TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — George Sheldon, a one-time top official in the Obama administration, easily defeated state Rep. Perry Thurston on Tuesday in the Democratic primary for attorney general.

Sheldon moves on to the November ballot, where he will challenge Republican incumbent Pam Bondi and Libertarian candidate Bill Wohlsifer.

During a victory speech to supporters, Sheldon vowed during the next two months to draw a contrast between himself and Bondi on issues including marriage equality.

“As attorney general I would not defend the statute,” Sheldon said earlier this year. “I oppose the ban on gay marriages and gay adoptions.”

“The time has come to stop discriminating against people based on their sexual orientation,” he added.

Bondi has led the legal fight to retain the state’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, and has filed appeals in four challenges where state judges have declared the ban unconstitutional.

Sheldon said the Attorney General of Florida has no business defending a case that harms the citizens of the state.

“I really think she sees herself as the governor’s lawyer, not the people’s lawyer,” Sheldon said.

Associated Press contributed to this report.