Winner projected in New Jersey's high-profile governor's race

New Jersey Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill has been projected the winner of the gubernatorial election, defeating Trump-backed candidate Jack Ciattarelli.

The race is a key hold for Democrats, who have occupied the governor's mansion in the blue state since 2018. The race was projected Tuesday night by Decision Desk, NBC News and CNN.

It was also a race Republicans have sought to make competitive for months, ever since President Donald Trump unexpectedly kept the presidential contest there within 6 points last year.

Ciattarelli ran a campaign on a number of red-meat issues for the MAGA base; however, he kept the president himself at arm's length on the campaign trail, wary of being too closely associated with him as his approval ratings have plummeted around the country.

Sherrill, a veteran who has served in Congress since the 2018 Democratic wave election against Trump's first term, ran a campaign that focused on affordability.