Gov. Phil Murphy delivered a delayed victory speech after The Associated Press on Wednesday declared him the winner by a whisker-thin margin over Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli. Ciattarelli refused to concede until all votes are counted. But Murphy celebrated becoming the first Democratic governor to win reelection in New Jersey since 1977. Democrats cheered, but they’re spooked.
The apparent leftward shift in New Jersey’s political landscape that enabled Murphy to enact progressive measures like a $15 minimum-wage law and paid family leave suffered a seemingly seismic snap-back with Tuesday’s vote. Some observers think New Jersey’s suburbs actually occupied a more moderate political space all along and that Murphy’s messaging missed the mark.
