BRIDGEWATER – “I’m here to tell you that we’re winning,” Jack Ciattarelli said a few minutes ago.

He said that when every vote is counted he’s confident he’ll be able to say, “We won.”

He noted that “Phil Murphy’s headquarters is empty.”

It was an odd speech – a victory speech that wasn’t yet a victory speech.

But it was an emotional speech. He talked about his father being born and raised just a few miles away in Raritan.

The crowd chanted “Jack, Jack, Jack.”

Ciattarelli looked ahead, saying it was time for planning.

“Some time real soon, we’re going to do this again,” he said. “Hang in there with me.”