N.H. Governor, Washington Mayor Leading : Nine States and Capital Hold Primaries

Republican Gov. John H. Sununu of New Hampshire and Mayor Marion Barry of Washington appeared well on their way to winning renomination Tuesday as nine states and the nation’s capital held primary elections.

In a featured race in Connecticut on the busiest night of the primary season, Julie Belaga took a narrow lead over former state Sen. Richard Bozzuto in a three-way Republican race to pick an opponent to Gov. William A. O’Neill.

With more than half the votes counted in the Connecticut primary, Belaga, a state legislator, was winning 38% of the vote to 37% for Bozzuto. O’Neill was unopposed for the Democratic nomination for a new term.

Lured From Retirement

Also in New Hampshire, former Massachusetts Gov. Endicott Peabody, lured out of retirement when Democrats had trouble finding a prominent candidate, had a large lead in the race for his party’s nomination to oppose Republican Sen. Warren B. Rudman.

In early returns Peabody, 66, was winning 64% of the vote in a four-way race. Rudman was unopposed in his bid for nomination to a second term.

In the gubernatorial race, Sununu held a large lead in his bid for renomination for a third two-year term, despite his support for the unpopular Seabrook nuclear power plant. He faced state Rep. Roger Easton. With 71 of 298 precincts reporting, Sununu had 7,332 votes, or 83%, and Easton, 1,552 or 17%.

In early returns in Washington, Barry, bidding for a third term, had 69.7%, to 20.2% for retired city worker Mattie Taylor.

Likely to Face Leahy

Former Gov. Richard Snelling of Vermont was leading for the nomination in the Republican Senate primary and likely will face Sen. Patrick J. Leahy in November.

Snelling, a four-term governor, faced Anthony Doria. With 38 of 263 precincts reporting, Snelling had 2,753 votes, or 73%, and Doria 1,011, or 27%.

In a Maryland race watched closely by leaders of both parties, former White House aide Linda Chavez took a large early lead in a crowded contest for the GOP senatorial nomination to succeed outgoing Sen. Charles McC. Mathias Jr. Rep. Barbara A. Mikulski, the leader in the pre-election polls, trailed Rep. Michael D.Barnes in the early vote count for the Democratic spot on the ballot.

In other primary races, Minnesota Democratic Gov. Rudy Perpich faced St. Paul Mayor George Latimer and three other opponents in a battle to save his job.

Udall in Primary Fight

In noteworthy House races, Democratic Rep. Morris K. Udall of Arizona battled a primary opponent while Bella Abzug in New York sought the Democratic nomination to face an incumbent Republican in the fall.

In Maryland, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, daughter of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, was favored to win a House Democratic primary nomination to challenge GOP Rep. Helen Delich Bentley.

Some of the most prominent senators on the ballot were without significant opposition, including Republicans Alfonse M. D’Amato of New York; Bob Kasten of Wisconsin and Democrat Christopher J. Dodd of Connecticut.

Democratic Govs. Mario M. Cuomo of New York, Anthony S. Earl of Wisconsin and Madeleine M. Kunin of Vermont faced little or no opposition, as did Republican Gov. Edward DiPrete of Rhode Island.

Maryland Battle Bitter

But a bitter battle was waged for Maryland’s Democratic gubernatorial nomination between Baltimore Mayor William Donald Schaefer and state Atty. Gen. Stephen Sachs.

In Arizona, state House Republican leader Burton Barr was favored in the primary for governor. Carolyn Warner, state superintendent of public instruction, was in a tighter-than-expected race for the Democratic nomination with Phoenix businessman Tony Mason.

All told, New York, Connecticut, Maryland, New Hampshire, Vermont and Wisconsin held primaries for the Senate, House and governor’s office, while Arizona, Minnesota and Rhode Island had primaries for governor and the House.