A GP has been named as the Tories' next parliamentary candidate for Totnes after thousands voted in an "open primary" selection process.
Dr Sarah Wollaston will represent the party at the next general election, as current MP Anthony Steen steps down.
She got 7,914 votes, Nick Bye got 3,088 while Sara Randall-Johnson got 5,495.
All 69,000 voters in the Devon seat were sent a postal ballot, a first for a political party in Britain. It is estimated to have cost £40,000.
Dr Wollaston's rivals were both local government leaders - Ms Randall-Johnson is a district council leader while Mr Bye is mayor of Torbay - while she has admitted she has little political experience.
The contest allowed everyone in the constituency, regardless of party affiliation, to take part in the selection process.
Dr Wollaston told the BBC she was delighted and "very surprised" at the outcome and she would be playing to her strengths in the election campaign, focusing on community hospitals, local healthcare and solutions for alcohol-related crime and violence.
