Delegate John Cosgrove handily won the Republican nomination for an Aug. 6 special election to fill the seat of retiring state Sen. Harry Blevins.

Cosgrove gathered 66 percent of the vote in the “firehouse primary” that took place in the 14th District Thursday night, spread across seven localities.

He competed against two less politically experienced challengers, J. Christopher Stearns and Bill Haley.

In Suffolk, Cosgrove took nearly 62 percent of the 131 votes. He garnered 71 percent of the vote in Isle of Wight County, 57 percent in Franklin and 65 percent in Southampton County.

Other localities that are partially in the district are Chesapeake, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach.

“We’re just very, very grateful that the voters cut through the negative campaign and just came out with a resounding victory,” Cosgrove said by phone thursday night. “I’m very relieved.”

He thanked Delegates Chris Jones and Rick Morris, who both represent parts of Suffolk, for their help.