WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — Two incumbents and five challengers, including one independent candidate, will compete in November to fill Windsor County’s three seats in the Vermont Senate, following the state primary election Tuesday night.

On the Democratic side, voters elected state Sen. Becca White, of Hartford (4,226 votes), state Sen. Alison Clarkson, of Woodstock (4,126 votes), and Joe Major, of Hartford (3,268 votes), as the party’s candidates for state Senate.

In fourth place was Justin Tuthill, of Woodstock, who received 878 votes.

Marc Nemeth, of Royalton, who plans to run in the general election as an independent, received 816 votes.

For Republicans, voters selected Jack Williams, of Weathersfield, (1,341 votes), Andrea Murray, of Weathersfield, (1,336 votes), and Jonathan Gleason, of Ludlow, (1,135 votes), to appear on November’s ballot.

Robert Ruhlin, of Cavendish, (1,306) came in fourth.

Windsor County has largely been a political stronghold for Democrats. Voters in Tuesday’s Democratic primary more than doubled turnout in the Republican.

Of the 22,400 Windsor County voters who cast ballots in the state primaries, 15,870 people cast Democratic ballots, while 6,557 cast Republican ones.

“I was nervous going into yesterday’s vote, as it was my first time running an incumbent,” White said in a phone interview. “But by the end of the day, after traveling to several polling places and talking to county voters, I felt very positive.”

The Democratic candidates said that they plan to campaign as a trio in the general election race.

“We are thrilled with the results and to have Joe Major added to our Democratic team,” Clarkson, the Senate’s majority leader, said in a phone interview. “We will be running together as a three-candidate (ticket) and we look forward to a robust campaign and discussion (with voters and with Republican opponents).”

Major, Hartford’s town treasurer and a former member of the Selectboard, is seeking his first term in the state Legislature.

“I’m excited that people put their trust in me and believe that I can help to make lives their better,” Major said in a phone interview. “This is the first step. I will be traveling through Windsor County and visiting people in their communities to learn about their needs and to discuss how to address them if I’m chosen to represent them.”

The Republican primary winners said they also plan to run as a team ticket.

“If I’m elected to the Senate, I intend to represent all voters and to be very clear and transparent about where I stand on issues,” Williams said.

The Republican candidates recognize the uphill battle they face in the general election.

“Our plan is to run as a team on (a shared platform) of current issues,” Williams said. “We want to appeal to all voters, Democrats and Republicans.”

“With the primary behind us, our campaign will shift to empowering voters to have their voices heard,” Murray said. “Regardless of party affiliation, voters are clear that they want fiscal constraint and relief from the oppressive taxation and government interference in their families and businesses.”

Gleason, a self-described centrist, said he plans to appeal to politically moderate voters.

“In order to work for everybody, you have to be able to work down the middle,” Gleason said. “I plan to do more outreach to centrists and moderate Democrats, to show people that I am not a hard-right candidate and that I will be working across the aisle.”

Nemeth, of Royalton, has filed to run in the Senate race as an independent candidate, having submitted an application along with a petition signed by over 100 Windsor County voters, the threshold required by state law to be added to the ballot. Nemeth, who is being treated for lymphoma, believes he will be healthy enough to serve in the Senate next term.

After receiving his diagnosis, Nemeth decided not to campaign for the Democratic party nomination because he was not certain whether he would be healthy enough to campaign for the general election, which will be held on Nov. 5.

Patrick Adrian may be reached at padrian@vnews.com or 603-727-3216.