Two Democrats with Vineyard ties will appear on the state primary ballot in September in a three-way race for the gubernatorial party nomination.

At the state Democratic convention this weekend, Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley and former federal health care executive Dr. Donald Berwick both won the backing of enough delegates to make the state primary ballot, along with state Treasurer Steve Grossman.

The state convention was held Saturday in Worcester.

Attorney General Martha Coakley has family ties in West Tisbury. — Mark Lovewell

Mr. Grossman won the top number of delegates with 35.2 per cent of the vote, while Ms. Coakley won 23.3 per cent. Dr. Berwick was a close third with 22.1 per cent of the vote.

Speaking with reporters after the convention, he called the vote a validation of his progressive views. He opposes casinos, strongly backs a single payer health care system and has placed a special emphasis on addressing poverty during his campaigning.

“I want Massachusetts to be a beacon for the country,” he told a Saturday morning gathering of Island Democrats at Howes House in West Tisbury last December. Dr. Berwick is a longtime seasonal resident of Chilmark.

Ms. Coakley also has strong family ties on the Vineyard; she worked summers on the Island when she was in college and her sister lives in West Tisbury.

“We need to turn this economy around and we need to do it for everybody,” she told a gathering of Democrats at Howes House last November. She has proposed raising the minimum wage and giving sick leave to families and other workers.

The state primary is Sept 9.

Republican candidate Charlie Baker faces a primary challenge from Tea Party candidate Mark Fisher. There are also three unenrolled candidates.

Gov. Deval Patrick is not seeking reelection in November.