Democrats swept the state in Tuesday's election with a string of legislative wins in Battleground districts across New Jersey solidifying the party's control of power in Trenton under a newly drawn legislative map and expanding their majority in the assembly by picking up five seats when all was said and done including one in the deeply read 30th District Two big wins came from South Jersey for now Senators elect John berselli and Paul morar and a huge victory at the Jersey Shore in District 11 for incumbent Democrat Vin goal Democrats won by big margins in other districts that mattered in north and Central Jersey the loss though was unexpected for Republicans who went into the general election feeling confident with hopes of capitalizing on the momentum of 2021 when the GOP was able to gain seven seats in the legislature the party though did manage to hold on to a handful of important incumbent seats and and make pickups at the county level across New Jersey but it wasn't a match for Democrats fundraising early get out the vote efforts and a senior political correspondent David Cruz reports hitting on the issues that mattered most to those who went to the polls the biggest thing is the issues that we have raised are the ones that people voters want to talk about and we've changed the the dialogue in the state state Republican chairman Bob hugan sounded like a man on the cusp of a big night for his party within 2 hours it was clear though that state voters were having a totally different conversation instead of a red wave Tuesday's election results solidified Democrats hold on the state legislature dealing a blow to Republicans who seem to have Democrats on the defensive leading into election day what our polling was showing us is that the Republicans were winning on the culture wars that they were they were motivating their base they were getting a few extra thous th000 voters in each of these districts to come out because of that the Democrats needed to counter that in the Third District where incumbent Republican senator Ed dur had some of the most strident rhetoric Democrat John belli returned the seat to Democrats he said dar's comments on abortion especially resonated and I think women's issues played a very big part in this race uh my opponent had said some things that that offended women and uh and and they rallied to say to him that's not something we accept it's not something we're going to have uh I think that I think that was the driving issue how are you feeling here tonight I'm feeling great do I love this guy Governor Murphy was exuberant as he joined the night's Marquee winner Senator Vin goal who beat back a torrent of negative ads and some outright false charges to not only become the first mammoth County Democrat to win a third term but to return the assembly seats to Democratic control adding two Democratic women to the lower chamber and says Murphy confirming that the Democrats message hit home it's huge I don't know what else to say it's a huge validation of our Collective agenda Vin has been extraordinary Luan and Margie are extraordinary uh this is a big night for Democrats and is it's a big night for them in particular do you think about the response the Republican you know really l to the culture wars this year how do you think Democrats yeah they were wrong they clear clearly were wrong you look at the room around us right here probably a third of these people are registered Republicans a lot of Republican Mayors and Council people here they were tired of the mammoth County and state Republican party culture wars and trying to tear school districts apart they want to talk about the residents here and the overwhelming near 60% that supported our ticket want to talk about Mental Health Care funding teacher shortages taxes affordability and civility bringing people together not tearing them apart uh and I think this should be a very loud message for our opposition today for Republicans a period of soul searching and perhaps even some political purging may be about to begin they're not cool with the vibe we put out Senator John bramnick is one of the few Republicans to come out smiling last night he said the Trump inspired messaging of some of his fellow Republicans was off putting even if voters agreed with some of the core of the message first we have to be trusted second when we talk about an issue you don't do it in a mean-spirited way you don't do it in sound bites if you want to talk about the issue of parental rights okay talk about it talk about you know when but don't act as if transgender children shouldn't have rights not exactly the tone Republicans have been pushing for the past year but after last night bramnick thinks the takeaway for Republicans should be read the room I'm David Cruz NJ Spotlight News [Music]