Mercer County, New Jersey

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.

Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis campaigned in Mercer County days before Election Day, Nov. 3, urging turnout for Democratic candidates. Davis pledged Pennsylvania would not become a right-to-work state if reelected, emphasizing workers' rights to union representation, health care, and negotiated wages. Both officials endorsed Justin Wagner, a Democrat challenging incumbent Michael Kelly in the 16th Congressional District, who criticized his opponent's nearly 16-year record of prioritizing PAC donors over Western Pennsylvania. Shapiro framed the election as a moment for voters to push back against political dysfunction and reaffirmed his commitment to serving constituents if given another term.

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.

Republican Keith Faber and Democrat John Kulewicz, the two candidates for Ohio attorney general in 2026, agree corruption is a priority but disagree sharply on strategy. Faber, Ohio's current state auditor, wants to create a permanent anti-corruption task force within the AG's office, pairing dedicated attorneys with investigators and forensic accountants to pursue fraud in areas like Medicaid and childcare programs and to streamline cases such as the Columbus Zoo spending scandal. He says current efforts have been "haphazard" and would build on the 170 convictions his auditor's office has helped secure since 2019.

Kulewicz argues Ohio already has adequate legal tools and structures, and that the real problem is weak enforcement, not organization. He criticized Faber for not committing to continue the prosecution of former FirstEnergy executives tied to the Sam Randazzo bribery case, and questioned why Faber didn't push for a task force earlier in his tenure as auditor. The debate follows years of high-profile scandals, including the House Bill 6 bribery case, though the issue has had limited political traction for Democrats.

Republican Keith Faber and Democrat John Kulewicz, the two nominees for Ohio attorney general, have agreed to debate on Oct. 19 at Youngstown State University, becoming the first candidates in any of Ohio's nine statewide races to commit to facing off before the Nov. 3 election. The event, moderated by Tony Paglia of the Youngstown Press Club, follows a joint statement from both campaigns pledging a "free, fair, and informative" discussion for voters.

Faber, the current state auditor, has emphasized support for law enforcement, consumer protection, combating trafficking, and resisting federal overreach. Kulewicz has focused on consumer protection and price-fixing enforcement, arguing the office should prioritize state issues over national political lawsuits. Both candidates have outlined anti-corruption plans, and differ on continuing the prosecution of former FirstEnergy executives and on regulating license-plate camera technology. No debates have yet been scheduled in Ohio's higher-profile Senate or governor's races, where candidates have so far resisted or failed to arrange face-offs.

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.