Esther Charlestin won the Democratic primary to take on Gov. Phil Scott (R‑VT) in November, seeking to end the GOP incumbent’s four-term legacy in a predominantly blue state.
Charlestin handily defeated Peter Duval after garnering 70.5% of the vote with 29.5% of ballots tallied. The Associated Press called the race at 7:37 p.m. Eastern.
Charlestin is an educator and previously served as a member of the Middlebury Selectboard, the legislative body for the municipal government of Middlebury, Vermont.
Charlestin’s win doesn’t come as a surprise, especially after she was endorsed by Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman, Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, and former Gov. Howard Dean.
Duval even acknowledged his candidacy was a long shot, …