Danny Joyner has won the GOP District 22 Senate primary, according to unofficial results from Tuesday’s voting.

Joyner will now face incumbent Democrat Marc Keahey in the November general election.

Joyner, a Brewton resident, got 51.2 percent of the vote in a close race with Atmore businessman Jeff Peacock, who is also chairman of the Escambia County Republican party. Peacock got 48.8 percent of the vote. Just 218 votes separated the two with 99 percent of precincts reporting.

“What a race,” Joyner said Tuesday morning. Joyner said state Republican party leaders told him he was the winner of the race.

“I was really surprised it was so close,” Joyner said. “My strategy now — as it’s always been for me as a leader — is to galvanize my supporters. We need to create jobs and better futures for our children.”

In the GOP primary for governor, Republican Bradley Byrne earned the most votes to make the July 13 primary, but Tim James was not conceding to state Rep. Robert Bentley, who had only about 200 more votes than James.

Secretary of State Beth Chapman said Wednesday the campaigns would have to wait until next week to request a recount, if necessary. Provisional ballots must be counted and the results certified first.

”This is certainly one of the closest elections in Alabama history,” James said in a statement. “The votes are still being tallied, and I look forward to hearing a vote count once it is announced by Secretary of State Chapman.”

Bentley claimed victory in the race and said he believed his positive campaign resonated with voters.

“I am humbled and grateful to the people of Alabama for their support in today’s primary and for their belief that I could win,” Bentley said in a statement. “I believe my success today is due to my focus on putting Alabamians back to work, cleaning out Montgomery, and offering substantive solutions to Alabama’s problems. I couldn’t have done it without the grassroots support of Alabamians across the state.”