By 28 votes, state Sen. Chris Pearson beat political newcomer June Heston in the Democratic Party primary for the Chittenden County Senate, according to official recount results.
Heston, leader of a nonprofit organization, came nail-bitingly close to overtaking Pearson on election night in mid-August. She received 11,719 votes to Pearson’s 11,764, which prompted her to call for a recount.
Chittenden Superior Court Judge Helen Toor affirmed the results Wednesday. In the end, Pearson came out 28 votes ahead. His vote total increased by 46, to 11,810. Heston gained 63 more votes, to 11,782.
“Both of us changed quite a bit,” Pearson said.
“It was an impressive process to watch, where you had dozens of Vermonters stepping up to volunteer in this civic process,” he added. “it was very gratifying to see people do that.”
Heston said she’s not viewing the results as a devastating loss. “This is a growth moment for me,” she said.
“I just feel like we need to be really proud of where we ended up,” Heston said. “And I want to congratulate Sen. Pearson.”
Now, Pearson is heading into the general election, where six Republicans are competing with six Democrats for half a dozen Senate seats from Chittenden County.
Correction: An earlier version of this article said two Republicans would compete with six Democrats for the six Senate seats from Chittenden County. The county Republican committee has nominated four people to fill vacant slots on the Nov. 3 ballot.
