EDITOR'S NOTE: Here are some thoughts following Tuesday's Tsunami.

There really isn't much positive to say about Republicans, but let's try anyway.

Chris Christie had a good night - sort of.

The former governor has long tried warning his fellow GOPers that Donald Trump is bad for the party.

You think they may listen now?

More specifically, will the majority of New Jersey Republicans now realize that average people - not your MAGA sycophants - do not support unpopular wars, high gas prices and a president obsessed with a reflecting pool and a ballroom?

We will see.

In addition to Christie, state Sen. Jon Bramnick has also been a MAGA critic. It may be time for those gentlemen to have some company in their own party.

* * *

Mary Melfi, the Republican Hunterdon County Clerk, not only won reelection, she avoided the embarrassment of announcing her own defeat.

It is the county clerk who releases election results, so Melfi could have been in the unenviable position of making public her own demise.

Fortunately for her, that did not happen.

And given Tuesday's climate, Melfi won comfortably with about 55 percent of the vote.

* * *

Joe Hathaway, the Republican challenging Analilia Mejia in CD-11, has now been defeated twice by huge margins. - like 20 points. We're talking about the special election in April and Tuesday's regular election.

Still, Hathaway came across as a very credible candidate whose problem was not necessarily Mejia, but a large registration disadvantage and, of course, Trump.

Here is part of what he said on Election Night:

"But let me be very clear: Losing an election does not mean surrendering our principles. And it certainly does not mean giving up the fight."

Do not be surprised if Hathaway surfaces again as a state Assembly candidate in LD-25, where one of the incumbents, Marisa Sweeney, is a Democrat.

An Assembly run may seem attractive to Hathaway because Democrats just won control of the council in Randolph. That means Hathaway, who is a councilman, will be in the minority come January. That's no fun.

* * *

The sun came up Wednesday morning in Morris County, and it is a very pleasant day.

At least as of now, a Democrat winning a county commission/freeholder seat for the first time in more than 50 years has not transformed bucolic Morris into the East Village.

Chris Russo, the Dem, who won, said Wednesday morning that it still seems "surreal."  But there is the reality of receiving congratulations and then, more congratulations.

To that end, he said he got 54 text messages in a short time this morning.

Of course he did.

To quote JFK:

"Victory has a thousand fathers, but defeat is an orphan."

* * *

It would be a bit redundant to applaud Rebecca Bennett for her smashing win in CD-7.

The die really was cast with the huge early vote numbers. There was no way for Tom Kean Jr. to overcome that margin on election day.

Some Republicans thought Kean's refusal to engage with the press and average voters would not hurt him.

They were wrong. That did make a difference and it was good to see.

Kean's silence is continuing. He did reportedly call and congratulate Bennett Tuesday night.

But as of noon, there was no statement about the race on his social media pages.

At least the now-outgoing congressman is consistent.

* * *

New Jersey is part of the United States, so let's make an observation from one of the other races.

Nepotism is bad - and should always lose.

Darlene Graham in South Carolina may not have been a great candidate, But you have to figure (from about 700 miles away) that voters were displeased she was given the Senate seat after her brother, Lindsey Graham, died.

Nothing unique about this type of stuff among politicians.

Just two years ago, Phil Murphy tried to make his wife, Tammy, a U.S. Senator.

Fortunately, enough average Democrats - not party leaders - revolted and Tammy Murphy backed out of the race. That's how Andy Kim was elected.

While it's nice to see nepotism of this type defeated at the ballot box in South Carolina, it would be nicer still if it did not happen in the first place.

Don't hold your breath.