MORRISTOWN - Mikie Sherrill jumped off the stage and plunged into the crowd - hugging many of her supporters.

Some were newcomers to Mikie-World. Others had been with her since she won her first race for Congress in 2018.

It was when she was still in the middle of the scrum when someone said of the race to come:

"This is not going to be a national race. It's going to be an international race."

That's probably an exaggeration, but you never know Sherrill's first speech as a gubernatorial candidate stressed two overall themes.

One was history. She spoke of Thomas Paine and George Washington. And like the general, she said she was ready to "take Trenton."

And then there was Jack Ciattarelli.

Sherrill attacked him in various ways, but one line summed things up nicely.

She said New Jersey will not be turned over to a "lackey" for Donald Trump.

The crowd loved it, sporadically chanting "Mikie, Mikie."

If there was one surprise of the evening, it had occurred an hour before Sherrill spoke. That's when early returns immediately put her in a commanding lead.

Sherrill said her team had spent much time talking to voters and finding out what they want and need from state government.

I guess they listened well.

From The Hill: Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) has won the Democratic nomination for governor of New Jersey, coming out on top of a crowded field, according to Decision Desk HQ.

Sherrill defeated five other major candidates for the nomination in a hotly contested primary to succeed two-term Gov. Phil Murphy (D), who is term limited. She entered the primary on Tuesday as the favorite given her polling lead that she’s maintained in public and internal polls, including those from other candidates’ campaigns.

From the AP, with 76% of the votes counted:

More results from The New York Times HERE.

Essex County Democratic Committee Chairman LeRoy Jones told InsiderNJ:

"I think New Jersey spoke. We had six strong candidates in the Democratic Primary. Only one could win. As much as a win for Mikie, this was a win for the rebirth of the Democratic Party. My job now is to wake up Wednesday morning and begin building unity to carry us to victory in November against Jack Ciattarelli."

The Chairman's Full Statement:

NJDSC Chairman LeRoy J. Jones, Jr. Statement on Mikie Sherrill’s Primary Victory

Jones: “No one has fought harder for New Jersey than Mikie”

TRENTON, NJ – Tonight, after Mikie Sherrill – a Navy helicopter pilot, former federal prosecutor, and congresswoman for New Jersey’s eleventh congressional district – earned her party’s support in a competitive primary, New Jersey Democratic State Committee Chairman LeRoy J. Jones, Jr. released the following statement:

“Since her first-ever run for office in 2018 when she flipped a GOP-held seat, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill has brought New Jerseyans together across party lines and stood up against extremism at every turn. No one has fought harder for New Jersey than Mikie to bring down costs, protect access to healthcare, and fight back against Donald Trump’s harmful policies.

“I want to congratulate every participant in our spirited Democratic primary on a hard-fought campaign, and thank them for contributing their vision on how best to move New Jersey forward. Jack Ciattarelli, on the other hand, is only in this to move himself forward – after losing this race twice already, it’s clear he’ll say or do anything to become governor of New Jersey. 

“This time around, that means groveling for the support of Donald Trump and MAGA world after rejecting it in the past, and it means standing by while we lose billions in healthcare funding every year thanks to Trump’s budget. Ciattarelli has said ‘We don't see this as a real problem in New Jersey.’ But 360,000 New Jerseyans are set to lose their healthcare, and they need a governor who will always put them first, not Donald Trump. That governor is Mikie Sherrill.”

DGA Chair Gov. Laura Kelly Statement on Mikie Sherrill’s Primary Victory in New Jersey
DGA Chair Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly released the following statement on Rep. Mikie Sherrill securing the Democratic nomination for governor in New Jersey:

“Congratulations to Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill on becoming the Democratic nominee for governor in New Jersey. As a former Navy helicopter pilot and federal prosecutor, Mikie served our country and took on tough fights to keep New Jerseyans safe, and during her time in Congress, she worked to lower costs, create good-paying jobs, and protect reproductive rights. Now she’s running to make life easier for Garden State families by creating economic opportunity, building more affordable housing, lowering costs, and funding public schools. Mikie knows how to win tough races, and we look forward to working alongside her to win this competitive race for governor in November.”

Statement by Governor Murphy on New Jersey Gubernatorial Primary Election Results

“After a hard-fought primary campaign, New Jersey voters have spoken, and they have selected Mikie Sherrill and Jack Ciattarelli as the Democratic and Republican nominees for Governor, respectively. I want to offer my congratulations to both Mikie and Jack for earning the trust and support of primary voters all across our state.

“I would also like to thank every candidate – on both sides of the aisle – who stepped up to run in this year’s election and participate in our sacred democratic process.

“Over the next few months, as the general election ramps up, I know we will see a spirited campaign for Governor and all 80 Assembly seats. And I look forward to working with the winner of this November’s election to ensure the smoothest possible transition for the next Governor.

“For the next seven months, our Administration is going to spend every minute we have left running through the tape to continue building the stronger, fairer, and more affordable New Jersey that the people of our state deserve.”