The hotly contested Republican primary race for probate judge will likely remain contested, as Denton County lawyers Bonnie Robison and Robert Ramirez plan to face each other in a runoff next month.

With all precincts reporting Tuesday night, Robison led with about 45 percent of the votes, Ramirez held about 35 percent and Gilland Chenault trailed with about 20 percent of the Denton County votes.

The April 13 runoff will determine who will face unopposed Democrat Stephen Stephens in the November general election to replace retiring Judge Don Windle.

The results weren’t necessarily surprising, given that three candidates were in the race, said Tim Crouch, Ramirez’s campaign manager and partner with The Crouch Group in Denton.

But it will mean another six weeks of hard campaigning, Crouch said.

Robison, 54, said she was encouraged.

“I’m very thankful for my friends and supporters for these votes,” Robison said. “It does look like a runoff, and I look forward to keep campaigning and keep working hard.”

After spending Tuesday campaigning, Robison was hoping but not expecting to win a majority, she said.

During her last-minute campaigning, she said, she cited her 20 years of experience in probate court.

“It will be a new court and a new judge who will have to make an assessment on how things should be handled,” Robison said.

Ramirez, 39, said he was satisfied with the results Tuesday night.

“I would have liked to win outright, but I’m glad I’m in the runoff,” Ramirez said, saying he had a strong opponent in Robison and felt the two were equally matched.

Ramirez spent Tuesday campaigning in Flower Mound by talking with residents walking to the polls and said he got a good reaction from the public.

If elected to office, Ramirez said, he would work to shed light on what’s perceived as an opaque probate system.

Chenault, 31, said he ran a good, positive race.

“I’m thankful for the support from people, and I’m looking forward to supporting the Republican candidate in Denton County,” Chenault said.

CANDACE CARLISLE can be reached at 940-566-6889. Her e-mail address is ccarlisle@dentonrc.com .