costa name is a good name," Mr. Costa said.

Mr. Bodack, 57, has been a county Democratic Party operative for many years. He owned an auto repair shop before his election to City Council.

Ms. Frazier, 67, of Stanton Heights, was elected three times to Allegheny County Council before resigning in February to pursue the House seat.

Lisa Bennington of Morningside, who won the seat as a reform candidate two years ago, did not seek re-election.

No Republican entered the 21st District race.

Here is a wrap-up of other contested state House primary races in Western Pennsylvania:

State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Cranberry, one of the Legislature's most conservative members, defeated GOP challenger Robin Redding, a former friend and political ally.

It was the first time in a decade that Mr. Metcalfe, 45, had competition in the primary. Ms. Redding, 39, a homemaker and former research chemist, pegged her challenge on Mr. Metcalfe's "divisiveness" and not bringing enough state money to the southern Butler County district.

No Democrat ran in the primary.

Vince Biancucci, 67, of Center, running for his fourth term, handily defeated challenger Domenic Leone, 51, for the Democratic nomination.

Beaver council member Jim Christiana was unopposed for the Republican nomination.

Rob Matzie, 39, former Ambridge mayor and current staffer for retiring state Sen. Gerald LaValle, D-Rochester, captured the Democratic nomination, defeating Donald Despines, 30, of Economy, a locomotive engineer for Norfolk Southern Railway.

The seat is being vacated by Sean Ramaley, D-Conway, who sought Mr. LaValle's 47th District Senate seat.

No Republicans ran in the primary.

Three-term Rep. Jake Wheatley, 36, D-Hill District, easily was renominated.

Mr. Wheatley got a scare from fellow Hill resident Deidra Washington, 37, in the February vote for the Democratic endorsement, which he won by three votes.

Mr. Wheatley attributed his win to a focus on education and on encouraging development that helps reduce crime. Voter Joyce Barr, of the Hill, a retired case manager, said she chose him because when she couldn't get the grass cut on a vacant city lot, she contacted his office, and it was mowed the next day.

No Republican ran.

Democrat Joseph Preston Jr., seeking his 14th term, easily defeated three challengers.

Mr. Preston, 60, of East Liberty, said he'll seek "an effective plan to eliminate all property taxes" and try to build on East Liberty's development with "housing, and dealing with two primary areas, Larimer and Homewood."

Running second was Lucille Prater-Holliday, 51, of Wilkinsburg, a behavioral health and truancy specialist.

Also in the race were Todd E. Koger, 46, a teacher from Wilkinsburg, and William D. Anderson, 35, of Wilkinsburg, a repair garage owner.

No Republican ran.

Pittsburgh City Councilman Dan Deasy won a closely contested three-way race for the Democratic nomination to succeed longtime Rep. Tom Petrone.

Mr. Deasy, 41, who was endorsed by the county Democratic Party, outpolled John Paul Jones, an attorney and former employee of the state Department of General Services.

In third place was Ryan Douglass, 29, who served as Mr. Petrone's chief of staff for the past two years.

"I think people recognize the work we've done on City Council. We've worked very hard for our residents in the city of Pittsburgh, and those constituents recognized that. And the voters in the suburbs recognized that as well," Mr. Deasy said last night.

There were no Republicans in the primary.

Incumbent first-term Rep. William Kortz, D-Dravosburg, defeated former Allegheny County Councilman Caleem J. Jabbour of West Mifflin.

Mr. Kortz, 53, was a manager at the U.S. Steel Irvin Plant before unseating incumbent Ken Ruffing two years ago.

Mr. Kortz said he believes he won because he and other freshmen legislators elected along with him have worked hard for reform in the 15 months they've been in office.

"We have covered the things we said we were going to do," he said.

Mr. Jabbour, 75, a self-employed accountant, has now run eight times for state House without success.

Republican Dan Davis of West Mifflin was unopposed for his party's nomination.

Incumbent state Rep. Peter J. Daley II, D-California, easily shook off challenges from two other Democrats in his bid for a 14th term.

North Charleroi tax collector Barbara Reis trailed Mr. Daley last night with former Coal Center Councilman Randy Barli in a distant third.

There was no Republican candidate.

Mr. Daley, 57, a lawyer, ran a campaign based on the millions of dollars worth of grants and improvements he's brought to the district during his 26-year tenure.

Incumbent John E. Pallone, 47, of New Kensington, routed newcomer Anthony G. Shea, 41, of Gilpin, for the Democratic nomination.

Mr. Pallone, who was first elected to the seat in 2000, stressed his experience.

Mr. Shea cited his 22 years as an Air Force major, where he said he learned leadership skills that would serve him well in the House. He favored privatizing the state's liquor stores and reducing the size of the Legislature, both of which Mr. Pallone opposes.

No Republican has filed for the seat.

Six-term incumbent James E. Casorio Jr., 43, of North Huntingdon, easily survived a challenge from a 22-year-old teacher for the Democratic nomination.

Brian S. Blasko of North Huntingdon, a substitute social studies teacher in five Westmoreland County school districts, had called for reducing the size of the state House by more than half.

Mr. Casorio said reducing the size of the Legislature would have a negative effect on constituent service and not necessarily reduce costs.

He will face Susanna Lisotto, 50, of Penn Township, a hospice manager who was unopposed for the Republican nomination. She failed in a bid to unseat Mr. Casorio six years ago.

John W. Boyle easily won a three-candidate race for the Democratic nomination to replace Rep. Tom Tangretti, who is retiring.

He defeated Roland "Bud" Mertz, 49, a Greensburg fire captain, and Scott Sistek, 49, an aide to Mr. Tangretti and New Stanton councilman who finished a distant third.

Mr. Tangretti, D-Hempfield, will retire in late November after 20 years in the House.

Mr. Boyle, 43, of Greensburg, is an attorney in Pittsburgh who has been a field representative for U.S. Rep. John Murtha, D-Johnstown.

Tim Krieger, 46, an attorney from Delmont, ran unopposed for the GOP nomination.

Mike Reese, Westmoreland County's assistant finance director, won the Republican nomination for the seat being vacated by longtime Rep. Jess Stairs.

He defeated local contractor and Ligonier Borough Councilman Robert E. "Buddy" Helterbran, 64.

Michael J. Obarto, 49, a Unity supervisor, was unopposed for the Democratic nomination.