Democrats have outperformed Republicans in races for the New Jersey State Legislature, according to unofficial results. Democrats are projected to win at least 52 seats in the 80-seat Assembly, while Republicans are projected to win at least 28 seats. This would give Democrats a significant majority in the Assembly.
In the Senate, Democrats are projected to win at least 24 seats in the 40-seat chamber, while Republicans are projected to win at least 16 seats. This would give Democrats a slight majority in the Senate.
Currently, there are 25 Democratic senators and 15 Republicans. In the Assembly, there are now 46 Democrats and 34 Republicans.
The Democratic victories are due in part to a strong turnout from Democratic voters. According to exit polls, 62% of voters identified as Democrats, while 32% identified as Republicans. Democratic voters were also more likely to say that they voted for the Democratic candidate in the legislative races.
The Democratic victories are also due in part to a shift in the demographics of New Jersey. The state is becoming increasingly diverse, and Democrats have made gains among minority voters. According to exit polls, 73% of Black voters and 62% of Hispanic voters identified as Democrats.
The Democratic victories are a major setback for Republicans in New Jersey. Republicans had hoped to win a majority in the Legislature, but they were unable to overcome the Democratic turnout advantage.
The Democratic victories are also a sign of the national political climate. Democrats have been gaining momentum in recent elections, and they are now poised to control the New Jersey Legislature for the foreseeable future.
What does this mean for New Jersey?
The Democratic victories in the New Jersey State Legislature are likely to have a significant impact on the state. Democrats are likely to pursue a progressive agenda, including raising the minimum wage, expanding access to healthcare, and enacting stricter gun control laws.
Republicans are likely to oppose the Democratic agenda, and they are likely to try to block Democratic initiatives in the Legislature. This could lead to gridlock in the state government.
However, it is also possible that Democrats and Republicans will be able to work together to pass legislation that is beneficial to all New Jerseyans.
The outcome of the New Jersey State Legislature elections will be closely watched by national political observers. The results could have implications for the 2024 presidential election.
Unofficial results
Here are the unofficial results from the New Jersey State Legislature elections:
Assembly
- Democrats: 52 seats
- Republicans: 28 seats
Senate
- Democrats: 24 seats
- Republicans: 16 seats
The official results are expected to be released in the coming days.