The NJ mayor race was close but Phil Murphy sealed the win to hold onto his seat.
NJ Mayor Race
Murphy fended off Republican Jack Ciattarelli, a businessman and former state assemblyman, to become the state’s first Democrat since 1977 to win re-election as governor of the Garden State.
With roughly 90 percent of the vote tallied, Murphy was ahead of Ciattarelli, by less than 1 percentage point when The Associated Press called the race just before 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday after a protracted count.
The last Democratic governor to win re-election in New Jersey was Brendan Byrne in 1977.
Murphy, who won with 56 percent of the vote in 2017, ran on accomplishments from his first term, which included passing paid sick leave, a $15 minimum wage and state-funded community college and pre-kindergarten.
