New Jersey’s 11th District House Race: 2026 Winner

Passaic dedicated its first New Jersey Black Heritage Trail marker on Saturday, Aug. 29, honoring the Rev. James H. Penn, who became the city and county's first Black lawyer in 1909. Penn arrived in Passaic from Petersburg, Virginia, in 1900, worked as a letter carrier, and studied law before opening his own practice in 1914. He practiced for more than six decades, retiring in 1975 at age 95, and was active in civil rights and local Republican politics. He also helped establish Mt. Zion Baptist Church, where the marker now stands.

City officials, church members and community leaders attended the unveiling, led by Mayor Hector Lora. It is the second Black Heritage Trail marker in Passaic County, following one placed at Paterson's Hinchliffe Stadium in 2025. Created by state law in 2022, the trail now includes 77 approved sites and 19 installed markers, with organizers describing it as a continually growing "living trail."

Pompton Lakes has been named the No. 1 seed in the 2026 Passaic County Tournament for field hockey, marking the third consecutive year the Cardinals have topped the bracket. As the sole top seed, Pompton Lakes is the only team to earn a first-round bye.

The Cardinals are looking to reclaim the county title after West Milford ended their four-year championship streak with a 2-1 win in last season's final. The two programs have faced off in the final round in seven of the past nine seasons, underscoring one of the county's most consistent rivalries. Pompton Lakes already holds a result against its rival this season, having won a regular-season matchup 3-0 on Sept. 25.

The six remaining tournament teams begin first-round play on Saturday, Oct. 10, with semifinals set for Tuesday, Oct. 13. The championship final will be hosted at Lakeland on Friday, Oct. 16.

Essex County Public Schools in Virginia dismissed students early on Friday, Sept. 11, after threats were made against the schools. All county schools let out at 10:30 a.m. following the advice of local and state authorities, who recommended erring on the side of caution.

School officials asked parents to receive their children at home rather than at schools to avoid congestion and allow buses to move quickly. Staff remained on standby throughout the day to confirm all students reached home safely, with the district staying in touch with families until pickups and drop-offs were complete. After-school activities were canceled for the day.

Details about the nature or source of the threats have not been released. The incident adds to a string of recent school threats nationwide that have prompted heightened security responses and early dismissals as districts weigh safety precautions against disruption to students and families.

Essex County Public Schools in Virginia closed on Wednesday, Aug. 26, after a water main break left Tappahannock Elementary School, the School Board Office and the surrounding residential area without water. The district announced the closure on Facebook, noting that the disruption affected the school building and nearby homes.

Lunch was made available for pickup at James Cary Intermediate School at noon on a first-come, first-served basis for students affected by the closure. All 12-month employees were permitted to telework or use liberal leave for the day. The district said it would provide an update once water service is restored. Essex County Public Schools began its 2026-2027 academic year on Monday, Aug. 10, meaning the closure came just over two weeks into the new school year.

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.

Early voting began this weekend in New York City and New Jersey, running through Nov. 1 ahead of Election Day. Voters can find designated early voting sites, which may differ from their usual Election Day polling place, through each state's Board of Elections tools. Mail-in ballots remain an option, with New York requiring applications by Saturday; voters who request a mail ballot cannot use a machine on Election Day but may cast an affidavit ballot in person.

Top races include New York's governor contest between Gov. Kathy Hochul and challenger Bruce Blakeman, plus attorney general and comptroller races and five city ballot proposals. New Jersey voters will decide a U.S. Senate race and a House seat.

The Republican National Committee has filed a federal lawsuit against New Jersey election officials, including Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell and the secretary of state, seeking data on noncitizens registered to vote. State officials have acknowledged roughly 6,600 noncitizen registrations, though the Trump administration estimates the true figure could be 35,000 or higher. Rep. Tom Kean has filed a separate suit as a New Jersey constituent.

Gov. Mikie Sherrill has refused to turn over voter data to federal officials, citing privacy concerns for state residents. A spokesman for Sherrill said Republicans have made similar requests in other states more than twenty times without success in court. The RNC had asked New Jersey to explain by September how noncitizens were added to voter rolls, what removal efforts are underway, and who is responsible for oversight. The dispute comes as both parties intensify efforts around voter roll accuracy and election administration ahead of the 2026 midterms.

New Jersey Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell resigned last week after an independent investigation, led by former state Attorney General Christopher Porrino, substantiated multiple allegations of harassment and ethics violations. Gov. Mikie Sherrill said the probe found "a pattern of behavior that does not meet the standards of this administration." Findings included inappropriate remarks toward young women, pushing for the promotion of a romantic partner in another state department without disclosure, and bringing nonpaying personal guests to official ticketed events. Caldwell, who also served as the state's chief elections official, continues to deny the allegations but stepped down nonetheless.

Caldwell was Sherrill's own running mate, chosen less than a year ago, making her swift response notable in a state with a long history of tolerated official misconduct. Sherrill said she would name a new lieutenant governor within 45 days, a decision with added significance given the upcoming midterm election and election-security concerns.

A New Jersey Superior Court judge cleared the way Tuesday for the Ocean County Board of Elections to continue inquiries into the voting eligibility of dozens of Bay Head residents, denying an emergency injunction sought by the ACLU of New Jersey on behalf of the League of Women Voters. The plaintiffs argued the challenge process, aimed at registered Democrats and unaffiliated voters whose tax bills are mailed out of town, amounted to a politically motivated purge during the pre-election quiet period. The board countered that it is simply fulfilling its duty to verify domicile status.

A tense public meeting followed the ruling, with the evenly split board's Republican chairman George Gilmore and Democratic secretary Wyatt Earp clashing over a list of 39 flagged voters submitted by a local GOP official that included no Republicans. Several voters have already been removed or asked to be removed from the rolls. Gilmore drew sharp backlash, including for a joking remark about immigration enforcement being "on call" at the polls. The ACLU and League of Women Voters are weighing an appeal.

Organizers of Passaic, New Jersey's annual Mexican Parade have indefinitely postponed this year's event, citing fears that attendees could face immigration enforcement action. The parade, a more than 30-year tradition that typically draws about 15,000 people to the city with the highest concentration of Mexicans in New Jersey, had been scheduled for Sept. 27. No new date has been announced.

The move has disappointed local business owners already struggling with a decline in customers, some of whom had hoped for a boost from parade visitors. Passaic Mayor Hector Lora said he was disappointed by the postponement and urged community leaders to organize an alternative celebration. Other residents said they understood the decision given increased ICE presence in the area. A separate Mexican rodeo held in Passaic last week reportedly took place without incident, but organizers remain wary that a larger, statewide event could draw heightened scrutiny from immigration authorities.