Murphy is Gaining Ground in the Governor’s Race, but it’s Still Too Close to Call in NJ
97-year-old Mayor of Tinton Falls, New Jersey was Re-elected for a Fourth Term
According to the Associated Press, New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy was re-elected by a razor-thin margin in his reliably blue state, while a Republican political newcomer pulled off a spectacular upset in Virginia's governor's race, sending a signal to Democrats that their hold on power in Washington could be jeopardized.
Glenn Youngkin, the only Republican to win statewide office in Virginia in a decade, won by uniting former President Donald Trump's most ardent supporters with enough suburban voters to win.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy Won Re-election
The Associated Press called the Race just before 6:30 pm Wednesday, nearly a day after the Polls Closed.
Meanwhile, Murphy narrowly defeated Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli, who ran a surprisingly effective campaign centered on issues including taxes and opposition to pandemic mask and immunization restrictions.
The results in these two states were especially disconcerting to Democrats because of where they occurred. President Joe Biden won Virginia by 10 points last year. In New Jersey, he won by more than 15 points. When the campaigns began this year, neither state was thought to be particularly competitive, given the magnitude of prior triumphs.
He Defeated Republican Former Assembly Member Jack Ciattarelli to Become the State's First Democratic Governor in 44 years to Win a Second Term.
Ciattarelli led Murphy until Tuesday's election night, receiving strong support in suburban and predominantly Republican portions of the state, while Murphy's involvement in urban areas was low compared to four years before.
On election night, Ciattarelli had a one-percentage-point lead against Murphy, but neither campaign declared victory or acknowledged defeat.
However, when more votes from Democratic-leaning districts were counted Wednesday, Murphy, the state's 56th governor, gained ground. There's still a chance the race will be contested. Mail-in and provisional ballots could be counted until Monday, and Ciattarelli could ask the state courts for a recount.
