November 4, 2009 Christie: 'Hey, New Jersey, we did it!' Play video

(NECN: Trenton, N.J.) - Republican Chris Christie defeated Gov. Jon Corzine (D) in New Jersey, despite the campaign help from President Barack Obama.

Christie, 47, became the first member of his party in a dozen years to win a stateside contest in the heavily Democratic state. With 97 percent of precincts reporting, Christie had 49 percent of the vote compared to 44 percent for Corzine. Independent candidate Chris Daggett, who at one point had been feared as a potential spoiler, had about 5 percent.

At the outset of his victory speech, he said, "Hey, New Jersey, we did it." That drew chants of "Yes we did."

The governor-elect told the crowd that Gov. Corzine promised a smooth transition from his administration to the next.

"The governor's call was gracious. I thanked him for his years of service to the state. He pledged a smooth transition to the new Christie-Guadagno administration," Christie said.

As he initially announced that Gov. Corzine had called to congratulate him, some supporters began chanting, "Nah, nah, nah, nah..." in the famed chant which ends, "goodbye!". Governor-elect Christie immediately asked those members of the crowd to stop.

Material from The Associated Press used in this report.