Democrat Mikie Sherrill was elected New Jersey governor over Republican Jack Ciattarelli on Tuesday to become the first woman from her party to lead the Garden State.

With almost 90% of ballots counted, Sherrill had 56% of the vote to Ciattarelli’s 44%, according to the Associated Press, which called the race for Sherrill less than 90 minutes after polls closed.

“Serving you is worth any tough fight I have to take on, and I am incredibly honored to be your next governor,” Sherrill said during a victory speech at her watch party at the Hilton hotel in East Brunswick. “Governors have never mattered more, and in this state, I am determined to fulfill prosperity for all of our citizens.”

New Jersey has had only one female governor, Republican Christie Whitman, who took office in 1994. She

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