(MENAFN) Democratic Representative Mikie Sherrill has been elected as New Jersey’s next governor, marking the party’s second major victory in this year’s off-cycle gubernatorial contests, according to reports.

Sherrill, who has served four terms in Congress and is a former US Navy helicopter pilot, prevailed over Republican Jack Ciattarelli. Ciattarelli, who enjoyed the backing of President Donald Trump, fell short in his third bid for the state’s top office.

With this win, Sherrill is set to replace outgoing Democratic Governor Phil Murphy, who is unable to seek another term due to state term-limit laws.

Polls officially closed at 8 p.m. local time (0100 GMT Wednesday), though some voting locations were permitted to stay open an extra hour following temporary evacuations prompted by emailed bomb threats, which authorities later confirmed to be false alarms.

In a parallel off-year gubernatorial race, Democrat Abigail Spanberger defeated Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, flipping control of that state from Republican to Democratic hands.

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