The Latest: 'The doctor is in,' Virginia's new governor says

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The Latest on the governor's race in Virginia: (all times local):

8:10 a.m.

Virginia's governor-elect Democrat Ralph Northam is assuring residents that the state will be inclusive as long as he holds that position.

Northam, a pediatric neurologist and Army veteran, defeated longtime Republican operative Ed Gillespie in Tuesday's election, a bruising contest that tested the power of President Donald Trump's fiery nationalism against the energy the energy of the Trump resistance.

"I'm here to let you know the doctor is in," a smiling Northam told supporters in suburban Washington, D.C., gathered for his victory speech.

And he added, "Virginia has told us to end the divisiveness, that we do not condone hatred and bigotry and to end the politics that have torn this country apart."

Gillespie told his supporters that he had called Northam to congratulate him. He called his former opponent in the hard-fought race "a good man," adding that he wishes him nothing but the best.

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3:30 a.m.

Democrat Ralph Northam has seized his party's first major Trump-era victory, beating back a charge from Republican Ed Gillespie in the race for Virginia governor.

The bruising election tested the power of President Donald Trump's fiery nationalism against the energy of the Trump resistance. In Virginia, like in several contests across America on Tuesday, the Trump resistance won. And it wasn't close.

Democrats also scored victories in the race for New Jersey governor. The Democratic mayors of New York and Boston also won re-election easily. And Virginia voters elected the state's first openly-transgender state representative.

The resounding victories marked the GOP's most significant day of defeat in the young Trump presidency and a rebuke to the president himself as his party eyes a suddenly more threatening 2018 midterm election season.