Democrat Phil Murphy cruised to victory Tuesday night in New Jersey’s gubernatorial race, making the most of outgoing Gov. Chris Christie’s unpopularity.
The former US ambassador to Germany has been consistently ahead by double digits in the polls over GOP candidate, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno — and networks called the race a minute after polls closed.
Murphy, 60, will follow the Republican Christie, who has record-low approval ratings and has to leave office due to term limits.
“Tonight we declare the days of division are over. We will move forward together,” the governor-elect said. “This is exactly who we are, New Jersey. We have each other’s backs, to believe in each of us is to believe in all of us.”
With 91 percent of precincts reporting, Murphy had 56 percent and Guadagno 43 percent.
“Eighteen months ago, I chose to run for governor on a belief that New Jersey’s best days are before us, that our future is unlimited, and that we have been failed by leadership which forgot what it meant to dream big,” the Democrat said.
Murphy’s campaign relentlessly tied Guadagno to the unpopular Christie and aired attack ads linking them both to the George Washington Bridge scandal.
Three Christie aides and appointees were convicted of crimes tied to the 2013 scheme to cause traffic jams in Fort Lee as political payback against the mayor there, who did not endorse the governor.
Guadagno had promised to lower property taxes if she had been elected.
While Murphy served as President Barack Obama’s top diplomat to Germany, this will be his first sting in elected office. He was formerly a Goldman Sachs executive.
When Murphy is inaugurated in January, New Jersey Democrats will control the governorship and both houses of the state legislature.