Esther Charlestin wins Democratic primary to take on Vermont Gov. Phil Scott

Esther Charlestin won the Democratic primary to take on Vermont Gov. Phil Scott (R) 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. ET. 

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 former Democratic Gov. Howard Dean, Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman, and Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak.

Duval even acknowledged his candidacy was a longshot, with the candidate himself writing on his campaign website “I am going to lose this election.” That message is reminiscent of his 2022 run when he lost to Scott in the GOP primary before once again losing in the general as an independent. 

Despite holding the governorship in a heavily Democratic state, Scott has long been popular among Vermont voters and won reelection in 2022 with 69% of the vote. He’s also established himself as a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump, telling supporters he voted for President Joe Biden in 2020. 

However, Scott has received criticism from state Democrats in recent months who say the Republican incumbent has repeatedly blamed the opposite party “for the state’s government failing under his watch.”

Even so, Charlestin will face an uphill battle to unseat Scott in November as the governor has remained popular among voters. A survey conducted by Morning Consult in April found Scott to be the most popular governor in the country with an 81% approval rating.