Jack Ciattarelli slammed Governor Phil Murphy over his 'premature' victory speech and says he will not concede in New Jersey's gubernatorial race until all 21 counties finish counting ballots.
'The governor's victory speech last night was premature,' the Republican said in a 'Jack Chat' video posted to Twitter Thursday.
'No one should be declaring victory or conceding the election until every legal vote is counted.'
Murphy, an incumbent Democrat, won reelection in the reliably blue state by a razor-thin margin of less than 1 percent out of 2.4 million ballots counted.
Ciattarelli argues that 'there are still tens of thousands of vote-by-mail and provisional ballots yet to be counted' and that no one should claim victory or concede until that process is complete - which could take weeks.
He said that any 'decision on a recount or audit' would be made after the completion of the counting process.
Jack Ciattarelli (pictured giving a 'Jack Chat' video update Thursday) slammed Governor Phil Murphy in a social media video, saying his victory speech was 'premature'
The GOP candidate also shared that his legal and political teams are watching over the counting and doing everything in their to ensure that 'whatever the outcome, this election will be legal and fair'.
Ciattarelli advised his supporters not to fall victim to conspiracies and asked anyone with evidence of election fraud to call the voter integrity hotline.
'I don't want people falling victim to wild conspiracy theories or online rumors,' he said. 'While consideration is paid to any and all credible reports, please don't believe everything you see or read online.'
The closeness of the race made the election a surprise nail-biter.
'Two days ago shockwaves were sent throughout our state and the national political world, all because a Republican was in the position to win the race for governor here in New Jersey,' Ciattarelli said in his Thursday video.
'Despite what the polls, press and pundits were saying, I knew I could win. Why? Because every time a governor of this state has taken us too far off track, the decent, hardworking people of New Jersey have always risen up and said 'that's not where we want to go.''
The GOP candidate says he will not concede to Gov. Murphy (pictured on Election Day) in the gubernatorial race until all 21
