Chris Christie wins second term
Gov. Chris Christie was re-elected with ease Tuesday, demonstrating the kind of broad, bipartisan appeal that will serve as his opening argument should he seek the Republican presidential nomination in 2016.
After a campaign that centered more on his record and personality than his agenda for a second term, he told supporters that he has big plans for education reform and tax cuts, among other issues.
“I did not seek a second term to do small things,” he said. “I sought a second term to finish the job. Now watch me do it.”
Christie performed strongly across the political spectrum after aggressively courting constituencies that often shun the GOP: minorities, women and even Democrats, who outnumber Republicans among registered voters by more than 3 to 2.
Interviews with voters as they left polling places found Christie re-elected with broad support among whites, independents, moderates, voters over 40 and those opposing the health care law, among others.
He did well among groups that typically lean Democratic, carrying a majority of women and splitting Hispanics with Buono. And Christie improved on his share of the vote in 2009 among blacks, liberals, Democrats and voters younger than 30 by more than 10 percentage points.
The interviews were conducted for the AP and television networks ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN and Fox News by Edison Research.
Christie, who is openly considering running for president, has said his success offers a template for broadening the GOP’s appeal after the disastrous 2012 election cycle and the party’s record-low approval ratings following the recent government shutdown.
In his victory speech, delivered just after 10 p.m., some of the biggest cheers came when he said Washington could learn from what he has done in New Jersey.
But voters in New Jersey as a whole were not wildly enthusiastic about Christie as president. Fifty-one percent he would make a good president. When asked whether they preferred Christie or Hillary Rodham Clinton as president if they both ran in 2016, they supported the Democrat 48 percent to 44 percent.
Christie will take over later this month as chairman of the Republican Governors Association, a position that will further raise his national profile.
Chris Christie victory speech video
Buono concedes
Democratic state Senator Barbara Buono conceded the race at 8:44 p.m. She said she spoke with Gov Christie by phone moments ago and congratulated him on his victory. Speaking at her election gathering in Metuchen, she told her supporters “We knew it wasn’t going to be easy but we knew it would be worth it.”
Barbara Buono concession speech video
The Associated Press declared Christie the winner at 8:03 p.m. three minutes after the polls closed basing its conclusion on exit polls.
Only 38 percent of eligible New Jersey voters took time yesterday to cast votes. With 99 percent of precincts reporting, 2.095 million voters were tallied. Total registered voters: 5.5 million.) A turnout of 45 percent is considered low.
The results:
99% precincts reporting
60% Chris Christie
38% Barbara Buono
Barbara Buono held her election night gathering in Metuchen while Chris Christie was at the Asbury Park Convention Hall.
Statewide Ballot Questions
#1 Should veterans groups be allowed to use revenues from games of chance for operating funds?
99% precincts
81% – Yes
18% – No
#2 Should the minimum wage be raised from $7.25 to $8.25?
99% precincts
60% – Yes
39% – No
Races we’re watching
Camden Mayor re-elected
72% precincts
60% Dana Redd (Democratic incumbent)
20% Amir Khan (Independent challenger)
12% Arnold Davis (Republican challenger)
6% Brian Coleman (Independent challenger)
Atlantic City Mayor ousted
100% precincts
50% Don Guardian (Republican challenger)
47% Lorenzo Langford (Democratic incumbent)
State capitol
Democrats retained control of both houses of the New Jersey Legislature in Tuesday’s election.
Voters re-elected Democrats to 22 seats in the Senate and returned 16 Republicans. Two seats remain undecided.
Both of those — in Districts 14 and 38 — are held by Democrats.
In the Assembly, 44 Democrats and 30 Republicans were re-elected.
Four of the six undecided seats are held by Democrats.
The Legislature has scheduled reorganization meetings for Thursday.
All of New Jersey’s legislative seats were up for re-election this year: 80 in the Assembly and 40 in the Senate. Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute told NJ Spotlight that there were just a handful of races that could change hands. Nearly all of these races were in Central and South Jersey legislative districts.
South Jersey
State Senate race
100% precincts
59% Jeff Van Drew (Democratic incumbent)
39% Susan Schmidt (Republican challenger)
State Assembly (The top two candidates win seats)
100% precincts
27% Bob Andrzejczak (Democratic incumbent)
25% Sam Fiocchi (Republican candidate)
23% Nelson Albano (Democratic incumbent)
23% Kristine Gabor (Republican candidate)
State Senate race
100% precincts
54% Jim Whelan (Democratic incumbent)
45% Frank Balles (Republican challenger)
State Assembly (The top two candidates win seats)
100% precincts
25% Chris Brown (Republican incumbent)
24.9% John Amodeo (Republican incumbent)
24.49% Vincent Mazzeo (Democratic candiate)
23.38% Nick Russo (Democrat candidate)
1% Gary Stein (Independent candidate)
State Senate race
100% precincts
54% Stephen Sweeney (Democratic incumbent)
45% Niki Trunk (Republican challenger)
State Assembly (The top two candidates win seats)
100% precincts
27% John Burzichelli (Democrat incumbent)
26% Celeste Riley (Democrat incumbent)
22% Larry Wallace (Republican candiate)
22% Bob Vanderslice (Republican candidate)
Central Jersey
State Senate race
100% precincts
50% Linda Greenstein (Democratic incumbent)
48% Peter Inverso (Republican candidate)
1% Don Dezarn (Independent candidate)
State Assembly (The top two candidates win seats)
100% precincts
26% Wayne DeAngelo (Democrat Incumbent)
25% Daniel Benson (Democratic Incumbent)
23% Steve Cook (Republican candidate)
22% Ronald Haas (Republican candidate)
.75% Sean O’Connor (Independent candidate)
.65% Steven Uccio (Independent candidate)
District 18 (Barbara Buono’s old seat)
State Senate race
100% precincts
51% Peter Barnes (Democratic candidate)
48% David Stahl (Republican candidate)
State Assembly (The top two candidates win seats)
100% precincts
27% Patrick Diegnan Jr. (Democrat Incumbent)
26% Nancy Pinkin (Democrat candidate)
23% Robert Bengivenga (Republican candidate)
22% Lisa Goldhamer (Republican candidate)
North Jersey
State Senate race
100% precincts
51% Bob Gordon (Democratic incumbent)
48% Fernando Alonso (Republican candidate)
State Assembly (The top two candidates win seats)
100% precincts
25.18% Joseph Lagana (Democratic candidate)
25.05% Joseph Scarpa (Republican candidate)
24.88% Joan Fragala (Republican candidate)
24.87% Timothy Eustace (Democrat Incumbent)
Complete list of returns of all New Jersey legislative race
____________________________________________
The Associated Press contributed to this story
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