Polls Close In New Jersey Primary

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — The Latest on New Jersey's primaries (all times local):

8 p.m.

Polls have closed in New Jersey where Democrats and Republicans cast ballots for their party's picks for president and the U.S. House.

Tuesday's voting comes after presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has sewed up the support he needs.

An Associated Press count Monday found that Democrat Hillary Clinton has commitments from the number of delegates needed to secure her party's nomination. But opponent Bernie Sanders is still pressing ahead and urging voters for their support.

Voters also decided on who will represent the party in the Nov. 8 congressional elections. Seven of the state's 12 incumbents faced primary challengers. There were contested races between challengers in three other districts.

New Jersey was among six states where voters made their choices Tuesday.

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11:15 a.m.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says that Donald Trump has the right to express his opinion and that he's not a racist.

Christie defended the presumptive Republican nominee who has been criticized for saying U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel cannot judge him fairly because he is of Mexican heritage and Trump plans to build a wall with Mexico.

The former Republican presidential candidate previously served as U.S. attorney in New Jersey.

Christie and his son, Andrew, are delegates for Trump. They voted Tuesday at the firehouse in their hometown of Mendham. Their names are on the ballot with Trump's.

Christie told reporters that he wouldn't take questions on what he called the "judge kerfuffle."

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11:08 a.m.

Gov. Chris Christie says Donald Trump is not a racist.

The former Republican presidential candidate and his son, Andrew, who are delegates for Trump, voted Tuesday at the firehouse in their hometown of Mendham. Their names are on the ballot with Trump's.

Christie, who heads Trump's transition team, would not take questions on what he called the "judge kerfuffle." Trump has been criticized for saying U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel cannot judge him fairly because he is of Mexican heritage and Trump plans to build a wall with Mexico.

Turnout could be light because Trump has already sewed up the number of delegates needed to clinch the nomination. An Associated Press count Monday found that Hillary Clinton has commitments from the number of delegates needed to secure her party's nomination.

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10:05 a.m.

New Jersey voters will see some familiar names on their ballots when they cast votes in the state's presidential primaries.

Republican Gov. Chris Christie and former Gov. Donald DiFrancesco are among the delegates listed for Donald Trump.

Former Gov. Christie Todd Whitman is a delegate for Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who left the race in May.

Trump is the presumptive Republican presidential nominee after sewing up the number of delegates needed to clinch the nomination.

An Associated Press count Monday found that Democrat Hillary Clinton has commitments from the number of delegates needed to secure her party's nomination. But opponent Bernie Sanders is urging voters for their support.

Polls in the state close at 8 p.m.

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6 a.m.

Voting in New Jersey's primaries is underway, but will it matter when it comes to the presidential races?

Polls opened at 6 a.m. Tuesday and voters have until 8 p.m. to select the candidates who will be running in the November election.

An Associated Press count Monday found that Democrat Hillary Clinton has commitments from the number of delegates needed to secure her party's nomination. But opponent Bernie Sanders is still pressing ahead and urging voters for their support.

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has already sewed up the number of delegates needed to clinch the nomination.

New Jersey voters have choices for U.S. House, county and local races.

The state's 2.6 million unaffiliated voters can declare a party and vote in the primary. But they will then be registered under that party's affiliation.

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12:23 a.m.

New Jersey voters are heading to the polls to pick their party's candidates in 12 U.S. House races and to have their voices heard in a set of presidential primaries that appear to have already been wrapped up.

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has already sewed up the number of delegates needed to clinch the nomination. An Associated Press count Monday found that Hillary Clinton has commitments from the number of delegates needed to secure her party's nomination.

The state's closed primary is among the last contests before this summer's party conventions.

Polls in New Jersey are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Voters also will be picking their party's standard bearers in U.S. House races. There are no Senate contests in the state this year.

(© Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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