SOMERSET, NJ – New Jersey Republican candidate for Governor Jack Ciattarelli last night announced that he won’t concede his election loss to Governor Phil Murphy until every last vote has been counted.
Currently, Ciattarelli trails by a nearly 60,000 vote margin with votes left to be counted in the predominantly blue urban centers of Mercer, Burlington, and Camden Counties. In those counties, Murphy holds the lead.
Possibly thousands of mail-in and provisional ballots could also still be outstanding from Tuesday’s election where ballots were valid as long as they were postmarked by the U.S. Post Office earlier than 8 p.m. ET Tuesday night.
His opponent Phil Murphy on Wednesday held a victory celebration at the Asbury Park Boardwalk Convention Center.
Ciattarelli posted a two-minute-long video Thursday night.
“Nobody should be declaring victory or conceding until every legal vote is counted,” Ciattarelli said, hinting that he may call for a recount or audit after the process is complete. Ciattarelli once again blamed the media and pollsters for his impending defeat.
Ciattarelli warned, “My team is comprised of the best legal and political experts in the country. I promise you whatever the outcome, the election result will be legal and fair.”
Ciattarelli asked his followers to report voting irregularities to a state GOP hotline.
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