Gov. Phil Murphy projected to eke out win for reelection in tight New Jersey race

Republican Jack Ciattarelli vied against Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy in the New Jersey gubernatorial election.

Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy has been reelected in New Jersey, ABC News has projected.

Republican Jack Ciattarelli vied against Murphy for his position but came up short in what proved to be a surprisingly close race.

Murphy narrowly defeated Ciattarelli in the state’s off-year election, bucking a trend of GOP success at the ballot box when Democrats are in power in Washington.

The state is typically a reliable win for Democrats in presidential and Senate elections, but its off-year statewide elections tend to yield more favorable results for Republicans.