Republican Glenn Youngkin defeated Democrat Terry McAuliffe in the tight Virginia gubernatorial race in a crushing blow to Democrats across the U.S.
In his victory speech, Youngkin said he would start “transformation on day one” and promised “choice within the public school system” – a key debate in the race.
While speaking to reporters Wednesday, President Joe Biden said it was high Republican turnout, not the lack of action on his infrastructure and reconciliation bills, that flipped the state.
“I think it should have passed before Election Day, but I’m not sure that I would have been able to have changed the number of very conservative folks who turned out in the red districts who are Trump voters, but maybe, maybe,” Biden told reporters following his remarks on the approval of COVID-19 vaccines for children.
The race is widely seen as a preview for the 2022 midterms and an indication of where the country’s politics stand a year after Joe Biden’s victory over Donald Trump in the presidential election.
Biden said he knows “people want us to get things done,” noting that Americans are “upset and uncertain” about COVID-19, schools, jobs and the cost of gasoline.
“That’s why I am continuing to push very hard for the Democratic Party to move along and pass my infrastructure bill and Build Back Better bill,” he said, adding that many of those issues will be “ameliorated quickly and swiftly” if he is able to sign those bills into law.
Meanwhile, in New Jersey, Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli and Democratic incumbent Phil Murphy are caught in a dead heat. Ciattarelli is already on track to flip several counties that voted for Biden last year.
In a statement, a campaign spokeswoman said Tuesday was a “historic night for New Jersey Republican,” as the GOP won seats in state and local elections.
Republican Glenn Youngkin defeated Democrat Terry McAuliffe in the tight Virginia gubernatorial race in a crushing blow to Democrats across the U.S.
In his victory speech, Youngkin said he would start “transformation on day one” and promised “choice within the public school system” – a key debate in the race.
While speaking to reporters Wednesday, President Joe Biden said it was high Republican turnout, not the lack of action on his infrastructure and reconciliation bills, that flipped the state.
“I think it should have passed before Election Day, but I’m not sure that I would have been able to have changed the number of very conservative folks who turned out in the red districts who are Trump voters, but maybe, maybe,” Biden told reporters following his remarks on the approval of COVID-19 vaccines for children.
The race is widely seen as a preview for the 2022 midterms and an indication of where the country’s politics stand a year after Joe Biden’s victory over Donald Trump in the presidential election.
Biden said he knows “people want us to get things done,” noting that Americans are “upset and uncertain” about COVID-19, schools, jobs and the cost of gasoline.
“That’s why I am continuing to push very hard for the Democratic Party to move along and pass my infrastructure bill and Build Back Better bill,” he said, adding that many of those issues will be “ameliorated quickly and swiftly” if he is able to sign those bills into law.
Meanwhile, in New Jersey, Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli and Democratic incumbent Phil Murphy are caught in a dead heat. Ciattarelli is already on track to flip several counties that voted for Biden last year.
In a statement, a campaign spokeswoman said Tuesday was a “historic night for New Jersey Republican,” as the GOP won seats in state and local elections.
Republican Glenn Youngkin defeated Democrat Terry McAuliffe in the tight Virginia gubernatorial race in a crushing blow to Democrats across the U.S.
In his victory speech, Youngkin said he would start “transformation on day one” and promised “choice within the public school system” – a key debate in the race.
While speaking to reporters Wednesday, President Joe Biden said it was high Republican turnout, not the lack of action on his infrastructure and reconciliation bills, that flipped the state.
“I think it should have passed before Election Day, but I’m not sure that I would have been able to have changed the number of very conservative folks who turned out in the red districts who are Trump voters, but maybe, maybe,” Biden told reporters following his remarks on the approval of COVID-19 vaccines for children.
The race is widely seen as a preview for the 2022 midterms and an indication of where the country’s politics stand a year after Joe Biden’s victory over Donald Trump in the presidential election.
Biden said he knows “people want us to get things done,” noting that Americans are “upset and uncertain” about COVID-19, schools, jobs and the cost of gasoline.
“That’s why I am continuing to push very hard for the Democratic Party to move along and pass my infrastructure bill and Build Back Better bill,” he said, adding that many of those issues will be “ameliorated quickly and swiftly” if he is able to sign those bills into law.
Meanwhile, in New Jersey, Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli and Democratic incumbent Phil Murphy are caught in a dead heat. Ciattarelli is already on track to flip several counties that voted for Biden last year.
In a statement, a campaign spokeswoman said Tuesday was a “historic night for New Jersey Republican,” as the GOP won seats in state and local elections.
Republican Glenn Youngkin defeated Democrat Terry McAuliffe in the tight Virginia gubernatorial race in a crushing blow to Democrats across the U.S.
In his victory speech, Youngkin said he would start “transformation on day one” and promised “choice within the public school system” – a key debate in the race.
While speaking to reporters Wednesday, President Joe Biden said it was high Republican turnout, not the lack of action on his infrastructure and reconciliation bills, that flipped the state.
“I think it should have passed before Election Day, but I’m not sure that I would have been able to have changed the number of very conservative folks who turned out in the red districts who are Trump voters, but maybe, maybe,” Biden told reporters following his remarks on the approval of COVID-19 vaccines for children.
The race is widely seen as a preview for the 2022 midterms and an indication of where the country’s politics stand a year after Joe Biden’s victory over Donald Trump in the presidential election.
Biden said he knows “people want us to get things done,” noting that Americans are “upset and uncertain” about COVID-19, schools, jobs and the cost of gasoline.
“That’s why I am continuing to push very hard for the Democratic Party to move along and pass my infrastructure bill and Build Back Better bill,” he said, adding that many of those issues will be “ameliorated quickly and swiftly” if he is able to sign those bills into law.
Meanwhile, in New Jersey, Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli and Democratic incumbent Phil Murphy are caught in a dead heat. Ciattarelli is already on track to flip several counties that voted for Biden last year. The Associated Press declared Murphy the winner on Wednesday afternoon, but the GOP is already challenging any results.
In a sentencing memo filed in her case, a prosecutor also suggests a $500 fine for Rasha Abual-Ragheb. The Fairfield resident pleaded guilty in August to parading, demonstrating or picketing in the Capitol – a misdemeanor.
She is scheduled to be sentenced next week, in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C. Her lawyer will argue for no time behind bars.
The memo in Abual-Ragheb’s case, filed this past weekend, comes a few days after the court’s chief judge, Beryl Howell, criticized federal prosecutors on Jan. 6 cases for offering weak plea bargains of misdemeanors to some of the hundreds of defendants charged with nonviolence at the riot.
The resulting pleas are tying the hands of judges from giving them stiffer sentences, said Howell, according to CNN. The judge said some of prosecutors’ decisions were “baffling” and “peculiar” for a case – an insurrection, she said, that was the “crime of the century.”
The chief judge’s remarks came in a case in which a defendant had already pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor, and prosecutors suggested he be sentenced to three months behind bars, CNN reported. The charge carries a maximum of six months – as does Abual-Ragheb’s charge.
Howell, though, went lower, sentencing that suspect to three months of house arrest and three years of probation, to comply with prosecutors recommending probation for other rioters in comparable situations, and that federal judges are required to give similar punishments in similar cases, CNN explained.
Facebook posts of Rasha Abual-Ragheb, known as Rasha Abu, surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.(Photos provided by the FBI)
In Abual-Ragheb’s case, prosecutors are arguing for 30 days in jail to send a message of deterrence, even though her case would suggest non incarceration.
The prosecutor wrote in the memo that Abual-Ragheb has told federal probation authorities that she, “has a difficult life, suffering abuse both as a child and an adult. She is also raising two minor children as the sole custodial parent.”
And she has no prior contacts with law enforcement as an accused, and did not engage in any violence on Jan. 6 and did not damage any property.
“Although her time inside the building was brief—approximately 2 and a 1/2 minutes—while inside she posed proudly for a photograph, which she posted on social media later that night,” the memo says.
“Most significantly, [Abual-Ragheb] used social media to spread false information about the 2020 Presidential election and repeatedly endorsed violence. In one particular post she urged others to bring firearms with them when they went to D.C. on January 6. And after the riot she defiantly announced on social media that she was ready to ‘burn’ America.”
“When finally arrested, on January 19, 2021, she insisted she had done nothing wrong,” the memo says.
Before the riot, Abual-Ragheb posted on social media that if Trump did not win, it would be a “civil war” and indicated a willingness to engage in violence.
Words matter, prosecutors say.
“These statements demonstrate that specific deterrence is an appropriate consideration in this case,” they say in the memo.
Prosecutors say Jan. 6 defendants will face a wide range of punishment, from probation to years in prison, and urged the judge in Abual-Ragheb’s case, Carl J. Nichols, to sentence her based on her circumstances. While she only entered the Capitol, a short jail sentence is warranted, they said.
And, prosecutors say, cognizant of other cases, they are asking Nichols to heed the words of another federal judge hearing Jan. 6 cases, Judge Royce Lamberth, who said in another case: “I don’t want to create the impression that probation is the automatic outcome here because it’s not going to be.”
Abual-Ragheb’s lawyer, Washington D.C.-area defense attorney Elita C. Amato, said her client showed up to the rally wearing a tutu.
“She was not prepared for a civil war nor intended to be a part of one,” Amato told NJ Advance Media. “I will be opposing any jail time for Rasha. It is not warranted in this situation.”
Abual-Ragheb was the second New Jersey resident to plead guilty for a role in the attack on the U.S. Capitol. Earlier in August, Scott Fairlamb, of Sussex County, pleaded guilty to assaulting police and obstruction. He is also scheduled to be sentenced next week.
In all, 24 people who live or have strong connections to the Garden State have been charged in the Capitol attack.
The FBI says this picture of Rasha Abual-Ragheb, known as Rasha Abu, was taken in Washington, D.C. after the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol.(Photos provided by the FBI)
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Polls are once again open. Welcome to the most competitive gubernatorial election since 2009!
It’s a race where you can easily see reassurances, no matter who you want to win. For Murphy supporters it’s a million more registered Democrats, public polling consistently in the governor’s favor, Democrats’ cushion of hundreds of thousands of mail-in ballots and a normally-fractious Democratic Party at least acting unified.
For Ciattarelli supporters: A national mood that has swung against President Joe Biden, voter registration gains on Democrats (Republicans gained over 1,000 voters last month while Democrats lost almost 1,000), a strong showing from Ocean and Monmouth Counties for in-person early voting, late enthusiasm for the candidate and a hope that New Jersey polls are off because of bad state-level polling elsewhere in 2020. For Ciattarelli fans, this has the makings of an upset that most don’t see coming. They’ve also had a few polls from conservative outfits that show a closer race, but since those polls don’t share their full questions, crosstabs, etc., I’m not going to include them here.
No matter what happens tonight, the signs were there. If we know the result tomorrow morning, I’ll pretend I told you which signs to look at all along.
WHERE’S MURPHY? Two campaign events during the day: 9:30 a.m. in Cherry Hill and 11:45 a.m. in Newark, then in Asbury Park for the results. Ciattarelli will be in Bridgewater for the results.
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “Ciattarelli is the kind of Republican who, on paper and under the right circumstances, can be competitive in New Jersey … Going up against an incumbent with an approval above 50%, I think, creates a barrier [for Ciattarelli] that is not there for Youngkin in Virginia.” — Steve Kornacki
INTO THE WEEDS — A short election eve dispatch from Daniel Han: Ciattarelli spent yesterday touring small businesses across north and central Jersey — in keeping with his “Main Street” campaign message and promise to improve the state’s business climate. Murphy waded into friendly territory in Union City — which featured an abundance of state Senator/Mayor Brian Stack portraits and fewer Murphy signs — and then South Orange. Both candidates stuck to their talking points throughout. At Carteret bar, Ciattarelli assured one first responder they would not face an absolute vaccine mandate if he were governor, and promised another supporter to freeze property taxes automatically at age 65. Murphy touted a full pension payment and listed off his progressive accomplishments during his rallies, from strict environmental regulations to legalized cannabis (the latter of which could be smelled in the crowd). “Even in the midst of the overwhelming tragedy of this pandemic folks, it is sunrise in New Jersey,” Murphy said in South Orange.
WHAT TO WATCH — Governor’s race and other things to watch on Election Day, by POLITICO’s Katherine Landergan and Matt Friedman: It’s Election Day in New Jersey, with the race between incumbent Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy and Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli at the top of the ticket. Most opinion polls give Murphy a lead of between 6 points and 11 points. Should he defeat Ciattarelli, a former three-term member of the General Assembly, Murphy would be the first Democratic governor reelected in four decades. A Ciattarelli victory in deep-blue New Jersey would send shock waves through Trenton, which has been controlled by the Democrats for the past four years. It would also have national implications for the 2022 midterm elections, possibly foreshadowing disaster for Democrats. In addition to the governor’s race, all 120 seats in the state Legislature are on the ballot. Voters will also be asked two public questions to expand New Jersey‘s gambling laws.
YOU DO NOT WANT STACK TO FEEL BERNED — “Stack versus Sanders as time ticks down in Murphy world,” by InsiderNJ’s Max Pizarro: “It started last week when Stack – who serves as the mayor of his Hudson County city an specializes in generating massive election numbers – got a call last week from Murphy’s inner sanctum. The governor wouldn’t be able to make a scheduled rally with Stack on his home turf. Why the hell not? Bernie Sanders would be in town, stumping for Murphy. It was almost too much to comprehend. Stack turns human bodies into vote totals for whomever he designates emperor of the realm … It takes a lot of time, money, energy and organization to put together a big, governor-sized rally. Murphy throwing over Stack for Bernie was the New Jersey version of giving the mayor of Boston the finger in order to stand next to Ben Affleck … The Murphy camp and Stack managed to reschedule the event for tonight … He didn’t want to be a Star … Stack just wanted to be politically locally grounded, and strictly observant of protocols, and true to one’s word. For Murphy’s part, his allies could high five with the rationalization that while moderates and progressives push and shove in Washington, D.C. with no end in sight, they have a campaign that could accommodate progressive Vermont socialist Sanders and raging broom handle-job providing pragmatist Stack, literally the son of a public transit worker.”
GOLD SACKS — State funding, new projects abound as Murphy rounds out campaign, by POLITICO’s Sam Sutton: One of Gov. Phil Murphy’s strongest advantages in the final days of the 2021 gubernatorial race can be summed up in three words: He’s the governor. In between campaign events, the New Jersey Democrat in recent weeks has announced billions of dollars in additional state and federal funding for everything from child care programs to transportation grants. He‘s attended groundbreaking ceremonies for a $250 million wind port, a $283 million high school in Perth Amboy and a $300 million multi-hyphenate tech village in Jersey City. And then there were the VIP visits: President Joe Biden was in Kearny last week as construction began on a new, $1.6 billion Portal North Bridge that will ease congested commuter lines into New York City
THE CRASSROOTS — “New Jersey GOP focuses on bottom of the ticket school board races to drive voter turnout,” by The Record’s Matt Fagan: “New Jersey Republicans are increasingly seeing an opportunity to make political gains by targeting their message to parents disgruntled with mask and/or vaccine mandates as well as to those that object to the state’s new inclusion and equity curricula requirements.of the ticket school board races to drive voter turnout … While typically low-key and often uncontested, in 2021 races for nonpartisan school boards seats have often turned into angry campaigns as parents and elected officials plunged into a maelstrom of debate about masks, vaccines and curriculum … This year, Bergen has 317 candidates for 191 seats, a ratio of 1.66 per open seat. In 2020, Bergen had 211 candidates for 156 open seats for a ratio of 1.35. In 2021 Passaic County has 92 candidates for 53 open seats—a ratio of 1.74 vs. 2020’s 1.45 ratio with 68 candidates for 47 seats. Statewide there are 2,174 candidates vying for 1,594 seats, a ratio of 1.36 in 2021 vs. a 1.26 ratio in 2020. While this year is not highest, it is creeping toward the last peak 1.44 candidates in 2011.”
BECAUSE I WANT TO CONTRADICT MY OWN ARTICLE FROM YESTERDAY — “How New Jersey may prove some politics still is local,” by CNN’s Harry Enten: “You may not have heard much about the election in the Garden State between incumbent Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy and Republican Jack Ciattarelli. One big reason why: In an era in which many non-presidential elections, like Virginia’s, have clear national implications, the race in New Jersey looks like it’ll prove that some politics is still local … I went back and looked at the gubernatorial elections in the year before and year of every midterm since 2010. The past presidential vote in each state was not statistically significantly correlated with the governor’s result, once you controlled for incumbency. In other words, it didn’t really matter on average what the tilt of a state was on the presidential level, when voters had a record to judge the incumbent governor on.”
A HOME RUN ON A LITTLE LEAGUE FIELD — About 3 percent of eligible New Jerseyans voted early in-person, by POLITICO’s Matt Friedman: New Jersey’s first-ever period of in-person early voting on machines is over, and 207,863 people took advantage of it, Secretary of State Tahesha Way said Monday. That accounts for just over 3 percent of New Jersey’s nearly 6.6 million registered voters. Nevertheless, during a press conference in Trenton on Monday, Gov. Phil Murphy called the program “a home run as far as I’m concerned.” Murphy signed the law enacting in-person early voting in March, requiring counties to set up several polling places within their borders. It ran from Oct. 23 through Oct. 31.
GRAY POTPAYA — “Possessing marijuana is legal in N.J. but these ‘gray’ market operators got busted,” by NJ Advance Media’s Susan K. Livio: ”Six months ago, Dan Kessel of Berkeley Township talked openly about Bud Hub, the cannabis gifting and delivery business he ran with his sister, almost daring law enforcement authorities to investigate and musing about ‘my goal to be legal.’ Today, Kessel sits in the Ocean County Correctional Facility where he’s been held without bail since Oct. 20. Berkeley Township Police arrested him on money laundering and marijuana distribution charges. They confiscated his jeep, with its Bud Hub signage, $400,000 in cash and an unknown quantity of marijuana from his Berkeley home and a property in Toms River. Kessel, 36, is the latest person to be caught operating in the ‘grah’ cannabis market — the sale of goods and services that are technically legal, but are not authorized to be sold.”
400 MASTROS — “NJ Transit should get $3.6B in federal aid, but N.Y. is holding it up,” by NJ Advance Media’s Larry Higgs: “The day of reckoning could be approaching for NJ Transit riders as the agency has used all of two types of federal transit coronavirus aid it’s received, and is blocked from using $3.6 billion in other federal money it is supposed to receive, but is held up due to a stalemate with New York state. Gov. Phil Murphy could use what he called the ‘nuclear option’ to force New York to free up that money, but declined to say whether he would when asked by NJ Advance Media at a press conference on Monday. The dispute? New York doesn’t want to accept the same federal formula 47 other states used to divide COVID-19 funds intended to keep trains and buses rolling as transit systems recover. Instead, it wants $637 million more in federal COVID-19 transit aid than New Jersey and Connecticut, blocking the other states from accessing the all the funds. The nuclear option would be vetoing the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s meeting minutes, which would slam the brakes on any business the Authority’s board approved that month.”
SAVED BY THE JEFF BELL — “Generation Trump Meet N.J.’s young Republicans. Many are not who you think they are,” by NJ Advance Media’s Matthew Stanmyre:“Call it Generation Trump — the legion of young Republicans who define themselves by former President Donald Trump or cut their political teeth during his rise to power. It is emerging as a formidable bloc within the New Jersey party, whether its disciples are galvanized behind the conservative polestar that is Trump or merely support many of his policies, if not his brand of divisive politics. But they’re not necessarily Trump clones. Some are the children of immigrants. Many support the LGBTQ community, are at least open-minded on abortion, and believe in climate change and its destructive impact on the environment. And a good number view Trump not as the messiah, but rather one of several voices within the party. ‘It is a split,’ Zachary Wilson, vice-chairman of the New Jersey College Republicans and a student at Stockton University, said of young conservative support for Trump. ‘I see him as a leader of the future of the Republican party, and not the leader.’ … Most don’t resemble the young Republican caricature, the Zack Morris look-a-like with the sweater wrapped around his shoulders driving a convertible, or the angry, disaffected white man who blames minorities and the LGBTQ community for his problems.”
MILLBURNED — “After the flood, it’s not just ‘about the coming back’,” by Kevin Armstrong for The New York Times: “Unable to push the restaurant’s front door open, [Kevin Cao] told his five employees to leave everything and led them to a back room, where he climbed atop a refrigerator and pushed up ceiling tiles. They climbed into the ceiling’s crawl space and scrambled over to HighLine Fashion, a neighboring store. Mr. Cao tore open the ceiling there and descended a ladder into a restroom. They waded through chest-high water to the front door to escape … Merchants must be nimble in Millburn. The river once powered a paper mill, but following Ida’s flash flooding, retailers and restaurateurs are gauging how much more water they can absorb in the affluent town’s flood zone, where they peddle everything from hemp to hibachi chicken. Forever competing with high-end stores at the Mall at Short Hills, Main Street business owners are re-evaluating their models and insurance plans as fears of more frequent flooding grow in Ida’s wake.”
LITERAL ASTROTURFING — “Local ballot questions pit neighbor against neighbor across N.J.,” by New Jersey Monitor’s Dana DiFilippo, Sophie Nietu-Munoz and Nikita Biryukov: “Long-simmering tensions boiled over in Maplewood this year as residents began a battle over the fate of DeHart Park and its beleaguered grass field, the only open space in this Essex County township’s least affluent and least white census tract. The battle was last waged in 2008, when residents narrowly rejected replacing the grass at DeHart with artificial turf, a move that left resentment burning for a little more than a decade, even as the DeHart field grew ever more dilapidated. Now, a resident-driven petition drive has begun a repeat fight the Township Committee sought to avoid when it approved a $1.8 million bond for turfing DeHart in a 4-1 vote this July … Teaneck, voters will decide whether to move their nonpartisan municipal elections from May to November. ‘Donald Trump unfortunately made politics nastier than it already was. A lot of people unfortunately subscribe to that sort of politics, regardless of party,’ said Mike Pagan, a first-term Teaneck councilman. Spring used to be the traditional time for nonpartisan municipal elections in New Jersey until a 2011 law allowed towns to move them to November.”
INSERT SUCCESSION JOKE HERE — Rutgers-Camden faculty Senate considering ’no confidence’ vote against chancellor, by POLITICO’s Carly Sitrin: Members of Rutgers University-Camden’s faculty Senate for the School of Arts and Sciences are weighing the possibility of a “no confidence” vote against new Chancellor Antonio Tillis after the removal of a dean from his post. Howard Marchitello, dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, spoke publicly about his dismissal for the first time during the faculty Senate’s meeting on Monday, calling his firing “insulting” and unexpected. “There were no discussions or communications with me, formal or informal regarding my performance or suitability as dean prior to my dismissal,” Marchitello said. “Summary dismissal mid-semester is punitive, and is meant to humiliate. Dismissal from a deanship is effectively the end of an administrative career. ” Rutgers-Camden Provost Dan Hart emailed faculty and staff on Oct. 27, signaling Marchitello’s removal as dean and his return to the faculty.
THUNDERDOME DEATH MATCH BETWEEN URBAN AND RURAL ATV RIDERS IS THE ONLY SOLUTION — “’Destroyed in the blink of an eye.’ Off-roaders are hurting Pinelands. What can be done?” by The Asbury Park Press’ Jerry Carino: “The sandy “road” to Mount Tabor, one of the highest peaks in the Pine Barrens, is littered with ditches that could swallow a sedan whole. Fortunately, Jason Howell’s truck was up to the task. “The last time I was here (a year ago), this was not a thing,” Howell said. “We did not have to deal with this.” He’s referring to the erosion caused by off-roaders, whose illegal, wheel-spinning joyrides have pockmarked Colliers Mills Wildlife Management Area and other swaths of the Pinelands. Mount Tabor is a salient example. This natural wonder, one of the precious spots in the Pine Barrens where you can see over treetops, is scarred on all sides by a half-dozen trenches that run three four deep and wide enough for monster trucks to careen up and over the hill.”
NEW JERSEY — Below you will find the most up-to-date information on coronavirus news impacting New Jersey. You can find additional resources and coverage on our coronavirus page.
Vaccinated just as likely to spread delta variant within household as unvaccinated: study
People who have received COVID-19 vaccinations are able to spread the delta variant within their household just as easily as unvaccinated individuals, a new study published on Friday, Oct. 29, shows.
Child tax credit 2022: What we know so far
As inner-party conflict continues to shave off elements of President Joe Biden’s sweeping domestic policy package, there may be good news for parents. While it’s unclear what the ultimate bill will include, Democrats arrived at a framework Thursday, Oct. 28, that included a one-year extension of the expanded child tax credit.
Moderna says its low-dose COVID shot safe, effective for kids 6 to 11
FDA says Pfizer COVID vaccine looks effective for young kids
Federal health regulators said late Friday, Oct. 22, that kid-size doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine appear highly effective at preventing symptomatic infections in elementary school children and caused no unexpected safety issues, as the U.S. weighs beginning vaccinations in youngsters.
NJ among top vaccinated states in U.S.
New Jersey is among the top 10 states in the country with the highest COVID-19 vaccination rates at 74%. Helping to lead the charge is Paterson, which has a 90% vaccination rate.
COVID vaccine mandate for state workers, teachers begins
Many state employees returned to in-person work on Monday, Oct. 18, the same day Gov. Phil Murphy’s requirement for them to either be vaccinated against COVID-19 or submit to regular virus testing went into effect. The vaccine or test mandate also applies to teachers in New Jersey.
IRS sending October installment of child tax credit after delay in September
Families across the country are starting to receive their October child tax credit. The IRS says the program’s fourth monthly payment is already hitting Americans’ bank accounts after a technical issue last month caused delays for some recipients.
New COVID safety guidance for the holidays released by the CDC
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention released updated COVID-19 safety guidance for the holiday season on Friday, Oct. 15, including getting vaccinated, wearing a mask indoors if you’re not vaccinated and avoiding crowded and poorly ventilated spaces.
Rutgers team tries to understand ‘brain fog’ COVID connection
Dr. William Hu, the Chief of the Division of Cognitive Neurology at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, is leading a team trying to figure out what brain fog is and how it’s connected to COVID-19.
FDA endorsement essentially calls for Johnson & Johnson to be 2-shot vaccine
An FDA panel unanimously recommended a Johnson and Johnson booster vaccine on Friday, Oct. 15. The terms of the endorsement essentially call for the J&J COVID-19 vaccine to be a two-dose shot, rather than the one-dose shot for which it’s been known since it first got emergency use authorization last spring.
The panel called for a second shot to be available to people 18 and older, at least two months after the first shot.
FDA panel recommends Moderna booster shot, but the process isn’t over
A panel of medical experts affiliated with the Food and Drug Administration endorsed a COVID vaccine booster from Moderna on Thursday, Oct. 14. The panel recommended a half dose as a booster.
Need to be vaccinated by Thanksgiving, Hanukkah or Christmas? Here are the deadlines
People who want to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Thanksgiving, Hanukkah or Christmas are running out of time. Two of the three vaccines available in the U.S. require two doses spread weeks apart and a waiting period once the shots have been administered.
Vice President Kamala Harris visits NJ day care, vaccination site
Vice President Kamala Harris made a stop in New Jersey on Friday, Oct. 8, to discuss the state’s latest vaccination efforts. She visited a day care center to highlight child care provisions in the president’s spending proposal as well as a vaccination site at Essex Community College.
Children will feel impact of pandemic on mental health for years: UNICEF report
UNICEF released a critical report on Friday, Oct. 8, which found that children and young people could feel the impact of the pandemic on their mental health for many years to come.
COVID vaccine for kids: Doctor answers your questions
The Pfizer vaccine for kids could be on the market in about a month after the drug maker filed for FDA authorization Thursday, Oct. 7, for their shot for kids ages 5 to 11.
However, many parents still have questions about the children’s COVID vaccine. Dr. Sallie Permar, the head of pediatrics at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, joined the PIX11 Morning News on Friday, Oct. 8, to share more information and answer some of the biggest questions.
Pfizer’s request to OK shots for kids a relief for parents
Parents tired of worrying about classroom outbreaks and sick of telling their elementary school-age children no to sleepovers and family gatherings felt a wave of relief Thursday, Oct. 7, when Pfizer asked the U.S. government to authorize its COVID-19 vaccine for youngsters ages 5 to 11.
U.S. hits 700,000 COVID deaths just as cases begin to fall
The United States reached its latest heartbreaking pandemic milestone Friday, Oct. 1, eclipsing 700,000 deaths from COVID-19 just as the surge from the delta variant is starting to slow down and give overwhelmed hospitals some relief.
NJ leaders take on ‘Mayors Vaccine Challenge’
Two New Jersey mayors are going head-to-head in an effort to get more people vaccinated against COVID-19. It’s all part of the ongoing vaccination campaign in the Garden State that has already propelled it as one of the nation’s leaders in the fight against COVID-19. Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh is squaring off with Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora in what the state is calling the “Mayors Vaccine Challenge.”
New Jersey surpasses 1 million COVID-19 cases
As of Tuesday, Sept. 28, more than 1 million cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in New Jersey since the pandemic reached the state in 2020.
Pfizer submits vaccine data on kids to FDA
Pfizer Inc. and BioNTech SE announced they have submitted initial data to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from the Phase 2/3 trial of their COVID-19 vaccine in children 5 to 11.
In the trial, which included 2,268 participants 5 to 11 years of age, the vaccine demonstrated a favorable safety profile and elicited robust neutralizing antibody responses using a two-dose regimen of 10 μg doses.
NJ offers $500 ‘return to work bonus’ to unemployed residents
Unemployed New Jersey residents could earn a $500 bonus to return to the workforce as part of a new program announced by Gov. Phil Murphy on Monday, Sept. 27. The “Return and Earn” initiative will offer the one-time bonus to folks who secure a job through the program, including positions that require on-the-job training.
Is it safe to trick-or-treat this Halloween? CDC weighs in
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said on Face the Nation that kids can trick-or-treat safely this year, adding, “If you’re able to be outdoors, absolutely.”
CDC director overrules panel, backs booster for all adults in high-risk jobs
The panel had voted against saying that people ages 18 to 64 can get a booster if they are health-care workers or have another job that puts them at increased risk of being exposed to the virus.
FDA OKs Pfizer COVID-19 boosters for 65 and older, high-risk Americans
The FDA authorized booster doses for Americans who are 65 and older, younger people with underlying health conditions and those in jobs that put them at high-risk for COVID-19. The ruling represents a drastically scaled back version of the Biden administration’s sweeping plan to give third doses to nearly all American adults to shore up their protection amid the spread of the highly contagious delta variant.
J&J booster shot 94% effective 2 months after 1st dose
Johnson & Johnson on Tuesday, Sept. 21, said new data shows a second dose — or a booster shot — of their one-shot COVID vaccine was found to be 94% effective against symptomatic COVID-19 when given two months after the initial dose.
Pfizer says COVID-19 vaccine works in kids ages 5 to 11
Pfizer said Monday, Sept. 20, its COVID-19 vaccine works for children ages 5 to 11 and that it will seek U.S. authorization for this age group soon — a key step toward beginning vaccinations for youngsters.
Vaccine mandate for child care facilities
Gov. Phil Murphy said all child care workers and facility employees need to be fully vaccinated by Nov. 1 or face regular weekly testing. As of Sept. 24, all employees, students and children in a facility’s care ages two and up will need to wear masks indoors, with limited exceptions.
Moderna vaccine is most effective against hospitalization from COVID-19: study
A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention compared how effective each of the three COVID-19 vaccines are in preventing hospitalization from the virus. The CDC reported that effectiveness was higher for the Moderna vaccine (93%) than the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine (88%) and the J&J vaccine (71%).
New Jersey surpassed as state with highest rate of COVID deaths
Mississippi has surpassed New Jersey as the state with the highest rate of COVID-19 deaths in the U.S., with roughly 1 of every 320 Mississippians having succumbed to the coronavirus.
COVID-19 is ‘getting better’ at becoming airborne virus
Recent COVID-19 variants are much more adept at airborne transmission than the original version of the coronavirus, according to a new study. University of Maryland researchers analyzed the Alpha variant first identified in the United Kingdom and discovered that carriers breathe out 43 to 100 times more infectious viral aerosols than those infected with the original strain.
U.S. panel backs Pfizer COVID-19 boosters only for 65 and over, high-risk
An influential federal advisory panel overwhelmingly rejected a plan to give Pfizer COVID-19 booster shots to most Americans, but it endorsed the extra shots for those who are 65 or older or run a high risk of severe disease.
COVID outbreaks in NJ schools
As of Wednesday, Sept. 15, there were six outbreaks in New Jersey schools, according to Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli. An outbreak is defined as at least three cases that are epidemiologically connected and not from the same household.
The cases are a mix of students and staff, Persichilli said. More information will be released on the state Health Department website in the coming days.
COVID-19 variants significantly reduce protection of vaccines, prior infection: study
A new study confirms that vaccinations and even prior COVID-19 infection provide significantly less protection against newer variants. Researchers from Oregon Health & Science University say in order to protect against the Alpha, Beta, and now Delta variants, these findings stress the importance of doubling down on both vaccinations and public health measures during the pandemic.
Mask debate moves from school boards to courtrooms
The rancorous debate over whether returning students should wear masks in the classroom has moved from school boards to courtrooms. In at least 14 states, lawsuits have been filed either for or against masks in schools. In some cases, normally rule-enforcing school administrators are finding themselves fighting state leaders in the name of keeping kids safe.
Supreme Court allows evictions to resume during pandemic
The Supreme Court’s conservative majority is allowing evictions to resume across the United States, blocking the Biden administration from enforcing a temporary ban that was put in place because of the coronavirus pandemic. New Jersey’s statewide rent moratorium expires at the end of the year.
These foods are extra hard to find right now because of shortages, supply chain issues
Notice your grocery store shelves looking a little bare lately? You’re definitely not the only one. Supply chain issues have created shortages of highly specific ingredients.
‘It’s up to us’: Fauci says pandemic could possibly end by spring 2022
The nation’s top infectious disease expert believes the pandemic’s end is near as long as the U.S. follows the right protocols to contain COVID-19. Dr. Anthony Fauci said he sees the light at the end of the tunnel, but it’s only open if the country’s 80 million to 90 million unvaccinated people are convinced to get the shot.
Comirnaty: What’s the story behind the new Pfizer vaccine name?
Comirnaty, who? It’s the same exact mRNA vaccine Pfizer has been producing through the emergency use authorization, but now it’s being marketed under a new name.
Is an earache a new COVID-19 symptom?
Doctors say they’re seeing a new COVID-19 symptom in some patients. According to experts, an earache has been reported more frequently by those testing positive for COVID. Earaches can cause pain, a feeling of blockage and sometimes muffled hearing.
NJ COVID hospitalizations top 1,000 for the first time since May: Gov. Murphy
For the first time since May, more than 1,000 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 in New Jersey on Wednesday, Aug. 25, Gov. Phil Murphy said. There were 1,012 people hospitalized with COVID, 92 of whom were on ventilators, according to state Health Department data. The last time the state had more than 1,000 COVID hospitalizations was over three months ago on May 11, Murphy said.
Johnson & Johnson: Vaccine booster provides ‘rapid, robust’ response
Johnson & Johnson on Wednesday, Aug. 25, announced new data the company said supports the use of its COVID vaccine as a booster shot for people previously vaccinated with their single-shot vaccine.
J&J said the new data showed that a booster shot of their vaccine generated a “rapid and robust increase in spike-binding antibodies, nine-fold higher than 28 days after the primary single-dose vaccination.”
NJ to require teachers, state workers be fully vaccinated
All school personnel and state workers in New Jersey will be required to get vaccinated against COVID-19, Gov. Phil Murphy announced Monday, Aug. 23.
Will COVID booster shot have the same side effects as the first two shots?
The Biden administration said Wednesday, Aug. 18, that COVID booster shots will soon be available, but how will the Sept. 20 rollout work, and what side effects should Americans expect?
Lambda and B.1.621: New COVID variants could be the worst yet, doctor warns
At least two new COVID-19 variants have hit the United States and they could be worse than the delta variant in their infectiousness and ability to stand up to vaccines, according to a top medical authority.
U.S. health officials call for booster shots for all to battle COVID-19
U.S. health officials recommended all Americans get COVID-19 booster shots to shore up their protection amid the surging delta variant and evidence that the vaccines’ effectiveness is falling. The announcement was made on Aug. 18.
August child tax credit payments issued: Here’s why yours might be delayed
The second installment of expanded child tax credits was issued on Aug. 13 to millions of eligible families, but some payments will likely be delayed due to a technical glitch, the U.S. Department of Treasury said.
Schumer calls for federal crackdown on fake vaccine cards
COVID claims more young victims as deaths climb yet again
The COVID-19 death toll has started soaring again as the delta variant tears through the nation’s unvaccinated population and fills up hospitals with patients, many of whom are younger than during earlier phases of the pandemic.
NJ county opens COVID booster shot appointments
Health care officials in a northern New Jersey county began offering COVID-19 booster shots to qualified residents on Aug. 14. Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. said appointments for a third shot of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine were open at vaccination centers at Kmart in West Orange and Essex County College in Newark.
Concerts, outdoor events still risky as delta variant surges, experts say
Concerts and outdoor events are returning, and many are requiring proof of vaccination as part of new safety protocols designed to help prevent the transmission of COVID-19. But while experts say being outdoors is less risky in general, they continue to recommend additional precautions for those visiting crowded outdoor venues.
Biden weighs stiffer vaccine rules as delta variant spreads rapidly across U.S.
When the pace of vaccinations in the U.S. first began to slow, President Joe Biden backed incentives like million-dollar cash lotteries if that’s what it took to get shots in arms. But as new COVID infections soar, he’s testing a tougher approach.
Who doesn’t need the COVID-19 vaccine?
It has been eight months since the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were administered to health care workers nationwide. Since then, the vaccine has become available to anyone over the age of 12. Experts explain the few instances in which a person would not qualify for, or should delay getting vaccinated.
Extra COVID shot OK’d for immunocompromised individuals
With more than 600 colleges and universities now requiring proof of COVID-19 inoculations, an online industry has sprung up offering fake vaccine cards.
What to do if you lose your COVID-19 vaccine card
Don’t worry if you’ve lost your COVID-19 vaccine card, there are several ways you can get it replaced. No matter where you got your shots, getting a replacement card is possible.
Will NJ reinstate a travel advisory?
Gov. Murphy said on Aug. 9, a new travel advisory is not off the table, but for now he encouraged mask wearing, which is mandatory in all airports and on flights, and other COVID safety protocols. “You gotta use your head,” he added.
Will NJ mandate masks indoors?
Despite CDC data showing New Jersey falls under its guidance to wear masks indoors, Gov. Murphy said he will not yet mandate face coverings but added, “we leave all options on the table.”
COVID transmission levels call for indoor masking under CDC guidelines
Indoor masking is advised in areas with COVID transmission rates considered “substantial” or “high” under recently updated guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As of Aug. 8, all of New Jersey falls under those categories.
How do you know if you have the delta variant of COVID-19?
So you’ve tested positive for COVID – but which COVID exactly? Is there a way to tell if you have the highly transmissible delta variant? There is a way to tell, but there’s not really a way for you to tell.
COVID breakthrough cases: Is one vaccine better than others?
Are kids more vulnerable to the delta variant of COVID-19?
Hospitals around the United States, especially in the South, are starting to fill back up again as the delta variant tears though the country. With previous waves of infection, we’ve been most worried about the elderly being vulnerable. Now, it’s younger people – even children – starting to show up in hospital beds.
U.S. averaging 100,000 new COVID-19 infections a day as delta surges
The United States is now averaging 100,000 new COVID-19 infections a day, returning to a milestone last seen during the winter surge in yet another bleak reminder of how quickly the delta variant has spread through the country. The U.S. was averaging about 11,000 cases a day in late June. Now the number is 107,143.
NJ schools mask mandate: Teachers’ union backs, Republicans slam Murphy decision
New Jersey Republicans have largely trashed Gov. Phil Murphy’s announcement on Aug 6 that masks will be required in all schools in the upcoming academic year.
NJ health care workers must be vaccinated or tested for COVID-19
Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order on Aug. 6 mandating that all workers in state and private health care facilities either be vaccinated for COVID-19 or tested for it twice a week.
50% of U.S. population is fully vaccinated, White House says
The United States reached a vaccination milestone on Aug. 6: 50% of the population, all ages, were fully vaccinated, the White House COVID-19 data director confirmed.
CDC says people who’ve had COVID should get shot or risk reinfection
Even people who have recovered from COVID-19 are urged to get vaccinated, especially as the extra-contagious delta variant surges — and a new study shows survivors who ignored that advice were more than twice as likely to get reinfected.
‘You have lost your minds’: Murphy lashes out at anti-vax protesters
Warning of more delta mutations, Fauci urges vaccinations
The White House COVID-19 response team said the delta variant continues to surge across the country. During a briefing on Aug. 5, Dr. Anthony Fauci called on Americans to take precautions to stop the virus from mutating. “The ultimate end game of all this is vaccination,” he said.
The latest surge in COVID-19 infections is fueled by the highly contagious delta variant first identified in India late last year. Now, a variation of that variant is beginning to generate headlines. Here’s what we know about the COVID sub-strain being called delta plus.
Vaccine mandate for state colleges?
Currently, some state colleges in New Jersey are mandating the COVID-19 vaccine for students and staff and some have made it optional. Murphy said a universal mandate “is certainly an option,” but for now individual universities can make their own call.
More ‘pain and suffering’ ahead as COVID cases rise, Fauci says
Dr. Anthony Fauci warned on Aug. 1 that more “pain and suffering” is on the horizon as COVID-19 cases climb again and officials plead with unvaccinated Americans to get their shots.
Walmart requiring COVID vaccination, masks for many employees
In a memo, Walmart announced that associates who work in multiple facilities, and associates of its campus office, will need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 4. Walmart also required associates, including those fully vaccinated, to wear masks in its stores.
Iconic NJ restaurant The Fireplace closes after 65 years
The Fireplace, like many other restaurants across the country, was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and temporarily shuttered its doors before reopening in May, when they implemented drive-thru, takeout and curbside pickup followed by indoor dining in October.
New delta variant research makes strong case for vaccination
A report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasized the delta variant is more dangerous and fast-spreading than first thought. The findings also made clear why efforts to get more people vaccinated are vital.
CDC data shows delta variant spreads as easily as chickenpox
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new information on July 30, saying the coronavirus delta variant can spread as easily as chickenpox.
Pfizer: COVID vaccine protective for at least 6 months
The effectiveness of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine wanes slightly over time but it remains strongly protective for at least six months after the second dose, according to company data released on July 28.
Disney World requires masks indoors regardless of vaccination status
Beginning July 30, Disney World required all visitors ages 2 and older to wear a face covering while indoors as well as in Disney buses, the monorail and the Disney Skyliner, regardless of vaccination status.
CDC mask guidance: Vaccinated people should wear face coverings in public indoor settings
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reversed course on some masking guidelines, recommending that even vaccinated people return to wearing masks indoors in parts of the U.S. where the coronavirus is surging.
U.S. headed in ‘wrong direction’ on COVID-19, Fauci says
Doctors warn about slightly different symptoms with delta variant of COVID
As concern grows regarding the COVID-19 delta variant, health leaders are warning about somewhat different symptoms that come with it.
Most unvaccinated Americans unlikely to get COVID-19 shots, new AP poll finds
A new poll shows that most Americans who haven’t been vaccinated against COVID-19 say they are unlikely to get the shots. About 16% say they probably will get the vaccine.
Is asking about someone’s COVID vaccine status a HIPAA violation?
HIPAA was signed into law by President Bill Clinton in 1996 during a time when medical records were being computerized. It was created to simplify the administration of health insurance and to prevent unauthorized access to peoples’ medical histories.
In fact, HIPAA doesn’t block anyone from asking another person about their health status, according to Alan Meisel, law professor and bioethics expert at the University of Pittsburgh.
Gov. Murphy holds off on reinstating mask mandate
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy says he’s not ready to reinstitute mask requirements, now or when schools are back in session in September. Murphy says he “is comfortable where we are” on mask mandates but is also closely monitoring developments.
Child tax credit checks: Will they become permanent?
The parents of an estimated 60 million American children began receiving child tax credit payments from the IRS in a move expected to lift millions of families above the poverty baseline for the remainder of 2021. Should they become permanent?
Biden grapples with ‘pandemic of the unvaccinated’
President Joe Biden is confronting the worrying reality of rising cases and deaths — and the limitations of his ability to combat the persistent vaccine hesitance responsible for the summer backslide.
Child tax credit: When to expect payments, how it may impact tax returns
Common cholesterol drugs may significantly reduce risk of death from COVID-19: study
Statins, a common medication for lowering cholesterol, may be saving lives among patients with COVID-19. A new study reveals hospitalized coronavirus patients who take statins are much less likely to die from the illness.
WHO chief says it was ‘premature’ to rule out COVID lab leak
The head of the World Health Organization acknowledged it was premature to rule out a potential link between the COVID-19 pandemic and a laboratory leak, and he said he is asking China to be more transparent as scientists search for the origins of the coronavirus.
Wildfire smoke linked to increased COVID-19 risk, study says
A new study suggests that exposure to wildfire smoke is linked to an increased risk of contracting COVID-19.
What can I do if I didn’t get my child tax credit payment?
The official disbursement date for the first child tax credit payments from the Internal Revenue Service was July 15, but parents may not see the cash right away.
Delta now dominant COVID variant in New Jersey
The highly transmissible delta variant is now the dominant strain in New Jersey, Gov. Phil Murphy said on July 12. The governor urged New Jersey residents to get vaccinated against COVID if they haven’t already done so.
Global COVID-19 deaths hit 4 million amid rush to vaccinate
There’s more to the worker shortage than pandemic unemployment, experts say
The workforce shortage is a combination of several factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, a shift in the economy, and changes in the workforce demographics, experts say.
Free health insurance included in stimulus benefits for unemployment recipients
Along with $1,400 stimulus checks and monthly child tax credit payments, the American Rescue Plan has another important benefit available to people who qualified for unemployment assistance this year: free health care.
Will one dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine protect me?
Yes, but not nearly as much as if you had both doses. Experts recommend getting fully vaccinated, especially with the emergence of worrisome coronavirus mutations such as the delta variant first identified in India.
Workers enjoy the upper hand as companies scramble to hire
With the economy growing rapidly as it reopens from the pandemic, many employers are increasingly desperate to hire. Yet evidence suggests that as a group, the unemployed aren’t feeling the same urgency to take jobs.
As of Monday, there have been 1,042,969 total positive PCR tests in the state since March 2020, and there have been 25,164 lab-confirmed coronavirus deaths, according to the state Health Department.
ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Voters in Essex County headed to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 2 to cast ballots in the 2021 general election. And choosing a sheriff was among the tasks they faced.
Democratic incumbent Armando Fontoura, the longest-serving sheriff in county history, successfully fended off a challenge from John Arnold Jr. and Barry Jackson in the June primary election. Fontoura faced off against Nicholas Pansini, who earned the Republican nod.
With 550 of 550 districts reported, it appears that Fontoura has successfully defended his seat. Here are the unofficial results, which still need to be certified, according to the Essex County Clerk’s Office:
Democrat New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy ekes out win over GOP challenger Ciattarelli
Democrat New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy will hang onto his job by a thread Wednesday after a nail-biter of an election against GOP candidate Jack Ciattarelli.
The Associated Press called the race for the incumbent Wednesday after Ciattarelli carried a lead of just over 1,000 votes overnight. But the remaining ballots allowed Murphy to close that gap and remain the governor of the Garden State, despite a political environment that led to several major upsets for Republicans Tuesday, including in the Virginia governor’s race.
“For almost four years now, our focus has not been on trying to do more for those who already have much, but to do much for those in the middle and at the bottom so that they have more opportunity,” Murphy said in his election night remarks. “Our mission has been simple to build a state where every child, regardless of race or gender, creed or zip code, has the opportunity to live out their hopes and achieve their American dream.”
New Jersey continuing to count ballots in tight race for governor
New Jersey is counting ballots very slowly. A handful of counties have released small batches of vote this afternoon, but reporting is stagnant in Camden, Essex, and Union counties, where tens of thousands of ballots potentially remain. These counties are critical to the outcome of the race.
House GOP teases ‘Parents’ Bill of Rights’ after Youngkin victory in campaign focused on schools
House Republicans will be pushing a “Parents’ Bill of Rights,” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said Wednesday after Republican Virginia Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin won an upset against Democrat Terry McAuliffe in a campaign where schools were a major issue.
“We will soon unroll a ‘Parents’ Bill of Rights’ It doesn’t matter your wealth, the color of your skin. Once you have a child, it is no longer what you become. It is now what opportunity your children will have,” McCarthy said. “You have a right to know what’s being taught in in school. You have a right to participate. Education is the great equalizer. We are all created equal and we’re going to make sure we make that happen across the country.”
Among the major education issues in the Virginia election were critical race theory in schools and mask mandates. Loudoun County, Va., specifically became a hotbed of controversy and was one of several deep blue counties where Youngkin significantly outperformed former President Donald Trump, who lost the state by 10 percentage points.
Education and Labor Committee Ranking Member Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-N.C.,
“Last night’s victory in Virginia proves that the voices of parents matter. It proves that parents will not and cannot be silenced,” she said.
“Education is at the forefront of voters’ minds because it matters,” she added. “It matters what our kids learn in school. It matters what books are in our school libraries. It matters what kids believe about their country. Most importantly, it matters what our kids believe they are capable of achieving.”
Foxx slammed teachers unions and added that state and local governments should control education, and not the federal government. She also said Republicans plan to reject “leftist indoctrination” and “critical race theory.” Foxx also said, “the days of caving to powerful union bosses are over.”
Virginia Sen. Warner says voters wanted infrastructure bill: ‘Give this president wins’
In remarks to reporters after Republican Glenn Youngkin beat Democrat Terry McAuliffe in the Virginia gubernatorial race, Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., said Democrats in Congress did little to help McAuliffe win.
Specifically, Warner said, Democrats should have passed the bipartisan infrastructure bill weeks ago.
“Only in Washington could people think that it is a smart strategy to take a once-in-a-generation investment in infrastructure and prevent your president from signing that bill into law,” Warner said.
Progressives have been holding the infrastructure bill hostage to ensure they get the level of spending and programs they want in Democrats massive reconciliation spending bill. They argue they’re merely ensuring that President Biden’s full agenda gets passed and that untrustworthy moderates don’t tank reconciliation.
But Warner said Wednesday they may have also been annoying voters who want their roads and bridges fixed.
“The last couple months I’ve been appealing to my Democratic colleagues: Let’s get the president the infrastructure bill,” he said. “Not only in terms of the substance but also in terms of showing that we can govern in a pragmatic practical way.”
On the campaign trail for McAuliffe, Warner said, “What I heard was… ‘You guys got the White House, the Senate, the House, when are you going to get more things done?'”
Warner also made clear he supports also passing reconciliation, which is currently expected to cost at least $1.75 trillion. He said that despite spending concerns from some, the content of the bill should be popular.
“We also need to finish the second item on the agenda,” Warner said. “I don’t know Virginia voters of any stripe.. that don’t think we ought to lower the cost of childcare, that don’t believe that it’s not fair that Americans pay five and ten times more for their drugs like insulin than folks in any other country.”
But, the senator said, Democrats will also have to govern from the middle, and the strategy of some progressives in Congress has not been helping in states like Virginia.
“You can’t win in Virginia if you only appeal to very liberal voters. That can work in certain other states, it doesn’t work there,” Warner said.
Democrat blame game begins after major Virginia loss, Biden, progressives, moderates take heat
After a crushing defeat for Democrat Terry McAuliffe in the Virginia governor’s race and a New Jersey gubernatorial election that is far too close for comfort for Democrats, it took only hours for different factions of the party to start hurling blame at one another.
“Hopefully progressives will get the wake-up call,” a moderate Democratic source told Fox News Wednesday morning. As it became clear the Virginia race was closer than anticipated, there was mumbling among moderate Democrats that the left wing of the party may be going too far on issues from massive government spending to wokeism in education and other institutions, driving away suburban voters.
The Virginia victory was so jarring for Democrats because it’s a state that President Biden won by 10 percentage points in 2020 and that they believed shifted to become safely blue with the explosion of the northern Virginia suburbs.
The New Jersey gubernatorial race, where incumbent Democrat Gov. Phil Murphy was winning by under 2,000 votes Wednesday morning, also was a major regression for Democrats. Biden won there by 15 percentage points.
Colin Strother, a Democratic strategist who was a longtime aide for moderate Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, said both progressives and moderates deserve criticism – but it’s the Biden administration that needs to get into gear for Democrats to hold onto their majorities in 2022.
“We need to end the circular firing squad and get to work. Our biggest obstacle to success is members of our own Democratic Party,” Strother told Fox News. “We have one or two senators holding up big ticket items that we need to pass. We have a handful of the far left in the House who have never done anything acting like they dictate the agenda and the timeline for bills passing.”
“Having said that, this all goes back to a lack of effective communication from the White House,” Strother added. “We are not going to win this thing with the president in Delaware, the vice president missing in action, and our secretaries on personal leave… The Biden Administration and all those associated with it need to understand the election is going on right now. Everything they are doing or not doing is impacting our chances in 2022.”
Murphy takes narrow lead over Ciattarelli in New Jersey as more votes trickle in
Democrat Gov. Phil Murphy of New Jersey took a narrow lead over Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli late Wednesday morning as more votes started to trickle in.
The GOP candidate carried a miniscule lead overnight, but Murphy took a lead of just over 1,700 votes when more votes were reported shortly before 10:30 ET. 88% of the expected votes have been counted.
The race is still too close to call with significant votes remaining in Camden, Essex, and Union counties, and in particular, significant mail and provisional vote left in Essex County, Fox News’ Rémy Numa reports. These are expected to heavily favor the Democrat.
Pelosi: Virginia loss won’t change Democrats’ path on reconciliation, infrastructure
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Wednesday morning the upset win by Republican Glenn Youngkin in Virginia’s governor’s race isn’t going to affect Democrats’ plans to pass their massive reconciliation spending bill and the bipartisan infrastructure bill in Congress, Fox News’ Kelly Phares reported.
“No,” Pelosi said when asked if the election will change the House’s agenda.
Some moderates were warning that a failure to pass the infrastructure bill might be hurting McAuliffe, while progressives argued that Democrats needed to go big to energize their base to get out and vote.
Those debates are likely to continue with even more intensity with not only a GOP win in Virginia, but the outcome of the New Jersey gubernatorial race still in doubt.
Breaking News
McAuliffe concedes, congratulates Youngkin after governor election upset
Democratic Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe conceded the race to Republican Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin on Wednesday morning, after news organizations called the result overnight.
“While last night we came up short, I am proud that we spent this campaign fighting for the values we so deeply believe in,” McAuliffe said.
“Congratulations to Governor-Elect Glenn Youngkin on his victory. I hope Virginians will join me in wishing the best to him and his family,” McAuliffe added.
Republicans win Virginia governor race, lead in New Jersey, in shocking results just 10 months into
In Tuesday’s New Jersey and Virginia governor races, Republicans massively outperformed nearly all expectations in results that would have been dismissed as nearly impossible by most observers just a few months ago.
Republican candidate Glenn Youngkin beat former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat, after President Biden won there by more than 10 percentage points in 2020.
GOP candidate Jack Ciattarelli early Wednesday morning was leading incumbent Democrat Gov. Phil Murphy by about 1,000 votes with 88% reporting. Biden won that state by nearly 16 percentage points.
New Jersey Republican makes it a race against favored Dem: ‘Too close to call’
The race for governor in New Jersey remained too close to call early Wednesday as Gov. Phil Murphy’s Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli clings on to a slight lead.
The two waged tense campaigns and Murphy presented himself as a solid progressive. Ciattarelli tried to paint Murphy as out of touch with the average voter and was critical of his leadership during the COVID-19 epidemic.
The campaigns ended their Election Night parties without either claiming victory, NJ.com reported. Both struck optimistic tones with their supporters.
Youngkin hails win as ‘defining moment’ for Virginia
Virginia Governor-elect Glenn Youngkin steps out onto the stage and declares victory in the race.
“We stand here this morning at this defining moment, a defining moment that yes started with two people on a walk, and a defining moment that is million of Virginians walking together,” he said.
“Together we will change the trajectory of the commonwealth and friends, we are going to start that transformation on day one,” he said.
He focuses on schools, a key issue in the campaign, promising to ’embrace parents, not ignore them’ and “re-establish excellence” in schools.
He also says he will grow the economy with new jobs, he will cut taxes on gas, retirement, fund law enforcement and keep communities safe.
He promises Virginia will “no longer be a commonwealth of low expectations, we will be a commonwealth of high expectations.”
“My fellow Virginians, this is our moment,” he says.
Virginia Lt. Gov.-elect Winsome Sears speaking ahead of Youngkin
Virginia Lt. Gov.-elect Winsome Sears is now addressing the crowd, and cites her immigrant background, and says she is living proof of how the country has moved forward since the Civil Rights movement when her father first came to the country.
“What you are looking at is the American dream, the American dream,” she says.
Virginia GOP gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin is expected to speak momentarily.
Glenn Youngkin will win the Virginia governor’s race, Fox News projects
The Fox News Decision Desk can now project that Republican Glenn Youngkin will win the Gubernatorial race in Virginia, defeating Terry McAuliffe in a contest that was widely expected to go to the Democrat.
Youngkin ran a disciplined campaign, focusing on taxes, crime, and holding public schools accountable to parents, while McAuliffe largely campaigned on trying to tie Youngkin to former President Trump.
McAuliffe also called on President Biden, Vice President Harris, and former President Barack Obama to boost his fortunes in an effort that clearly fell short.
New Jersey gubernatorial race too close to call
New Jersey’s gubernatorial race is still too close to call late Tuesday night, a potential stunner in a state that was thought to easily lean towards incumbent Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy.
Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli is outperforming expectations as results come in close to midnight Tuesday, despite most polls showing Murphy with a comfortable lead as election day neared.
The close race in New Jersey comes as the nation’s other gubernatorial race in Virginia is also too close to call late into Tuesday, though Republican candidate Glenn Youngkin continued to hold a commanding lead in the race for most of the evening.
McAuliffe camp shell-shocked as Youngkin takes commanding lead in Virginia
From Fox News’ Houston Keene: Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe’s camp was left shell-shocked as Republican candidate Glenn Youngkin surged to a commanding lead in a state that President Biden won by 10 points just one year ago.
Youngkin emerged with a slim lead in the polls over McAuliffe heading into Election Day, foreshadowing his strong performance on Tuesday.
McAuliffe’s election night party was initially buzzing with enthusiasm as supporters waited for polls to close. But that enthusiasm gradually shifted over the course of the night, as Democratic hopes for a swift victory melted away.
The room had largely emptied out even before Youngkin had addressed supporters at his own party.
VA Dept. of Elections commissioner says election ‘about as smooth as we could ask for’
Virginia Department of Elections Commissioner Chris Piper said Tuesday that the statewide election between former Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Republican nominee Glenn Youngkin ran smoothly.
Piper said, “Today was an overwhelmingly good day for Virginia,” and that the election was “about as smooth as we could ask for,” according to Richmond-based The Virginia Mercury.
Piper, who said 88,000 ballots had yet to be returned, said there was no update on that number as of Election Night, but assured that they would be counted if they arrive Friday by noon.
NJ gubernatorial race closer than expected, with GOP candidate outperforming in key counties
The New Jersey gubernatorial race is much closer than expected late into the evening. Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli is outperforming his expected vote in key counties, though a significant amount of Democratic leaning vote remains to be counted.
While Phil Murphy was expected to easily win a second term, this race may be a cliffhanger.
Youngkin now has commanding lead in Virginia gubernatorial race
Glenn Youngkin now has a commanding lead in the Virginia gubernatorial race. There is still a significant amount of outstanding vote in highly populated counties.
The Fox News Decision Desk is not yet ready to make a projection.
McAuliffe does not concede, says ‘a lot of votes to count’
McAuliffe comes out but does not concede the race, instead thanking his family and his campaign staff.
“We still got a lot of votes to count…we’re going to count all of the votes because every Virginian has a right to have their vote counted,” he says.
Kamala Harris said Va Gov. race ‘will in large part determine what happens’ in 2022, 2024
With Glenn Youngkin holding a clear advantage over Democrat Terry McAuliffe, some outlets are drawing attention to this quote from Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday.
“What happens in Virginia will in large part determine what happens in 2022, 2024, and on,” she said.
McAuliffe camp says race still to close to call
From a McAuliffe campaign aide to Fox News’ Rich Edson:
“This race is still too close to call — there is a substantial amount of early vote left to be counted, along with large numbers from places like Fairfax and Richmond & other urban areas where we have outperformed the rest of the state. We’re still monitoring what’s coming in. Only 7,000 Richmond votes have been reported so far. We are expecting 71,000+ votes overall to come in.”
Youngkin has clear advantage in Va gubernatorial race
With more than two thirds of the vote counted, Youngkin now has a clear advantage in the Virginia gubernatorial race.
McAuliffe needs to win roughly two thirds of the outstanding vote, but it is not clear that he will reach that goal. The Fox News Decision Desk is not yet ready to make a projection.
Breaking News
In NYC, Democrat Eric Adams wins to become next mayor
Democratic candidate Eric Adams won New York City’s mayoral election on Tuesday night, soundly defeating Republican challenger and “Guardian Angels” founder Curtis Sliwa in a race to determine who will lead the nation’s most populous city.
Adams, the current Brooklyn borough president, was overwhelmingly favored to win the election since defeating 12 other Democratic candidates in a primary election over the summer. Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by approximately seven-to-one in New York City.
GOP not seen win in Virginia statewide race in 12 years, could sweep all three tonight
The Republican Party has not seen a win in a Virginia statewide race in 12 years, but could potentially sweep all three races tonight.
Republicans are looking favorable in not only the gubernatorial race, but also the lieutenant governor’s race and the attorney general race.
Breaking News
Youngkin holds advantage in Va gubernatorial race as votes come in
As votes continue to come in, Youngkin now has an advantage in the Virginia gubernatorial race. He has maintained his edge in statewide election day vote and in key rural counties.
The Fox News Decision Desk is not yet ready to project a winner.
Fox News Voter Analysis: McAuliffe vs Youngkin on strength among voter groups
From Fox News’ Margaret Ann Campbell: Here’s the latest from our Fox News Voter Analysis election survey on McAuliffe and Youngkin’s strengths among Virginia voters.
A majority of voters under age 45 support McAuliffe. He has a 16-point edge there. There’s even stronger support for McAuliffe among women under age 45 – they give him a 27-point lead.
The middle-ground moderates give McAuliffe a similar lead — 25 points there. Black voters always go solidly for the Democrat.
A large majority here supports McAuliffe, giving him a huge 74-point advantage. It is important to note that while McAuliffe has advantages among these groups, he’s running behind the support levels these groups had for the Democrat in the last governor’s race.That’s how Youngkin is making it a closer race than initially expected.
Let’s look at Youngkin’s strengths. Seniors were more likely than any other age group to vote early (prior to Election Day) — more than half report voting in advance. Youngkin holds a 14-point advantage with that group.
This is a big increase in support from seniors since the 2017 gubernatorial contest. Another strong group for Youngkin is white men: he’s getting six-in-ten of them. About one-third of the electorate are white voters without a college degree.
Youngkin has a strong, 34-point lead among these working class voters.Finally, even stronger is Youngkin’s support from white evangelical Christians, a small, but cohesive group — eight in ten are with him.
There is a battle going on for the fully one-half of voters who live in the suburbs. The hard-fought-for group gives a slight edge to McAuliffe.
Breaking News
Youngkin ahead in Virginia governor’s race
It’s the eight o’clock hour on the East Coast, and while the Fox News Decision Desk says it’s too early to call this race, Republican Glenn Youngkin has a slight advantage over Democrat Terry McAuliffe in the Virginia gubernatorial race.
He is outperforming expectations on statewide election day vote and in key rural counties.Two months ago, McAuliffe was expected to handily win the contest in a state that President Biden won by 10 points, but Youngkin has gained momentum in recent weeks.
We are reviewing Virginia results with our Fox News Voter Analysis, and we’ll update you as learn more. We are also watching results in New Jersey, where polls don’t close for another hour. That contest, between Democrat Phil Murphy and Republican Jack Ciattarelli, has also tightened in the last month.
The state’s closely watched gubernatorial showdown is a key bellwether ahead of next year’s midterms elections, has drawn national attention.
It’s 8 pm on the East Coast, which means polls have just closed in the state of New Jersey.
It is too early to call this race between Democrat Phil Murphy and Republican Jack Ciattarelli.
Last summer, Murphy enjoyed a lead of almost 20 points, but that gap has narrowed to the single digits in recent weeks, as Murphy leaned on both President Biden and former President Barack Obama to help campaign for him in the final weeks.
We are watching this contest along with Virginia, where polls closed an hour ago, but which is also too early to call right now. We are reviewing Virginia results with our Fox News Voter Analysis, and we’ll update you as we learn more.
Breaking News
Polls to close at 8pm in NJ after ACLU lawsuit turned down
Polls will close in moments in New Jersey after a lawsuit by the ACLU to extend voting hours was denied.
ACLU sues to extend voting hours in New Jersey
Polls are due to close soon in New Jersey, but the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the League of Women Voters are suing to extend voting hours in New Jersey.
“We’re hearing reports of some polling locations turning away voters due to technical issues and delays,” ACLU’s New Jersey branch says in a statement.
“Delays caused by technical issues aren’t an excuse to deny voters their right to vote.”
Fairfax County to release partial county of early in-person ballot count
Fairfax County, which was on track to miss a self-imposed 8pm deadline for reporting its early vote ballots, will release a partial county of their early voter in-person ballot count, a state party official tells Fox News’ Rich Edson.
They have to re-scan a portion of them and will release the portion of what they have completed soon.
Fox News Voter Analysis: 49% says Youngkin supports Trump too much
While McAuliffe campaigned with Joe Biden, Youngkin held no events with former President Donald Trump and really didn’t talk about him.
Yet 49 percent of Virginia voters think he supports the former president too much. 45% said the right amount, and 6% said too little.
For McAuliffe, 44% said he is too close to President Biden, 52% said the right amount and 5% said too little.
Votes delayed in Fairfax county, won’t meet 8pm deadline
Per Fox News’ Houston Keene: Fairfax county votes are delayed and won’t meet the self-imposed 8 p.m. deadline.
Breaking News
Polls close in Virginia governor’s race, seen as the most pivotal Election Day contest
It’s 7 p.m. on the East Coast, which means polls have just closed in the state of Virginia.
The Fox News Decision Desk says it’s too early to call this race, between Democrat Terry McAuliffe and Republican Glenn Youngkin.
Two months ago, McAuliffe was expected to handily win the contest in a state that President Biden won by 10 points, but Youngkin has gained momentum in recent weeks.
We are reviewing Virginia results with our Fox News Voter Analysis, and we’ll update as we learn more.
We are also watching results in New Jersey, where polls don’t close for another hour. That contest, between Democrat Phil Murphy and Republican Jack Ciattarelli, has also tightened in the last month.
Majority of Va. voters say McAuliffe attacks on Youngkin were unfair
As the voting in Virginia continues, our Fox News Voter Analysis election survey gives us an early look at what voters are thinking about the governor’s race. This is based on interviews with over 2500 voters in Virginia.
Just more than half — 51 percent — say McAuliffe’s attacks on Youngkin were unfair.
For Youngkin, that number is 43 percent. A majority (57%) thinks his campaigning was fair.
McAuliffe, Youngkin pledge to jump-start state economy as Va gov race comes to a close
Virginia Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin and Democratic opponent former Governor Terry McAuliffe laid out substantially different visions for the future of the state’s economy as the state’s competitive race enters its final hours on Tuesday.
Both Youngkin and McAuliffe have positioned themselves as job creators who will lead Virginia to successfully rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic, though each has struggled to separate themselves as the clear choice from an economic perspective.
A Fox News poll published Oct. 14 found Virginia voters were split 43-43% on which candidate was better equipped to handle the economy.
Polls closing in Virginia at 7pm ET: Here’s what to know
Polls will close at 7pm ET in the Virginia gubernatorial race between former Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Republican nominee Glenn Youngkin.
The face-off is seen as a key bellwether ahead of the 2022 midterm elections, when the GOP aims to win back majorities in the House of Representatives and Senate.
Virginia and New Jersey are the only two states in the nation to hold races for governor in the year after a presidential election. And that guarantees they both receive outsized attention across the country. Since New Jersey is a solidly blue state, Virginia – which remains competitive between the two major parties – grabs the lion’s share of the national spotlight.
Virginia counties can start counting absentee ballots at 3pm
Virginia counties can start counting absentee ballots beginning today at 3pm ET, meaning that counting is likely underway already across the state, according to the Associated Press.
It means that mail ballots can be counted and released on Election Night soon after the polls close at 7pm, meaning that we will have our first indication at that point of how the night might turn out.
Counties are expected to release the results of their mail ballots first, followed by early in-person votes and then the votes cast at polling places on Election Day.
Voters in Arlington predict Virginia election results as they exit polls
Virginia voters at an Arlington polling site shared their thoughts and predictions on how Tuesday’s gubernatorial race will end and why it’s so close.
“I don’t think McAulliffe will lose – period,” Takis Karantonis, a Democratic incumbent running for reelection on the Arlington County Board, told Fox News.
“We have delivered as a party here in Virginia.” “We have a thriving commonwealth, excellent economy and we managed the COVID crisis very, very well,” Karantonis continued. “I think we’re in good shape.”
Republican Glenn Youngkin and Democrat Terry McAuliffe headed into Tuesday’s election at a near deadlock. Youngkin began the campaign polling far behind the former governor, but slowly closed the gap and edged into a slight lead in recent polls.
Virginia Dept. of Elections says masks not required to vote
The Virginia Department of Elections announced Tuesday afternoon that people are not required to wear face masks at polling stations after some voters said otherwise.
“All voters to are encouraged to wear a mask when they go to their polling place, but you CANNOT be turned away because you don’t wear one,” the department tweeted several hours after the polls opened.
In a tweet shared by Republican gubernatorial nominee Glenn Youngkin, the Virginia Republican Party said there were “several reports” from voters who said they were told by poll workers that they had to wear a mask.
“To be clear, if someone is not wearing a face covering they may NOT be turned away or refused their right to vote,” the Virginia GOP tweeted.
American Conservative Union Chairman Matt Schlapp said he was personally instructed to wear a mask at his polling station.
Biden says ‘we’re gonna win’ in Virginia and New Jersey, but attempts to distance himself
President Biden declared Tuesday that Democrats are going to win the governor’s races in Virginia and New Jersey but that his performance will have little to do with the outcome.
“We’re gonna win. I think we’re gonna win in Virginia,” the president said during a press conference in Glasgow, where he attended the COP26 climate change conference.
“I think we’re going to win New Jersey as well,” he continued. “But look, you know, the off year is always unpredictable, especially when we don’t have a general election going on at the same time. That’s been the case up and down, you know, for a long time, especially as Virginia has turned more and more blue.
“But having said that, I don’t believe and I’ve not seen any evidence that whether or not I am doing well or poorly, whether or not I’ve got my agenda passed or not, is going to have any real impact on winning or losing,” he added. “Even if we had passed my agenda, I wouldn’t claim we won because Biden’s agenda passed. But I think it’s I think it’s going to be very close.”
Youngkin campaign thinks it’ll win Virginia governor race if it tops Trump numbers in key areas
The campaign for Republican Virginia gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin believes the results in a handful of high-population areas that could decide which way the state falls in Tuesday’s election, and will be watching those returns closely after polls close 7 p.m. Tuesday.
Fox News is told the Youngkin campaign believes that if it improves on former President Donald Trump’s numbers by 5% in Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Virginia Beach and Richmond, it will have the votes it needs to win statewide. All of those are largely urban or suburban areas where Youngkin has tried to woo voters by distancing himself from Trump’s style of politics.
Further, Loudoun County specifically is a hotbed of debate over parents’ role in schools and debates over critical race theory in classrooms. Youngkin centered his campaign on parents’ rights in schools and promised to ban critical race theory in schools.
Phil Murphy hopes to make history as first Democratic N.J. governor to win reelection in 44 years
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is hoping to make history as the first Democratic governor in the state to win reelection in 44 years after voters cast their ballots Tuesday.
Murphy, a progressive, is running against former Republican Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, a moderate. If Murphy wins, it will be the first time a Democratic governor in the state has won reelection since Brendan Byrne in 1977.
New Jersey has 1 million more registered Democrats than Republicans, but the state’s off-year gubernatorial cycle has often served as a referendum on the sitting president. In fact, the incumbent president’s party hasn’t won the New Jersey gubernatorial race since 1985.
Tuesday’s election, as well as the Virginia gubernatorial race between Terry McAuliffe and Glenn Youngkin, is expected to serve as a barometer for both parties heading into the 2022 midterm elections.
McAuliffe, Youngkin make final social media pitch to get out the vote
Virginia gubernatorial candidates Terry McAuliffe and Glenn Youngkin posted dueling campaign videos on social media in their final pitch to get out the vote before the polls close Tuesday evening.
“This election is about the direction of our Commonwealth and the nation,” McAuliffe tweeted Tuesday afternoon. “Don’t sit this one out. VOTE.”
McAuliffe included a video highlighting a speech by former President Barack Obama, who campaigned for the Democratic nominee earlier this month.
“If John Lewis wasn’t tired, we can’t be tired. … So go out there and fight,” Obama said in the clip.
Youngkin, the Republican nominee, tweeted a video calling his campaign a “movement.”
“Virginians are standing up for the values that we hold dear,” Youngkin wrote Tuesday afternoon. “We are standing up for our families and for the future of our Commonwealth and our Country. Polls don’t win elections – votes do. GO VOTE TODAY!”
Youngkin campaign looking to top Trump numbers in key cities as campaign comes down to the wire
When Virginia election returns start to roll in shortly after 7 p.m. ET Tuesday, commentators, voters and campaigns will start looking for key indicators that could indicate their candidate is poised to win.
Fox News is told that GOP gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin’s campaign will be focusing on outperforming former President Donald Trump’s 2020 totals by at least 5% in in a handful of key areas.
Those include Loudoun County, Fairfax, Virginia Beach and Richmond — all of which are high population areas that Youngkin’s campaign tried to woo voters in by distancing himself from Trump’s style of politics.
The Youngkin campaign will be parsing returns for those indicators from its election night party in Chantilly, Va.
The campaign for Democratic gubernatorial nominee Terry McAuliffe will be looking through returns from its election night event in McLean, Va. It did not respond to a request for comment asking about what indicators it is looking for.
Another key indicator , according to Fox News’ Rémy Numa, will be whether Youngkin is able to juice turnout in deep red rural counties. Further, Northamptom County and Prince Edward County are two bellwether counties to watch — they’ve each aligned with the statewide winner in the past 10 gubernatorial elections.
Virginia parent says McAuliffe isn’t ‘open and honest’ about education
FAIRFAX, Va. – A Virginia parent said Terry McAuliffe isn’t “open and honest” about issues regarding education.
“I don’t feel that McAuliffe is being as open and honest about the things that relate to school and the school system,” the parent, Allison, told Fox News. “That’s probably about my biggest issue.”
“McAuliffe was here before, and I really didn’t like all the things that were going on there,” the mother of three also said.
McAuliffe, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, has repeatedly said critical race theory isn’t being taught in Virginia schools. Meanwhile, the state’s Department of Education relies on and recommends a book that says teachers must embrace critical race theory, Fox News previously reported.
McAuliffe’s Republican opponent, Glenn Youngkin, said he’d ban the critical race theory from public schools if elected.
Another parent, Kate, said McAuliffe’s comment that parents shouldn’t tell schools what to teach “was the catalyst for his polling numbers going down so dramatically.”
“I, as a parent, think that parents are the only opinion that matters when it comes to our kids’ education,” she told fox News.
Education has been a hotly debated issue in the deadlocked election.
McAuliffe voter says he’s ‘perfect’ on education, slams Youngkin for taking remarks ‘out of context’
FAIRFAX, Va. – A Democratic voter said Terry McAuliffe is “perfect on education” and told Fox News that Glenn Youngkin took his opponent’s comments “out of context.”
“Unfortunately, Youngkin took a lot of [McAuliffe’s] stuff about education way out of context, and he’s made a huge number of parents angry,” the voter said. “And I think that that’s definitely going to hurt [McAuliffe].”
McAuliffe, a Democrat, previously said parents shouldn’t tell schools what to teach.Youngkin, his Republican rival, quickly leveraged the remarks.
McAuliffe later backtracked on his comments.
“The thing is, he’s great on education,” the voter told Fox News. “He’s perfect on education.”
“He was a good governor before,” she continued.
“Trump said ‘he’s going to tell him everything we tell him to do,’” the voter told Fox News. “And that’s very scary to me.”
Trump has not appeared in person at any of Youngkin’s rallies, and the candidate has kept distance from the former president.
Down the ballot: What other offices are up for election in Virginia, New Jersey
Despite the hype around the races for chief executive of their states, voters in New Jersey and Virginia are voting for more than just governors Tuesday.
In Virginia, the offices of attorney general and lieutenant governor are both up for grabs. For the lieutenant governor, Republican state legislator Winsome Sears and Democrat state legislator Hala Ayala are facing off to become the first female to hold that office in Virginia history.
In the attorney general race, incumbent Democrat Mark Herring is working to fend off Republican state legislator Jason Miyares. Miyares, an ex-prosecutor, has played up the fact his family fled Cuba in 1965 and his life, which he says is an American success story. Herring, meanwhile, has attacked Miyares as out of step with left-leaning Virginia on issues like gun control and abortion.
If GOP gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin wins his race and has long enough coattails, he could potentially pull the underdog Republicans across the finish line.
Virginia is also holding elections for local offices the state House of Delegates. Democrat legislative majorities helped the state pass several major victories for liberals in recent years, including gun control laws. Republicans are looking to chip away at that advantage.
New Jersey is also electing its lieutenant governor Tuesday, along with its state Senate and General Assembly.
Incumbent Democrat Sheila Oliver is running for reelection as lieutenant governor against GOP challenger Diane Allen.
Virginia voter worried about censorship
FALLS CHURCH, Va. – A Republican voter said the left’s censorship reminds her of life during World War II.
“It reminds me of the second World War … because of the very aggressive people,” she told Fox News.
The voter specified that she was referring to censorship from the left, but declined to specify who, exactly, was aggressive “because you might get in trouble if you say something.”
Virginians head to the polls Tuesday to determine who will take control over the governor’s mansion. Republican Glenn Youngkin and Democrat Terry McAuliffe were deadlocked heading into Election Day, with Youngkin holding a slight edge.
“I came to this country because things were wonderful when I came in 1960 and now it’s like going downhill,” the voter told Fox News.
Youngkin backers say they’re optimistic GOP candidate can pull off upset in blue Virginia
LEESBURG, Va. – On the eve of the Virginia gubernatorial election, supporters of Republican candidate Glenn Youngkin piled into the Loudoun Parents Matter Rally at the Loudoun County Fairgrounds and told Fox News how they feel going into election day.
“Extremely confident, I am looking forward to tomorrow,” Anne, a Fairfax County mother, told Fox News.
Loudon County resident Steve Jones told Fox News: “Last year in our neighborhood we probably had 50% signs for [Donald] Trump, 50% signs for [Joe] Biden.”
“This year we see very few [Terry] McAullife signs and the Youngkin signs are everywhere,” he continued. “I mean they literally have got to be at least five to one and maybe even more … I see a lot more enthusiasm on the Republican side this time around. A lot more.”
Cheryl Onderchain, a mother of three, told Fox News: “You’ve got people here of all ages, a lot of parents for Youngkin signs.”
“Parents are fired up,” she continued. “Glenn’s our candidate. He’s going to be our next governor.”
Election Day forecast: Drizzly, overcast day for Virginia, New Jersey voters
With a wet and chilly forecast, voters in New Jersey and Virginia might consider bringing a rain jacket in case they have to wait in line to cast their ballots in the states’ major gubernatorial elections Tuesday.
In Virginia, on-and-off showers are expected for much of the state into the afternoon. In Alexandria, Va., rain should continue for much of the morning with a high of 52 degrees at 10 a.m., according to FOX Weather. The rain should taper off in the late afternoon.
Farther south in Roanoke, Va., the rain should clear out by the early afternoon as temperatures hover in the low 50’s, per FOX Weather.
Voters in Camden, N.J., can expect similar conditions, with temperatures in the low 50s and rain until about 3 p.m. Farther north in Newark, N.J., rain is not expected, though it will remain overcast into the early evening, according to FOX Weather.
Virginia governor’s race preview: The key counties to look for on Election Day
Virginia was once a breeding ground for presidents. From George Washington to Woodrow Wilson, the Old Dominion has sent eight men to the White House, more than any other state in the country.
Today, Virginia is better known for the damage it can do to a presidency. With one exception, the state has chosen a governor from the opposite party of the current president at every gubernatorial election in the last 40 years. At best, a loss in Virginia generates a bad news cycle and anxiety about midterms for those in the Oval Office. At worst, it is a sign that the president’s days in power are numbered.
Statistics like these and a late polling surge should give Republican challenger Glenn Youngkin some confidence going into election night. But the one exception mentioned above is Democrat Terry McAuliffe, who won his first term as governor in 2013, following former President Obama’s second victory in 2012.
McAuliffe, now seeking his second term, entered the race as favorite in a state that has leaned blue during the Trump era, and has enjoyed the consistent support of the Democratic machine. Even so, he leaves the trail lagging in the latest Fox News Poll and therefore more uncertain than ever about his political future.
The results in a handful of key counties will decide the fate of the two candidates.
Stakes high for Biden presidency in Virginia gubernatorial election
President Biden and Democrats in general will be watching the Virginia election returns closely Tuesday to see if Republican Glenn Youngkin can pull off a shock win over Democrat Terry McAuliffe.
Amid tanking poll numbers for Biden and worries among Democrats that they won’t be able to hang onto their narrow congressional majorities in 2022, a McAuliffe loss could send the party’s political apparatus into panic mode.
For some, the panic already has started.
“The Virginia gubernatorial election is way too close for comfort, but it hasn’t yet sparked the kind of mass Democratic panic and flurry of organizing that we saw in the California recall election last month,” the “What a Day” email newsletter by the progressive Crooked Media said last month. “Consider this a friendly invitation to commence your productive freakout.”
One of the things Democrats are concerned may drive voters to Youngkin is their failure to pass a bipartisan infrastructure bill. Progressives in Congress stymied efforts by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Biden both in September and October to pass the bill. They were demanding more work on Democrats’ massive reconciliation spending bill first.
Congressional Democrats are back this week trying to come to a deal both bills. But if McAuliffe loses, some have speculated it would make it less likely moderates will vote for reconciliation — a tough vote that would tie them to an unpopular president.
For Republicans, meanwhile, a Youngkin win could provide a blueprint for how they can take back the House and Senate in 2022.
The GOP nominee focused on schools and social issues in an effort to get parents behind his campaign and make inroads with crucial suburban voters. Youngkin also walked a tightrope when it comes to former President Donald Trump: Discreetly distancing himself from that brand of politics while trying to avoid directly rebuking the former president or his false election conspiracy theories.
Trump’s continued presence as the leader of the GOP puts Republicans in moderate districts in a tough spot. But if that strategy can work for Youngkin in Virginia, it could work in a lot of other places too.
A defeat for Democrats in Virginia could also spur more retirements among Democrat congressional incumbents, cause vulnerable Democrats to potentially try to distance themselves from Biden and force the party to reassess whether it wants to focus so much on Trump going forward.
Other key races to watch Tuesday: House special elections, Minneapolis and NYC mayoral races
Virginia’s deadlocked gubernatorial battle between former Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe and Republican nominee Glenn Youngkin is firmly in the national spotlight.
The commonwealth, a one-time general election battleground that’s still very competitive between the two major parties, is one of only two states that hold races for governor in the year after a presidential election, guaranteeing outsized attention from coast to coast. And the state’s gubernatorial contest is seen as a key barometer ahead of next year’s midterm elections, when the Democrats will be defending their razor-thin margins in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
“On Tuesday, people will be looking at it as a bellwether of what is to come,” Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina, the number-three House Democrat, said last weekend as he campaigned with McAuliffe.
The latest polls indicate a margin-of-error race between McAuliffe and Youngkin, a first-time candidate and former private equity CEO, in a state that President Biden carried by 10 points last November and where Republicans haven’t won statewide in a dozen years.
But Virginia’s election for governor is just one of many interesting showdowns in the 2021 ballot from coast to coast.
Polls open in Virginia, New Jersey as voters cast ballots in key governor races
Voters are headed to the polls in both Virginia and New Jersey Tuesday in key gubernatorial races that may be a bellwether for the 2022 midterm elections and the Biden presidency.
Polls opened at 6 a.m. in both states. They will remain open until 7 p.m. in Virginia and 8 p.m. in New Jersey.
Republican Glenn Youngkin is facing Democrat former Gov. Terry McAuliffe in Virginia, and has significant momentum largely thanks to his campaign’s focus on schools and support among K-12 parents. But it’s been years since a Republican won statewide in the increasingly blue commonwealth.
Playing second-fiddle Tuesday is the gubernatorial race in the even farther-left New Jersey, where Republican nominee Jack Ciattarelli is aiming to unseat Democrat incumbent Phil Murphy.
The race is expected to be much closer than President Biden’s blowout against former President Donald Trump in 2020 thanks to a much more challenging political environment for Democrats. But it’s not exactly considered a toss-up like the Virginia race.
Trump rallies Virginia supporters to vote for Glenn Youngkin
Former President Donald Trump spoke with supporters in Virginia via a “tele-rally” on Monday evening right before the critical Virginia governor race, encouraging his “great, giant, beautiful base” to vote for Republican candidate Glenn Youngkin.
“This is your chance to break the grip on the radical Left, that they have on the commonwealth,” Trump said in the phone call. “You can send a very strong message to Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, AOC plus three. You’ve got to send a message to this really corrupt media.”
“Tomorrow, I’d like to ask everyone to get out and vote for Glenn Youngkin. He’s a fantastic guy,” the former president added.
Joe Biden won Virginia by ten points last year, and McAuliffe has repeatedly attacked Youngkin by tying him to Trump.
While McAuliffe brought President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and former President Barack Obama out to campaign with him, Youngkin has mostly focused on Virginia issues, and he did not bring Trump to Virginia.
Youngkin predicts ‘surprisingly good’ turnout among early voters: ‘We’re going to win’
Republican Virginia gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin told Fox News on Monday that his campaign expects to do “really well” in Tuesday’s highly anticipated gubernatorial race against Democrat Terry McAuliffe, offering a message of unity in a final push to energize voters ahead of the critical showdown.
Youngkin told “The Story” host Martha MacCallum that his campaign expects a “surprisingly good” turnout among early voters, despite the process usually favoring Democrats by large margins in the past.
“Historically early voting has been 75 to 80% Democrats,” Youngkin said, “so for us to be so strong in the early voting just reflects the fact that there’s not any enthusiasm on my opponent’s side.”
The Republican candidate spent the weekend touring the furthest reaches of Virginia’s southwest corner, which included a prayer breakfast, a worship service, a barbecue at the home of a powerful state lawmaker, a meet-and-greet, and an evening get-out-the-vote rally in Abingdon.
