In a crowded race for governor, U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill built a statewide coalition in the Democratic primary that stretched from New Jersey’s northernmost county down to Cape May. Turnout in the Democratic contest improved by more than 270,

U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill decisively won a wild and very crowded primary Tuesday for the Democratic nomination to become New Jersey’s next governor, capitalizing on support from a vast array of party leaders and staving off fierce threats from challengers in a new-look election.

Former Republican New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman endorsed Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) in her pursuit of the state’s top office. Whitman, who co-chairs the independent Forward Party with Andrew Yang and endorsed former Vice President Kamala Harris for president,