The two candidates shared a first name, a political party and a desire to be the Democrats’ nomination to challenge North Country Rep. Elise Stefanik for her House seat on Nov. 8, but only one could be nominated. Castelli, a former CIA officer and counterterrorism director at the National Security Council who recently moved to Glens Falls, came out on top.

“This was my first time doing this,” Castelli said on Wednesday. “There was some uncertainty, at least personally, about what to expect. I am pleased with the results.”

Stefanik herself, though posts on social media, seemed to mostly ignore the NY-21 primary throughout the day, focusing instead on the campaigns of GOP candidates she and her political action committee, EPAC, have endorsed.

Slightly after 10 p.m. when results started coming in showing Castelli as the likely winner, Stefanik’s campaign released a lengthy email statement ripping into Castelli and predicting “another landslide victory” for Stefanik in November.

“The frontline battle for the soul of America is right here in New York’s 21st district, and the nation is watching,” Castelli said in a statement on election night. “Tonight we celebrate, tomorrow the work continues.”

Castelli had pitched himself to Democrats as “the only candidate who can defeat Stefanik.”

“I’m the only candidate who Elise Stefanik is afraid to run against,” he wrote in a tweet ahead of the primary.

Castelli and Putorti had almost identical results in both Franklin and Essex counties, with Castelli getting a slightly better than average boost in the Tri-Lakes area. Of 1,837 ballots cast in Essex County, 87.38% went to Castelli and 12.62% went to Putorti. Six ballots were invalidated as undervotes or overvotes, and there as one write-in vote.

Of 1,319 ballots cast in Franklin County, 87.07% went to Castelli and 12.47% went to Putorti. Four ballots were invalidated as undervotes or overvotes, and there were six write-in votes.

Castelli pointed out that Democratic turnout for the primary exceeded turnout for the 2018 primary election, in which there were six candidates on the ballot. Around 19,600 Democrats voted in the 2018 primary, while over 23,000 voted on Tuesday, according to state data, which had not added Fulton County as of Wednesday afternoon. He said that turnout was high, even in spite of this being a “confusing” second primary in New York held in the summer, rather than in the spring as usual.

“It’s a clear indicator of the strength and energy that Democrats are bringing to bear,” Castelli said on Wednesday.

Castelli and Stefanik will face off in the general election on Nov. 8.