Democrats chose Rep. Mikie Sherrill as their nominee for governor of New Jersey, as the party attempts to defy odds by holding onto the governorship for a third term in a row. The Associated Press called the race just under an hour after polls closed.

Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) defeated five fellow Democrats during Tuesday night’s primary to secure the party’s nomination as she seeks to become the next New Jersey governor. The Associated Press called the race for Sherrill at 8:39 p.

Rep. Mikie Sherrill is the projected winner of the Democratic gubernatorial primary in New Jersey, NBC News projects. Sherrill, who held off challenges in a hotly-contested race from a crowded field,