New Jersey voters on Tuesday night locked in a gubernatorial matchup that will be one of the first big tests of public sentiment toward President Donald Trump, his policies, and Democrats’ path forward.

Both the Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop ran insurgent, grassroots-styled campaigns in the left lane, hoping to nab the support of progressives to overtake Sherrill. Baraka placed second (20.5%), and ended up winning Essex — also Sherrill’s home county — and Union, which were big surprises.

Democrats, on their heels after President Trump’s victory, see the state as the “perfect place to counterpunch.”

Mikie Sherrill defeated fellow Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and four other competitors to win the Democratic nomination in New Jersey's gubernatorial primary.

In a uniquely expensive and competitive field of six Democratic candidates where U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill was the winner, it wasn’t even close.

The race to become the next governor of New Jersey heated up on Tuesday as voters hit the polls for the major parties' respective primaries. With Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy term-limited, six Democrats and five Republicans are now vying for the state's top job in a race that could shape the future of the Garden State.

Six Democrats and five Republicans are vying for their party's nominations Tuesday in the race to succeed Gov. Phil Murphy in New Jersey.

Rep. Mikie Sherrill enters the Democratic contest for governor with several key advantages, but uncertainty looms.