TOMS RIVER - Chris Simoes said she didn’t even know the name of her congressman before Donald Trump ran for president.

“I live here in Toms River and I’m really just nobody,” Simoes said.

This year, she volunteered to work on Democrat Andy Kim’s campaign against Republican incumbent Tom MacArthur in her congressional district, New Jersey’s 3rd.

Nearly 48 hours after the polls closed, the 3rd District race was still officially too close to call. Nonetheless, Kim claimed victory Wednesday night, insisting that his lead in provisional ballots — which were still being processed — was insurmountable.

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In any case, Simoes, 55, was not resting on her laurels.

She joined about 100 other progressive-minded protesters outside MacArthur’s field office at Toms River Town Hall Thursday night, to denounce Trump’s firing the day before of former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions.

Trump on Wednesday promoted political loyalist Matthew Whitaker, Sessions' chief of staff and a critic of the Justice Department's Russia investigation, as acting attorney general.

Protesters nationwide staged massive rallies to support special counsel Robert Mueller and the Russia probe, which they now fear may soon be terminated, curtailed or defunded.

The protests were part of a coordinated effort by a large number of liberal groups organized to form a “rapid response” to protect Mueller from any political interference.

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In New Jersey, rallies were planned in more than 20 cities and towns. In Monmouth County, protests were planned in Red Bank and Asbury Park — where about 20 protesters gathered across from The Asbury Hotel.

Take a look at the Toms River protesters in action in the video above.

Devon Mazza, co-chair of Action Together Ocean County, which was founded the day after the 2016 presidential election, said the organization had sought to serve as a foil to MacArthur — who had played a key role in helping fellow House Republicans in their effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare.

“So, this is kind of our two-year anniversary,” Mazza said.

Armed with placards and posters, the group marched up and down Washington Street — the seat of power in this Republican stronghold of New Jersey — chanting such slogans as: “Hey, hey, ho ho, Donald Trump has got to go!” and “Save Mueller, dump Trump!” They later sang “America the Beautiful” before going home.

Ron Desombre, 58, of Brick, said this was the first political rally of his life.

“My feeling is that the president is a con man and he’s trying to protect himself,” Desombre said. “He’s been doing that for a long time.”

Contributing: USA TODAY

Erik Larsen: 732-682-9359 or elarsen@gannettnj.com