Kim Gardner, a progressive St Louis prosecutor who was repeatedly targeted by Trump, won the Democratic primary challenge on Wednesday. The primary decides the race for St Louis Circuit Attorney. She won 60.7% votes against Mary Pat Carl, a former prosecutor.

“I want to thank the Saint Louis community for voting for me in the Democratic primary. We are fighters, and we can’t stop won’t stop,” Gardner tweeted after the victory.

Gardner was first elected to office in 2016, becoming the first Black Circuit Attorney of St Louis. She was in the spotlight following her judgment of a Black Lives Matter protest case. Gardner charged a white husband and wife with felony, unlawful use of a weapon for displaying guns during a racial injustice protest outside their mansion in the Central West End.

“It is illegal to wave weapons in a threatening manner — that is unlawful in the city of St Louis,” Gardner had said. She also recommended community services instead of prison time for the couples, if proven guilty.

The decision was soon criticised by US President Donald Trump who considered the case an “egregious abuse of power.” The attorney also had to face a series of racist attacks against her. She is most likely to win a second term in office in November’s general election, as St Louis majorly supports Democratic candidates.