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11-3-09 'Chris Christie wins N.J. governor race'
November 03, 2009, 10:07PM Star Ledger 'Former U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie has defeated Gov. Jon Corzine in his bid for re-election...'

Chris Christie wins N.J. governor race, defeats Jon Corzine

By Mark Mueller/The Star-Ledger

November 03, 2009, 10:07PM

Chris Christie in Jersey CityGOP Gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie greets passers by as he stops by Boulevard Drinks at Journal Square in Jersey City for lunch on Wednesday, June 3, 2009.Former U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie has defeated Gov. Jon Corzine in his bid for re-election.

Christie, 47, who rose to political prominence as a corruption-buster, becomes the first Republican in 12 years to win a statewide contest in heavily Democratic New Jersey. With 90 percent of precincts reporting, Christie had 49 percent of the vote, compared with 45 percent for Corzine.

With the loss, the 62-year-old Corzine becomes just the third New Jersey governor in 60 years to go down after a single term.


COMPLETE ELECTION COVERAGEWatch Ledger Live's election night broadcast from the Star-Ledger newsroom

Full coverage of the New Jersey Governor's Race

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After the polls close: New Jersey election results

Read the Star-Ledger's editorial on Christie's win




Opinion polls had shown the unpopular Corzine battling back to within a statistical dead heat of Christie, but the Republican pulled away as independents broke for the former prosecutor by more than two to one.

Independent candidate Chris Daggett finished a distant third, with about 5 percent of the vote. He conceded shortly before 10 p.m. Daggett said he would stand behind the winner, telling his supporters "the problems that face this state are significant."

For Corzine, the loss marks the likely end of his political career. He has said repeatedly he will not run again for elective office.

Four years ago, Corzine handily defeated Republic Doug Forrester, vowing to cut New Jersey's highest-in-the-nation property taxes. Since then, however, property taxes have climbed only higher. Corzine was hurt in his effort by the nation's longest and deepest recession since World War II. National Democrats had pushed hard on his behalf, with President Obama visiting New Jersey three times to stump for the governor, most recently on Sunday.

Corzine, a former chief executive of investment house Goldman Sachs, served as a U.S. senator for five years before running for governor.

Christie served as a county freeholder before ascending to the U.S. Attorney's Office. Once there, he successfully prosecuted more than 130 public officials for corruption.