The Latest: Christie congratulates lieutenant, hits opponent
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — The Latest on the New Jersey primary races for governor (all times local):
12:15 a.m.
Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is congratulating his top deputy for her primary win while taking a shot at her Democratic opponent, a former Goldman Sachs executive.
Christie congratulated Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno (gwah-DAH'-noh) in a statement released late Tuesday. He says New Jersey can't afford to return to the days of having Wall Street run it.
Guadagno also took shots at Democrat Phil Murphy's career with Goldman Sachs in her victory speech. It's a message his Democratic opponents used as well.
Christie didn't endorse anyone in the contest but says he voted for Guadagno.
Christie is unpopular in New Jersey, with more than three-quarters of voters disapproving of how he's handled the job.
Murphy and Guadagno will square off on Nov. 7.
___
10:30 p.m.
Republican nominee for New Jersey governor Kim Guadagno (gwah-DAH'-noh) has contrasted herself with Gov. Chris Christie in her primary victory speech, saying she's running on her record.
Guadagno is the state's lieutenant governor. She emerged victorious in Tuesday's primary and will face Democrat and former Goldman Sachs executive Phil Murphy in the Nov. 7 election.
She says she's proud of her record and values. She highlights the state's falling unemployment rate.
Guadagno has served as Christie's deputy for two terms and defeated leading opponent Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli chit-ah-REL'-ee) and three other candidates.
Christie didn't endorse anyone in the contest but says he voted for Guadagno.
Christie is unpopular in New Jersey, with more than three-quarters of voters disapproving of how he's handled the job.
___
10 p.m.
Democratic nominee for New Jersey governor Phil Murphy says he's honored and humbled to be the party's pick.
The wealthy former Goldman Sachs executive commented on his victory over five other Democrats in the race to succeed unpopular term-limited Republican Gov. Chris Christie on Tuesday at a victory speech in Newark.
Murphy will take on Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno (gwah-DAH'-noh) in the Nov. 7 general election.
Murphy is a former diplomat who greatly outspent his rivals. He defeated former federal prosecutor Jim Johnson, state Sen. Ray Lesniak, Assemblyman John Wisniewski (wihs-NES'-kee), former Teaneck firefighter Bill Brennan and Tenafly Councilman Mark Zinna.
___
9:15 p.m.
A wealthy former Goldman Sachs executive will square off with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's top deputy in the race to replace the unpopular governor.
Democrat Phil Murphy and Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno (gwah-DAH'-noh) won primary elections on Tuesday and will face off in November.
Murphy is a former Obama administration ambassador to Germany. He poured more than $20 million into the contest and won endorsements from the state's powerful county political machines.
Guadagno has served as Christie's top deputy since they were elected in 2009. She defeated three rivals on Tuesday, including Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli (chit-ah-REL'-ee). She has stressed her differences with the unpopular term-limited governor.
___
9 p.m.
A wealthy former Goldman Sachs executive and Obama administration ambassador has won the Democratic nomination in the race to replace unpopular term-limited Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
Phil Murphy defeated five rivals in one of only two statewide races in the country. His victory means he will take on the winner of Tuesday's Republican primary in November.
Murphy was an ambassador to Germany under Democratic President Barack Obama. He poured more than $20 million into the contest and won endorsements from the state's powerful county political machines.
He promised to check Republican President Donald Trump if elected and to fully fund the state's pension system, ramp up education spending and rejoin a regional greenhouse gas alliance.
Murphy survived attacks from top rivals that compared him to former Gov. Jon Corzine (KOHR'-zyn), another one-time Goldman Sachs executive.
___
8 p.m.
Polls have closed in New Jersey's primary races to replace unpopular term-limited Republican Gov. Chris Christie.
Voters decided Tuesday on the Democratic and Republican candidates to represent their party in the Nov. 7 contest. New Jersey and Virginia are the only two states with governor's races.
The leading Democratic candidate is Barack Obama's former ambassador to Germany Phil Murphy. Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno (gwah-DAHN'-yoh) was atop the polls on the Republican side.
Murphy faces a challenge from five other candidates. His leading opponents are Jim Johnson, state Sen. Ray Lesniak and Assemblyman John Wisniewski. Guadagno's top competitor is Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli (chit-a-REL'-ee).
Voters also picked their parties' representatives in nearly two dozen competitive Assembly and state Senate primaries on Tuesday.
All 120 members of the Democrat-controlled Legislature are up in November.
___
7:15 p.m.
Voters have begun the process of finding term-limited Republican Gov. Chris Christie's replacement, with thoughts about Wall Street banks and the Trump administration on their minds.
The winners of Tuesday's primaries will go on to compete in the Nov. 7 general election. Phil Murphy is the leading Democratic candidate, while Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno (gwah-DAHN'-yoh) is the leading Republican.
Twenty-five-year-old Sharyn Kingston, of Freehold, says she was wary of Murphy's Goldman Sachs background, but says she voted for him because he's best suited for the job.
John Parilla is an immigration lawyer from Alpine. He says he voted for Guadagno because he likes the range of experience she brings to the job.
Parilla says he doesn't see her as a Christie clone but does see similarities between Murphy and former Gov. Jon Corzine.
___
3:50 p.m.
The Democratic front-runner in the race to succeed Republican Gov. Chris Christie is disregarding the incumbent's attacks on him as a fraud.
Phil Murphy told NJ.com (http://bit.ly/2rJjzAg) on Tuesday's primary day that given the state of New Jersey's economy he doesn't have a "whole lot of regard" for Christie's opinion.
Christie called Murphy a fraud and said last week that he was buying the nomination.
Murphy is a former ambassador under President Barack Obama and one-time Goldman Sachs executive who loaned his campaign $16 million. He's running as a progressive.
Christie is term-limited. Polls in Tuesday's primary close at 8 p.m.
___
10:55 a.m.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says he voted for his lieutenant governor in the Republican gubernatorial primary.
Christie cast his ballot for Kim Guadagno (gwah-DAH'-noh) on Tuesday in his hometown of Mendham. During the campaign, Christie has remained neutral.
Eleven candidates are on the ballot statewide to succeed Christie, who can't seek a third term.
Guadagno (gwah-DAH'-noh) told reporters she was "humbled" after voting in Monmouth Beach.
Her rivals are Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, Nutley Commissioner Steve Rogers, Ocean County landscape business owner and actor Joseph "Rudy" Rullo and Atlantic County engineer Hirsh Singh.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Wisniewski (wihs-NES'-kee) voted in Sayreville and fellow Democrat Jim Johnson and his wife also cast ballots.
Poll close at 8 p.m.
___
10 a.m.
Campaign staff for the field of 11 candidates vying for a chance succeed Republican Gov. Chris Christie are working to get out the vote as rain dampens the New Jersey primary.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate John Wisniewski (wihs-NES'-kee) voted in Sayreville on Tuesday. The assemblyman says half the electorate is still undecided, so nobody leads.
Fellow Democrat Jim Johnson and his wife also voted.
They face challenges from former Wall Street executive Phil Murphy, former Teaneck firefighter Bill Brennan, state Sen. Ray Lesniak and Tenafly Councilman Mark Zinna.
Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno (gwah-DAH'-noh) told reporters she was "humbled" after voting in Monmouth Beach and she encouraged her supporters to vote.
Her rivals are Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, Nutley Commissioner Steve Rogers, Ocean County landscape business owner and actor Joseph "Rudy" Rullo and Atlantic County engineer Hirsh Singh.
___
9:20 a.m.
It's a rainy start as New Jersey voters cast ballots in a primary to whittle down a field of 11 candidates vying for a chance to succeed Republican Gov. Chris Christie.
Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno (gwah-DAH'-noh) chuckled as she was photographed emerging from the voting booth in Monmouth Beach on Tuesday. The gubernatorial candidate told reporters she was "humbled," and she encouraged her supporters to vote.
Her rivals are Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, Nutley Commissioner Steve Rogers, Ocean County landscape business owner and actor Joseph "Rudy" Rullo and Atlantic County engineer Hirsh Singh.
Leading Democratic candidate Phil Murphy faces challenges from former Teaneck firefighter Bill Brennan, one-time Clinton administration Treasury official Jim Johnson, state Sen. Ray Lesniak, Assemblyman John Wisniewski (wihs-NES'-kee) and Tenafly Councilman Mark Zinna.
Christie is term-limited. Polls close at 8 p.m.
___
6 a.m.
New Jersey voters have begun casting their ballots in an election to decide from among 11 candidates running to succeed Gov. Chris Christie.
Polls in Tuesday's primary races for governor and the Legislature are open until 8 p.m.
The winners in the Democratic and Republican races will go on to compete in the Nov. 7 general election.
Leading Democratic candidate Phil Murphy faces challenges from former Teaneck firefighter Bill Brennan, one-time Clinton administration Treasury official Jim Johnson, state Sen. Ray Lesniak, Assemblyman John Wisniewski (wihs-NES'-kee) and Tenafly Councilman Mark Zinna.
Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno (gwah-DAH'-noh) is the leading Republican candidate. Her rivals are Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, Nutley Commissioner Steve Rogers, Ocean County landscape business owner and actor Joseph "Rudy" Rullo and Atlantic County engineer Hirsh Singh.
___
12:15 a.m.
New Jersey voters will pick their candidates to succeed Republican Gov. Chris Christie.
Polls for Tuesday's primary are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. The winners will go on to compete in the Nov. 7 general election.
Leading Democratic candidate Phil Murphy faces challenges from former Teaneck firefighter Bill Brennan, one-time Clinton administration Treasury official Jim Johnson, state Sen. Ray Lesniak, Assemblyman John Wisniewski (wihs-NES'-kee) and Tenafly Councilman Mark Zinna.
Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno (gwah-DAHN'-noh) is the leading Republican candidate. Her rivals are Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, Nutley Commissioner Steve Rogers, Ocean County landscape business owner and actor Joseph "Rudy" Rullo and Atlantic County engineer Hirsh Singh.
___
For more on the New Jersey's governor's race, go to https://apnews.com/tag/NewJerseyGovernor'sRace
