Madison Alder Dina Nina Martinez-Rutherford will win the five-way primary to represent Madison’s downtown, near East and North Sides with about 30 percent of the vote, Madison365 projects.
With 27 of 28 precincts reporting, Martinez-Rutherford had 5,930 votes to Juliana Bennett’s 5,317.
She will be a heavy favorite against Republican Nina Chat in the deep blue district. If she wins she will be the first openly transgender person to serve in the state legislature, and will succeed Francesca Hong, who vacated the seat to run for governor.
Former Alder Juliana Bennett came in second with about 27 percent of the vote. Legislative staffer Isaia Ben-Ami, musician Tony Castañeda and journalist Zoe Sullivan rounded out the field.
