Winner projected in New Jersey's high-profile governor's race
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (October 25, 2019) The Honorable Mikie Sherrill, Congresswoman of New Jersey’s 11th District, retired CDR Mike Micharlis, Jr., President of the Class of 1969, retired CAPT Toni Kasprzak Chase, President of the Class of 1984, Mr. Ingar Grev, President of the Class of 1989, CAPT James Keck, President of the Class of 1994, Vice Adm. Sean S. Buck, Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy, and CAPT Thomas R. Buchanan, Commandant of Midshipmen, review the brigade as they march in the fifth formal parade of the school year. As the undergraduate college of our country's naval service, the Naval Academy prepares young men and women to become professional officers of competence, character, and compassion in the US. Navy and Marine Corps. (U.S. Navy photo by Stacy Godfrey/Released)

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.

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