Dems pick up one seat in N.J. legislature

TRENTON, N.J., Nov. 9 (UPI) -- New Jersey Democrats picked up one Assembly seat in Tuesday's legislative election and hailed it as a "fantastic victory."

Voters also approved a referendum to allow sports betting in Atlantic City and at racetracks, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

Democrats had majorities in both the Senate and Assembly going into the election, which effectively changed nothing, The New York Times reported. The legislative map had been drawn to protect incumbents and did its job.

Republican Gov. Chris Christie, who has considerable fundraising clout outside the state, campaigned for candidates in a few districts that seemed competitive but downplayed expectations beforehand.

"He tried to undersell what was going to happen tonight, but the reality is, we had a fantastic victory," Assemblyman John Wisniewski said. "He's all coat, no tail."

Christie, touted this year as a possible Republican presidential candidate, is more popular with conservatives outside the state than with many New Jerseyans, recent polls indicate. But he has been able to work with the Democratic legislature and avoided major confrontations, the newspaper said.