NEWARK, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy took a look back at this week’s midterm election and likes the way it turned out — at least in the Garden State. 

Murphy told reporters in Newark that he approached his role as titular head of the Democratic Party the same way former DNC chair Howard Dean dealt with that job: Build from within.

“We’ve invested historic amounts, largely through the Democratic State Committee, in strengthening local and county infrastructure all across the state. In traditionally red areas as well as the traditionally blue,” the governor said. “We’re taking a new view that it isn’t just about the places where Democrats dominate, although it is, but equally about the places where Democrats need resources to reach out and grow.”

And it worked, with 10 of the 12 congressional seats going to Democrats — maybe 11 by next week. Bob Menendez was re-elected to the Senate, and Burlington County’s freeholder board will be in Democrat control for the first time since 1975.

Then again, Murphy made 70 visits in this year’s campaign, covering every county in the state.