well the November matchup for New Jersey's governor's race is set democratic Congresswoman Mikey Cheryl landed her party's nomination in a crowded and hotly contested race while third-time candidate and former Republican Assemblyman Jack Chidarelli won the GOP by a landslide each has different hurdles they'll need to overcome to win the seat for Cheryl she's looking to become just the second woman ever to be elected governor in New Jersey and keep Democrats in power for a third consecutive term something that hasn't been done since 1961 senior correspondent Joanna Gagas reports a state like this is not going to be led by a Trump lackey like Jack Chidarelli she came out swinging as she took her victory lap last night four-term Congresswoman Mikey Cheryl locking up the nomination to run as the Democratic candidate for governor of New Jersey she immediately took aim at her Republican opponent i am ready to make life more affordable for families jack has raised taxes at every level of government he raised taxes as a council member he raised taxes as a commissioner and you guessed it your taxes went up when he was an assembly member some say this election is a referendum on President Donald Trump the DNC the Democratic National Committee is counting on that the National Organization is jumping into this race alongside Cheryl to capitalize on the anti-Trump sentiment among Democrats and undecided voters here this is where we stop Donald Trump that is where that begins um and that is about investing time energy and resources um but it is not just that it's about showing New Jerseyians that you care about them look she has won a historically red congressional district she won it back in 2018 she has appeal across the aisle former State Assemblyman Jack Chidarelli told his supporters last night he'll make a drinking game out of how many times Cheryl invokes Trump when coming after him but she wasted no time going after Jack directly i fought for Superstorm Sandy relief and helped bring home millions for hard-hit New Jersey families jack voted against relief for Sandy victims three times screwing thousands of homeowners at one of the worst moments of their lives so listen I'm going to protect our rights including the right to an abortion jack has pledged to implement an abortion ban and to defund Planned Parenthood i am ready to shake up the status quo and Jack is the status quo cheryl won handily against five other opponents namely Newark Mayor Ras Baraka who surprised political insiders by coming in second over third place challenger Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulip fulip signaled in his concession speech last night that he'd back Cheryl in the general election look the the state and what I said over the last uh the last couple months I couldn't be more sincere the state is at a crossroads and and although tonight wasn't what we wanted it's important that we work hard to make sure Democrat gets elected in November that's important but Baraka's speech was much less consiliatory he signaled that he's not going anywhere my voice is going to grow and grow and grow and grow i'm excited about what the future portends in this state uh that these bosses their days are over that this line is finished uh that we're going to put it all the way in the ground yes sir uh and that they no longer can pick candidates for us the county line may be gone but it's impossible to deny the role of the Democratic Party establishment in Congresswoman Cheryl's campaign which New Jersey State Democratic Committee Chair Leroy Jones acknowledged last night it's organization organization organization i I was never a believer in uh you know the line i don't think that mattered uh what mattered was good candidates good operation good execution and that was that wins elections jones said today begins the work of uniting the other candidates to rebuild a solid Democratic party that can win in November for NJ Spotlight News I'm Joanna Gagas