Updated with comments from Reid Poland.

CLARKSVILLE, TN (CLARKSVILLE NOW) – Attorney Reid Poland won the Republican nomination for General Sessions judge Tuesday night, defeating attorney Eric Yow.

Poland won with 4,517 votes to Yow’s 4,111.

“It was a very gratifying win; it was a very hard-fought race,” Poland told Clarksville Now.

He thanked his family and support team, and the voters. “I just appreciate the folks of Montgomery County coming out and voting, and I sure appreciate each and every vote that somebody cast for me.”

“Eric ran a very hard race – a clean, good race,” Poland said. “He’s a fine young man and I know he’s a good lawyer, and I know he’s going to have a lot of good things in his future.”

Yow said it was a “hard-fought” campaign.

“We didn’t leave anything on the table,” Yow told Clarksville Now. “I gave it my all. We had immense support, and a significant portion of the community’s support, and we’re very thankful for the outpouring of love and support, prayers for our success, and I believe the Lord’s will was done. It was not yet my time to be judge and I accept that.

“I think Reid is going to make a great judge and I’ll actually be supporting him in the general (election).”

Poland will face Democrat Merriel Bullock Neal and independent James Bagby in August.

They are running to replace General Sessions and Juvenile Court Judge, Division II, Wayne Shelton, who is retiring from the bench.

MORE: Election results: Here are final totals for Montgomery County mayor, district attorney, judge races

Yow is a senior partner at Goble & Yow. He is a graduate of the University of Memphis School of Law and Freed-Hardeman University. Yow has practiced law in Montgomery County since moving here in 2007 to work with the Kennedy Law Firm.

Raised in Clarksville, Poland is a graduate of Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green. He earned his J.D. from the Nashville School of Law. He is a member and former president of the Montgomery County Bar Association, and he served as Assistant Municipal Judge in Pegram, Tennessee.