Democratic assemblyman wins mayoral runoff in Trenton

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- Voters in New Jersey's capital city have elected Democratic Assemblyman Reed Gusciora in a mayoral runoff election.

Gusciora defeated Democratic businessman Paul Perez. They were the top two finishers in last month's election.

Perez, who also runs a nonprofit in the city, got the most votes of the seven candidates running for the open seat. Perez garnered nearly 29 percent of the ballots cast, followed by Gusciora with about 21 percent.

But since a candidate needed more than 50 percent of the vote to earn the office outright, they were forced into the runoff. Gusciora will succeed Eric Jackson, who beat Perez for the mayoral seat in 2014 but didn't seek re-election.

Gusciora has served in the Legislature since 1996.