Kim Guadagno Wins Monmouth County, But Loses Election to Murphy

MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ — It was all Monmouth County in the New Jersey governor's race — and only one of them walked away the winner tonight.

As expected, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno (R), the former Monmouth County Sheriff who lives in Monmouth Beach, did handily take her home county, traditionally-red Monmouth. But Phil Murphy (D), the Goldman Sachs multi-millionaire who lives in Middletown, walked away the ultimate winner this evening. Guadagno won 54.35 percent of Monmouth County today, compared to 43.72 percent for Murphy. That's with 75 percent of precincts reporting as of 9 p.m.

It was a gubernatorial election in both New Jersey and Virginia where the shadow of President Donald Trump loomed large over all — and where Democrats ultimately won both governor's races. Guadagno was also unable to shake free the mantle of Gov. Chris Christie, hands down the most unpopular governor in any U.S. state, in all of U.S. history. While she campaigned on a laudable platform of lowering New Jersey's property taxes, she was unable to completely break through to voters who were fed up with Bridgegate headlines and Christie's temper. She tried to appeal to New Jersey residents by criticizing Murphy's pro-sanctuary state policies, but even for this former federal prosecutor, no argument seemed strong enough to propel her out of Christie's shadow and really resonate in the ballot booth.

Guadagno also failed to gain the support of New Jersey's powerful police and teacher unions, still smarting from years of getting the cold shoulder — or worse — from the Christie administration. Murphy has promised a $15 minimum wage, the legalization of marijuana and to stand up to Trump.