New Jersey Governor's Race Heats up With New Candidate

Competition to succeed Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie in next year's election is ratcheting up.

The race took a turn this week when Democratic Assemblyman John Wisniewski announced his candidacy for the June primary.

Wisniewski carved out a name for himself leading the legislative investigation into the George Washington Bridge scandal.

He joins the race after Democrat Phil Murphy consolidated considerable support within the party including from key party chairmen and lawmakers. Murphy is a onetime Goldman Sachs executive and Obama administration diplomat. He loaned his campaign $10 million.

Murphy's position is strong, but Wisniewski is staking his candidacy on a potent example: the national Democratic Party's backing of establishment favorite Hillary Clinton over Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Christie is prevented by term limits from running again.