New Jersey Governor Chris Christie won reelection handily on Tuesday, defeating the largely token opposition of Democratic state Senator Barbara Buono. With nearly all the votes counted, Christie had taken 60% to Buono’s 38%. The results were in line with polls throughout the campaign showing Christie besting his rival by as much as 28 points, marking the first time since 1988 that a Republican had taken more than 50% of the vote in a statewide election in New Jersey.
Christie’s victory was total. CNN’s exit poll showed him winning a large majority of men (63%) and beating his female challenger among women voters by 15 points (57-42). Christie took at least 54% of the vote in every age category and at least 55% in every income category except those making under $30K per year, in which Buono beat him by 2 points (49-47). He won two-thirds of independents, an outright majority of Latinos (51%), took 21% of the African-American vote, and even commanded 30% of registered Democrats.
In his victory speech – given from a podium set in the middle of the audience and often times spoken directly into the camera – Christie staked his victory on competence. He said people are tired of the bickering and fighting between the parties, and are looking for a leader who can bring the parties together to get things done.
