A "blue wave" did sweep through New Jersey on Tuesday, but it wasn't just the races for control of the House and the Senate that felt the sea of change. Democrats won a number of local races in typically Republican communities, too, and one big race remains unsettled.

New Jersey Democrats played a crtical role in helping the party win back control of the US House of Repesentatives on Tuesday, flipping at least three GOP seats and finding themselves within reach of winning at least one other (see results of races below) .

"We've grown our largest Democratic majority since the Watergate era," Murphy said, noting that the party rules both houses of the state Legislature. He said turnout across the state was higher than normal. "New Jersey Democrats had a big night."

Democrats now control nearly all of the congressional districts in New Jersey for the first time in 100 years. Voters also gave Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy reason to smile, approving a $500 million referendum for schools

Here is what also happened:

The $500 million "Securing Our Children's Future Bond Act" is supposed to boost school security and tackle a number of infrastructural projects. Read more: Voters Approve $500 Million NJ School Referendum

Here's where you can find the results of congressional races:

A number of municipal races had some surprising results. Here they are:

Hostility toward President Trump possibly served as a drag on the GOP, with polls showing that Democrats were able to flip anywhere from 2 to 4 New Jersey congressional seats in the US House of Representatives that typically belong to Republicans.

New Jersey has proven to be fertile ground for Democrats largely because of two issues: the passage of a federal tax reform act, which eliminated a local deduction that was particularly helpful to the Garden State; and attempts to repeal the popular Affordable Care Act.



What happened at the polls?

There were problems across the state at various polling places.

One polling place didn't even open for more than 70 minutes, turning a long line of voters away. Voters said they actually found themselves facing a polling place that was locked and bolted shut.

Voters across New Jersey also ran into a problem with mail-in ballots on Tuesday, apparently an unintended consequence of a new state law. The law, passed in August, mandates that all voters who voted by mail in the 2016 General Election be sent a mail-in ballot for the 2018 General Election, even if they did not request one. Read more: NJ's Mail-In Ballot Law Leaves Some Wondering If Votes Will Count



A power outage caused a road closure in East Hanover, and one polling location was affected, police said. The road has since reopened.

Middlesex and Mercer counties say voting machines were down, and voters were forced to cast emergency ballots, according to nj.com. At the Perry L. Drew school in District 12 of East Windsor, officials were handing out paper ballots to a long line of voters. Some left before casting their vote.



Mercer County Board of Elections officials said the machines were being replaced at 10:30 a.m., and all voters had to cast emergency ballots, which will be counted.



The nonstop pouring rain did not keep voters home in what could be a record turnout midterm election. Even with the various issues facing local communities, President Trump was on their minds.



In Secaucus, some shouted out, "Dump Trump!" while others walked in right beside them and excitedly said they think Trump is doing an excellent job.

"We are total Republicans and Trump has done everything right. We're voting for (Republican Bob) Hugin," said New Jersey resident Lorraine Luzzo, 82, with her husband, Louis.

"The economy is doing well, there are jobs, patriotism is back in our country," she said.

Others had clearly different views

"President Dump, as I call him, is hands-down the worst president we've had in a long time," said New Jersey resident Steve Laspina, 64. "He is ... an embarrassment to our country. I'm embarrassed by his racist policies and what he says."

"I agree!," said a woman walking by. "He is immoral, he's terrible."

Key races

US Senate

Front-and center was the surprisingly competitive US Senate race between Menendez and Hugin, a former drug company executive.

Though Menendez has polled better recently, the Democrat been dogged by corruption accusations for years, and a federal trial that ended with a deadlocked jury last year has done little to change those perceptions. Indeed, Hugin has spent millions of dollars reminding voters about the trial.

Menendez was charged with conspiring with Salomon Melgen, a Florida ophthalmologist, in an alleged bribery and corruption scandal that involved gifts and campaign contributions. Menendez, on the other hand, has attacked Hugin for running a company that allegedly gouged the public by charging exhorbitant prices for cancer drugs.

U.S. House of Representatives Races

New Jersey is historically a blue state but there are a few key Congressional races which could help determine the balance of power for the next two years.

New Jersey's current delegation of 12 includes seven Democrats and five Republicans. After Tuesday, those numbers will change to 10 Democrats, one Republican and one seat unsettled.

In the US House, there are currently 235 Republicans and 193 Democrats, and seven vacancies. In Tuesday's election, Democrats were expected to have about 230 seats.

District 11

One of the seats Democrats hoped to flip is District 11, where Sherrill was running against Webber. District 11, which is largely in Morris and Essex counties, has long been considered a solidly Republican district, and this is the first time in decades that there is a competitive race there.

Current Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, the chair of the House Committee on Appropriations, has held the seat since 1995; the seat was last held by a Democrat in the mid 1980s.

District 2

Another seat that Democrats hope to flip is District 2, where Van Drew won a tight race.

The Second Congressional District includes Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Salem counties, and parts of Burlington, Camden, Gloucester and Ocean counties.



Van Drew's win reflects the evolving political makeup of the congressional district that has sent a Republican to Congress – Frank LoBiondo -- for the past 24 years. LoBiondo is retiring.

District 3

In the traditionally GOP 3rd District, Kim ran a surprisingly competitive race against inclumbent MacArthur, who has champion a number of President Trump's causes.

In this district, which spans parts of Ocean and Burlington counties, MacArthur has been criticized for his efforts to eliminate the Affordable Care Act and pass a tax cut that's been viewed as harmful to New Jerseyans.

District 7

In District 7, Malinowski, a Democrat, ran a surprisingly successful race against Lance, a Republican.

Malinowski has criticzed Lance for his positions on healthcare, immigration, gun control and taxes, even though Lance has mostly sided with Democrats on those issues over the past year.

$500 Million School Bond Referendum



Voters approved the $500 million "Securing Our Children's Future Bond Act" that's supposed to boost school security, improve water safety and and expand programs at community colleges and vocational schools. The referendum will be held on Election Day, Nov. 6.



Though lawmakers haven't provided specifics on how the money will be spent, they did say the school security portion of the legislation was inspired by the mass shootings in Parkland, Fla. earlier this year.

"Nothing is more important than the safety of our schoolchildren," said Senate President Steve Sweeney. "The horror of school shootings from Newtown, Ct. in 2012 to Parkland, Fla. makes it clear that we need to do everything we can to make our schools safe, and that includes improving the security of our school buildings."

Here are the vote tallies:

Photo: Some 30 million Americans have already cast their ballots in Tuesday's midterm election. In this photo, voters in Cincinnati wait to cast their ballots Sunday at the Hamilton County Board of Elections (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

Photo of New Providence by Eileen B. @ebushelow

