Newark, New Jersey

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.

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.

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case challenging the 160-year-old federal ban on distilling spirits at home, a practice that remains illegal even though home brewing beer is permitted. The case stems from lawsuits by Ohio brewpub owner John Ream and Texas resident Scott McNutt, which produced conflicting rulings in the 5th and 6th Circuit Courts of Appeals. The central legal question is whether Congress's power to tax alcohol also allows it to ban home production outright. The federal government argues home stills make tax enforcement harder; challengers, backed by the Buckeye Institute, say the ban sets a troubling precedent for restricting other activities. A ruling could arrive by next summer.

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.

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.

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.

Former St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter has taken on a new role as chief executive officer of FUSE, a national nonprofit that places executive fellows within city and county governments to launch or coordinate specialized public projects. Carter, unseated in November's election by Kaohly Her after two terms as mayor, began the job this week, citing his belief that local governments—not federal action—drive the most direct impact on residents' lives.

FUSE fellows, typically consultants, IT professionals or doctorate-level scholars, have worked on projects spanning public health, housing, criminal justice, climate and workforce development in dozens of governments nationwide, including Austin, Fresno County, Los Angeles County and Boston. A past FUSE fellow helped lay the groundwork for St. Paul's EVIE car-share network. Since 2012, the organization has run more than 400 projects across 58 governments in 26 states, funded through a mix of municipal revenue and philanthropic support. Carter, who remains based in St. Paul, said the city could seek another FUSE fellow in the future.

Newark opened a new community grocery store in the city's Central Ward aimed at making fresh food more affordable and accessible, part of a broader push by city officials to fight food insecurity and food deserts. Organizers say prices are roughly 30% lower than nearby corner stores, and the store's walkable location benefits residents without cars.

Mayor Ras Baraka said the initiative grew out of federal cuts affecting food assistance programs, including SNAP, and rising food costs nationally. Emergency food hubs set up during last winter's government shutdown became a lifeline for residents, prompting the mayor to make them permanent fixtures. Beyond groceries, the stores will connect residents to social services, according to Khatim Sherrer of Clinton Hill Community Action. City officials plan to open similar community food stores in all five of Newark's wards, with this location timed to launch by the start of the school year.