A trio of progressive, first-time candidates has likely secured bids to the State College Borough Council following this week’s primary elections.

Gopal Balachandran (1,663 votes), Divine Lipscomb (1,434), and Richard Biever (1,191) led the field of six candidates in the primaries, according to unofficial totals reported by the Centre County Board of Elections Thursday morning. The three appear to have beaten out current Councilwoman Katherine Yeaple (1,123), State College Mayor Ron Filippelli (933), and former Councilwoman Catherine Dauler (843), who was seeking her fifth all-time term.

Jacob Werner, the lone candidate on the Republican ballot, secured 480 votes and will appear in November’s election. A registered Republican hasn’t won a Borough Council seat since 2003.

Primary results will remain unofficial until they’re certified by the Board of Elections. The certification deadline is June 7.

Balachandran, Lipscomb, and Biever ran together on the Central PA United slate, which is dedicated to “people-funded campaigns” and candidates who boast diverse life experiences.

Balachandran is an assistant professor of clinical law at Penn State. Lipscomb is a formerly incarcerated Penn State adult learner whose campaign largely focused on restorative justice. Finally, Biever owns a local theater company and musical theater school downtown.

Ezra Nanes, who declared victory in the Democratic mayoral primary, congratulated the Central PA United slate for its success in the Borough Council primary.

“We…voted in overwhelming numbers for two candidates of color for State College Borough Council, two stellar human beings, Gopal Balachandran and Divine Lipscomb, who brought energy, commitment, humility, inspiring vision and the true wisdom of experience to our discussion of the issues,” Nanes said in a statement Wednesday. “I was proud to support and vote for Gopal and Divine, and I am proud of State College for electing them.”

Nanes, who is set to become the borough’s next mayor with no Republican contender on November’s ballot, also said he looks forward to working with current councilmembers to “take action to ensure that we are a just and equitable community for all people.”

State College elections are nearly always decided in the Democratic primary. It’s likely these three candidates will be elected to serve on the Borough Council this fall.

This year’s general municipal election is slated for November 2. Then, voters could officially elect the newest members of the Borough Council.