New Jersey’s 8th District House Race 2026

New Jersey Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell resigned Friday, a day after Gov. Mikie Sherrill released a 61-page report from a four-month investigation, led by former Attorney General Christopher Porrino's law firm, substantiating findings of sexual harassment and repeated ethics violations. Investigators found credible evidence that Caldwell made an unwanted romantic advance toward a staffer's friend, sought a promotion for a state employee he was secretly dating, and brought unpaid guests to ticketed events despite prior warnings. Sherrill said the episode reflected a longstanding Trenton culture of overlooking sexual harassment that her administration would no longer tolerate.

Caldwell, who is Black, suggested race played a role in the allegations and disputes the report's findings, saying he resigned to avoid distracting from Sherrill's administration; days later he preached at his church about false accusations. Acting Comptroller Shirley Emehelu now oversees the Division of Elections ahead of the midterms, while Senate President Nicholas Scutari serves as acting governor when needed. Sherrill has 45 days to name a permanent replacement, with reports suggesting she may favor another Black leader, possibly a woman, for the role.

Communities across New Jersey will mark the 11th annual Knock Out Opioid Abuse Day on October 6, an awareness effort organized by the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) in cooperation with the Governor's Council on Substance Use Disorder and the state Division of Mental Health and Addiction Services. This year's observance places added emphasis on opioid safety and safer pain management for older adults, alongside PDFNJ's Healthy Aging Campaign resources.

New Jersey recorded 1,312 suspected drug overdose deaths in 2025, down 27 percent from 2024, according to the state's Office of the Chief State Medical Examiner, including 365 deaths among residents 55 and older. Nationally, 36 percent of adults 65 and older experience chronic pain, and about 12.8 percent fill an outpatient opioid prescription annually. Local events include a Union City outreach with Congressman Rob Menendez and St. Francis Academy students distributing bilingual educational flyers. New Jersey lawmakers have permanently designated October 6 for the observance.

New Jersey holds its general election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, with voter registration closed as of October 13 and mail-in ballot requests due by October 27. Polls are open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. statewide. Top races include the U.S. Senate contest, where Democratic incumbent Cory Booker faces Republican Justin Murphy and several third-party and write-in candidates. All 12 of New Jersey's House seats are also on the ballot, with the 2nd Congressional District drawing particular attention as Republican incumbent Jeff Van Drew, who switched parties in 2019, defends his seat against Democratic challenger Zack Mullock, mayor of Cape May, and independent Ramon Mora Jr.

Jersey City, New Jersey's second-largest city with a population of about 302,000, has seen years of rapid growth marked by waterfront high-rise development and a skyline that rivals nearby Lower Manhattan. Despite that expansion, the city is facing serious budget pressure, and Moody's Investors Service recently downgraded its bond credit rating to a lower investment-grade tier, citing fiscal strain.

The downgrade highlights a paradox: cities experiencing strong development and rising property values can still struggle with structural budget problems, including reliance on one-time revenue, rising costs, and limited flexibility to raise property taxes. Mayor Steven Fulop's administration has overseen the city's growth push, but critics point to unsustainable spending patterns.

For prediction markets, the situation raises questions about municipal fiscal health more broadly in high-growth, high-cost urban areas, and whether other fast-growing postindustrial cities could face similar credit pressures despite outward signs of prosperity.

A circuit failure at the Philadelphia TRACON facility on Sept. 21 triggered widespread ground stops and delays affecting flights at Philadelphia International Airport, Newark Liberty International, John F. Kennedy International and Ronald Reagan Washington National. When the backup system activated, officials discovered a backup line had also been severed at a New Jersey construction site, compounding the disruption.

The FAA issued a mix of ground stops and ground delay programs through the afternoon and evening, with Philadelphia's ground stop lifted by mid-afternoon though residual delays persisted past 3:30 p.m. Newark's stop was set to run until 4:45 p.m., JFK faced delays until nearly 11 p.m., and Philadelphia delays were expected to continue until almost 10 p.m. Reagan National's ground stop, attributed to airport volume rather than the equipment issue, ran until 4 p.m. Hundreds of flights in and out of PHL were affected, with ripple effects reported at airports in New York, New Jersey and Boston.

Monmouth County voters decide Tuesday whether Republicans retain full control of county government. Incumbent Commissioner Erik Anderson is paired with Tony Perry, longtime Middletown mayor, against Democrats Chelsey Tanner and Sofia J. Ugarte. Republican incumbent Ross F. Licitra is not seeking reelection. The GOP ticket emphasizes fiscal restraint and the county's AAA bond rating, while Democrats focus on workforce support and accessible county services.

Voters will also choose the county surrogate, overseeing probate, estates, and guardianships. Republican incumbent Maureen T. Raisch, seeking a second term, points to administrative modernizations, while Democratic challenger Anthony L. Cherry Jr., a defense attorney, is campaigning on expanding court accessibility.

The Libertarian Party of Michigan has formally disavowed its 2025 gubernatorial nominee, Anthony Hudson, after he used a gay slur and profanity attacking the party in campaign videos. The party's executive committee passed a resolution severing "any affiliation, support or political connection" with Hudson, who had already been censured once before. Hudson's name remains on the ballot for the November 3 election, but he will be barred from party funds, events, and mentions on official channels.

Hudson, a former Republican primary candidate, rejected the disavowal, saying he would rather "stand alone" than compromise his principles, and refused to apologize for the slur. Party officials say his positions—supporting deployment of the National Guard against immigrants, restricting transgender athletes, and backing Trump-era tariffs and foreign policy—conflict with core Libertarian values. The party is also contending with separate controversies involving its lieutenant governor nominee, facing embezzlement charges, and a Senate nominee whose policy views diverge from traditional libertarian positions, underscoring ongoing turmoil within Michigan's third-largest party ahead of the election.

Delaware voters headed to the polls Tuesday in the last state primary before November, choosing nominees for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, attorney general, treasurer, and legislative seats. Polls closed at 8 p.m. ET.

Democratic Sen. Chris Coons, seeking a third full term, faced three primary challengers, including Eric Hansen, the 2024 Republican Senate nominee now running as a Democrat under the ballot name "E. No-Trump Hansen." Coons significantly outraised his rivals. On the Republican side, former state Sen. Michael Katz and Army Reserves Col. John Shulli competed for the nomination. Rep. Sarah McBride ran unopposed for a second term. Attorney General Kathy Jennings faced two Democratic primary challengers, while Republican David Graham ran unopposed. The treasurer's race was the state's only open statewide seat, with three Democrats competing and Republican Michael Ramone unopposed.

Despite a midterm climate historically unfavorable to the president's party, Delaware's statewide offices are expected to remain solidly Democratic, extending a streak dating to the 1990s. All 41 state House seats and about half of the state Senate seats were also on the ballot.

Ahead of Ohio's U.S. Senate and governor races, prediction market activity has drawn scrutiny from political scientists and state lawmakers who argue betting on elections undermines public trust in democracy. Ohio State professor Nathaniel Swigger warns that large discrepancies between market-implied odds and public polling in the governor's race between Amy Acton and Vivek Ramaswamy could fuel doubts about vote legitimacy if outcomes diverge from market expectations.

State Sen. Bill DeMora has introduced legislation to ban election wagering through prediction markets, noting most states already prohibit it. Kalshi, which bars politicians from trading and recently added transparency features, remains in a legal dispute with Ohio over state regulatory authority, while its advocacy arm defends prediction markets as more accurate than polling.

Beau Parmenter, 45, the Libertarian running mate of Michigan gubernatorial candidate Anthony Hudson, was arrested and arraigned in Shiawassee County's 66th District Court on one count of felony larceny by conversion involving between $1,000 and $20,000. If convicted, he faces up to five years in prison or a fine of up to $10,000 or three times the value of the property allegedly taken.

Parmenter is accused of keeping a $2,500 deposit from a couple in a May 2025 transaction tied to Country Barn Estates, an event venue he owns. He pleaded not guilty and posted a $10,000 cash bond to secure his release. His attorney, Daniel Barnett, denied the allegation, calling the charge "malicious and frivolous" and saying Parmenter had no involvement in the disputed transaction. A warrant for Parmenter's arrest had been issued in March, though Barnett said his client was unaware of it. Hudson declined to comment. Parmenter is next due in court for a probable cause conference September 23, with a preliminary examination set for September 29.