State Senator Vin Gopal and his slate won the battleground district of LD-11.

Gopal ran in the most-watched district of the state this year, and his victory tonight exceeded expectations, as all three Democrats emerged victorious from a tough cycle.

Democratic assembly candidates running with the senator, Luanne Peterpaul and Margie Donlon, defeated Republican incumbents Marilyn Piperno and Kim Eulner, affiliated with the senate candidacy of their fellow Republican, businessman Steve Dnistrian.

Gopal fairly buried his rival, 32,772 (59.73%) to 21,593 (39.36%), and appeared to drag in his running mates to resecure Democratic dominance in LD-11.

The candidacy of Senator Gopal particularly intrigued, as the incumbent Democrat established himself as a leader in Trenton with higher political aspirations.

If GOP challenger Dnistrian picked him off, Republicans could have landed the crown jewel of this year’s general election.

But they could not defeat the politically and financially well-connected Gopal, who specializes in alliances, astuteness and ground game.

The senator’s win represents an early critical victory too for Democratic State Party LeRoy Jones, and Governor Phil Murphy, who campaigned with Gopal in the closing days and wants to try to springboard his wife, First Lady Tammy Murphy, into the seat occupied by jammed-up U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ).

Middlesex County Democratic Committee Chairman Kevin McCabe – a key Gopal ally – can especially savor the wins by the LD-11 Democratic slate. The politically muscular McCabe played a crucial role in backing Gopal, thereby retaining a key piece in the larger dimensions of Fortress Middlesex.

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InsiderNJ Columnist Fred Snowflack is on the ground with Gopal and the senator’s triumphant Democratic slate.