New Jersey governor's race too close to call

New Jersey's gubernatorial race was still too close to call early Wednesday, a potential stunner in a blue state that was thought to easily lean toward incumbent Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy.

Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli was outperforming expectations as results came in, despite most polls showing Murphy with a comfortable lead as Election Day neared.

The close race in New Jersey came as the nation's other gubernatorial race in Virginia went to Republican nominee Glenn Youngkin over Democrat Terry McAuliffe, who previously held the governor's office 2014-2018.

While polls predicted a relatively comfortable win in New Jersey for Murphy, the incumbent governor – a wealthy former Goldman Sachs banker and former U.S. ambassador to Germany in the Obama administration – faced many challenges on his path to reelection, most notably his heavy-handed approach to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Murphy made the controversial decision to have nursing homes readmit COVID-19 patients, a decision some critics say caused unnecessary deaths.

Republicans have also hammered Murphy for his failure to address the state's high property taxes, an issue the Democrat dismissed, reasoning, if "you’re a one-issue voter and tax rate is your issue … we’re probably not your state." 

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Murphy had an easier time winning the 2017 election, defeating Republican nominee Kim Guadagno by a margin of 55.7% to 42.2%. Guadagno had been lieutenant governor under former Gov. Chris Christie.

New Jersey was also a state that President Biden comfortably won last year, winning the state by nearly 16 points over former President Donald Trump.