Jack Ciattarelli vs Phil Murphy: All about New Jersey’s gubernatorial race

America is in for an election night and the state of New Jersey is at the centre of it. The vote for the next Governor for the Garden State is underway on Tuesday with heated competition between Phil Murphy — current Governor and a member of the Democratic party– and his Republican opponent Jack Ciattarelli.   

Here is all you need to know about the ongoing polls:

-If Phil Murphy retains the office of Governor — a scenario that seems likely– he will become the first Democrat to secure a reelection win in over four decades in New Jersey.

-In addition to GOP’s Jack Ciattarelli, three additional third-party candidates– Gregg Mele of the Libertarian Party, 

Socialist Workers nominee Joanne Kuniansky and Green Party nominee Madelyn Hoffman — are also contesting the elections. 

-The state legislature, which includes all 120 seats in the state, are up for grabs. Both the state Assembly and the Senate are currently dominated by Democratic lawmakers.

Here is all you need to know about Phil Murphy:

Murphy, a 64-year-old resident of Middletown, has been serving as the 56th governor after taking over the office in 2017 from predecessor Republican Chris Christie. 

After nearly a decade of a Republican administration in the Garden State, Murphy gave the state a progressive direction, according to media reports.

Here is all you need to know about Jack Ciattarelli:

The 59-year-old Hillsborough resident won the Republican nomination to challenge Murphy after finishing second for the GOP nod for governor in 2017.

Jack Ciattarelli previously served six years in the state Assembly, was a Somerset County freeholder before that, and is also a certified public accountant and the former owner of a medical publishing company.

New Jersey is not the only state with a gubernatorial race underway. Virginia,  where the contest is between  Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Republican Glenn Youngkin.