BIDDEFORD — City Councilor Victoria Foley handily won the Democratic primary for State House District 12, over John Eder on Tuesday.

Foley received 384 votes to Eder’s 287.

The Democratic nominee for the district, which includes part of Biddeford, said both she and her opponent received the news in a text message at about 8:35 p.m. She celebrated with friends and fellow councilors at Banded Horn Brewery in downtown Biddeford.

Foley is running for the seat currently held by Martin Grohman, an Independent, who is not seeking re-election. He will be running as an Independent against incumbent U.S. Rep Chellie Pingree, for U.S. District 1.

Foley has no opponents in the November election.

“I’m really excited, of course,” Foley said about the nomination on Tuesday night.

“I’ve been very honored to serve the citizens of Biddeford” while on the council, she said, and looks forward to serving them in Augusta.

Issues important to Foley include health care access. “It’s my work, it’s my passion,” she said. Other issues she plans to address in Augusta include economic development and attracting and retaining young people to Maine, as well as age friendly communities where senior citizens can age in place.

Foley, a Clean Elections candidate, is the director of marketing for New England Cancer Specialists. She has been on the Biddeford City Council representing Ward 5 since the summer of 2017, shortly after she moved to the city. She is a volunteer with the downtown revitalization organization the Heart of Biddeford, and a member of the Downtown Development Commission.

Foley said she plans to serve out her term on the City Council, which ends in 2019.

— Associate Editor Dina Mendros can be reached at 282-1535, ext. 324 or dmendros@gmail.com.