NJ Primary Results: Phil Murphy, Kim Guadagno To Face Off In Gov. Race

Phil Murphy, the former Goldman Sachs executive and ambassador to Germany, has been declared the winner in the Democratic Primary in the race to succeed Gov. Chris Christie. Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno was declared the winner in the Republican Primary.

"I've got your back," Murphy, who came under attack because of his prior ties to Wall Street and being the so-called establishment candidate, said during his victory speech at 9:50 a.m.

"Four more years of Christie-style politics won't clean up the mess that this governor has made, but we will," he said.

Guadagno, who has sought to distance herself from Christie despite serving as his number two, thanked her supporters for the "great victory."

"We didn't go this far to only come this far," she said, compelling her supporters to fight for victory even though she is the likely underdog in the race.

News12, and The New York Times and The Star-Ledger declared Guadagno and Murphy the winners after 9:15 p.m. Results for both the Democratic and Republican primaries were still coming in at press time.

The well-funded Murphy defeated, among others, state Assemblyman John Wisniewski, the Bernie Sanders N.J. chairman who has been a chief critic of Christie. Guadagno fought off a challenge from state Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli.

Here are the results:

Democratic Primary
6308 of 6386 Precincts Reporting - 99 percent

• Phil Murphy 238,040 48 percent
• Jim Johnson 108,301 22 percent
• John Wisniewski 107,308 22 percent
• Raymond Lesniak 24,027 5 percent
• William Brennan 11,061 2 percent
• Mark Zinna 5,115 1 percent

GOP Primary

6308 of 6386 Precincts Reporting - 99 percent

• Kim Guadagno 112,680 47 percent
• Jack Ciattarelli 74,839 31 percent
• Hirsh Singh 23,576 10 percent
• Joseph Rullo 15,690 7 percent
• Steven Rogers 14,057 6 percent

New Jersey and Virginia are the only two states with statewide elections this year, and the races will be viewed as barometers of President Trump's performance thus far. Trump is deeply unpopular in New Jersey, and his standing could adversely impact the performance of the potential Republican nominee.

But it will also be a test for whoever is connected to Christie, whose approval rating is tied for the lowest in New Jersey history, plunging as deep as 18 percent following the Bridgegate scandal, his failed presidential run and his alliance with Trump. His lieutenant governor, Kim Guadagno, leads in the polls for the Republican Party and has sought, at times, to distance herself from the incumbent.

Murphy attacked Christie in his victory speech, noting that Christie "broke his most basic promise, that he wouldn't raise taxes."

"I reject completely the us-versus-them leadership of Chris Christie and Donald Trump," he said.

Here is some of the general information you'll need to know:

• You can find your polling place by clicking here.

Here is the list of candidates and some general information provided by nj.com and Project Vote Smart (click on the link to the candidate to find out more about their positions):

Democrat

Philip Murphy

Occupation: Former Goldman Sachs executive and ambassador to Germany.

Murphy, who is considered a front-runner in the race, is the establishment candidate who has received the endorsement from an overwhelming number of county committees. NJ.com noted he wants to create a public bank for the state.

John Wisniewski

Occupation: State assemblyman in Middlesex County.

Wisniewski helped expose the George Washington Bridge lane closures scandal, otherwise known as "Bridgegate." After serving as New Jersey director for Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign, he has pushed for more progressive policies and portrayed himself as the Sanders-like alternative to Murphy's establishment-candidate status.

Mark Zinna

Occupation: President of Data Production & Management Industry

Zinna is a political unknown who has been a strong NRA opponent and believes in some form of legalizing marijuana.

Jim Johnson

Occupation: Assistant treasury secretary under President Clinton and a former federal prosecutor.

Johnson was political unknown before entering the race, according to nj.com, and has made ethics reform a centerpiece of his campaign.

Raymond Lesniak

Occupation: State senator since 1983 in Union County

Lesniak is a leading Christie critic who has highlighted environmental and animal issues in his campaign. According to nj.com, he previously served in U.S. Army, worked as a lawyer and was a member of the General Assembly from 1978 to 1983.

Bill Brennan

Occupation: Political activist and former firefighter

Brennan became well-known for almost successful getting Christie to appear in Superior Court in North Jersey on a corruption complain. After a judge ruled that the hearing could proceed, an appeals court overruled it.

Republican

Kim Guadagno

Occupation: Secretary of State, Republican Lieutenant Governor

Guadagno's campaign tried to distance itself from the unpopular Christie, breaking with the governor on his approval of a 23-cent gas tax.

Jack Ciattarelli

Occupation: State assemblyman in Somerset County

Ciattarelli also has sought to distance himself from Christie - though, like the governor, he told nj.com that he would prioritize changing the state’s school-funding formula.

Steven Rogers

Occupation: Rogers retired from the Navy in 2004 as a lieutenant commander and returned to the Nutley Police Department.

Rogers has fashioned himself as the Trump-like anti-establishment candidate who wants curbs on immigration and a more aggressive approach to fighting terrorism.

Joe Rullo

Occupation: Rullo is the owner of a landscaping business. In addition, he teaches acting, landscape design, and renewable energy courses at Ocean County College

Hirsh Singh

Occupation: Singh joined Hi-Tec Systems in 2004 as a Junior Network Administrator and worked his way up through the company, eventually becoming Senior Director of Operations in 2013

Patch file photo