Low voter turnout and wet weather early transformed into a better than expected Election Day turnout in the sunnier late afternoon and early evening as the favorites conquered their rivals.

Total turnout came to 705,000 by the time the election was over – a much better number than morning apathy indicated.

Neither party nominee for governor unofficially received 50% of the vote total. But the totals on the Democratic side reflected some energy in a blue state where D’s outnumber R’s by almost 800,000.

Unofficially, and without all precincts reporting, Dems had a turnout totaling 475,051*, compared to 230,571 for the GOP.

A more up to date and completed graph than the one at the bottom of the page is reprinted below:

Had either Wisniewski or Johnson bowed out of the race, the alternative left standing would have given Murphy a real contest – or so the numbers below suggest.

That said, Murphy and Guadagno handled their opponents.

Wisniewski and Johnson together outspent the Democratic front-runner on television in the closing days.

Finally, Hirsh Singh made a statement with a late money ad buy, coming in third in front of the busier early Rulloand Rogers.