Jack Ciattarelli not conceding NJ governor's race to Phil Murphy

Republican challenger waiting until "all legal votes are counted"
Jack Ciattarelli.
Jack Ciattarelli. Photo credit Mitsu Yasukawa/Northjersey.com/USA Today Network

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli says he's not conceding in the race for New Jersey's governor.

He took to Twitter on Thursday and said he's waiting to either give a victory speech or concede to incumbent Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy until "all legal votes are counted."

"There are still tens of thousands of vote-by-mail and provisional ballots to be counted," Ciattarelli said, claiming the process would take "a week or two" before it's completed.

As of 7:45 p.m. Thursday night, with 99% of precincts reporting, Murphy had about a 48,000-vote lead on Ciattarelli.

Murphy declared victory Wednesday night after the race was called earlier in the evening. He was projected to be the first Democratic incumbent to win a gubernatorial election in New Jersey in 44 years.

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Featured Image Photo Credit: Mitsu Yasukawa/Northjersey.com/USA Today Network