Trenton, New Jersey

Since 2001, Lakewood Township has transferred 220 acres of public land near the Jersey Shore BlueClaws stadium at no cost to a development arm of Beth Medrash Govoha (BMG), a large Orthodox Jewish yeshiva. The entity, Cedarbridge Development, has resold the land to builders for nearly $70 million, while developers have saved over $8.6 million through local tax breaks (PILOTs) since 2018. A 2010 lawsuit challenging the deal as unconstitutional was dismissed. Constitutional experts say the arrangement may violate the state constitution's "gift clause" barring giveaways of public property without clear public benefit.

The New Jersey State Commission of Investigation is now examining similar municipal land deals involving PILOT tax breaks statewide, without confirming whether Lakewood is a specific target. The scrutiny comes as Lakewood faces a budget shortfall, a hiring freeze, and warnings of 2027 layoffs.

Trenton, Ohio, a Butler County city of about 14,000, faces a ballot measure, Issue 17, that would bar data centers larger than 25 megawatts. A 250-megawatt Amazon Web Services facility is already under construction there; the measure's effect on that project is unclear, but it could block a second such facility. The Ohio Chamber of Commerce contributed $100,000 to oppose the measure and helped form the Trenton Community Alliance with local officials. The chamber also backed a failed effort, later stopped by the Ohio Supreme Court, to raise the signature threshold required to keep the amendment off the ballot. Opponents cite potential losses to school and public service funding.

The Ohio Chamber of Commerce's political action committee donated $100,000 to Trenton Community Alliance, a group campaigning against Issue 17, a local ballot measure that would bar data centers requiring more than 25 megawatts of power. The sum exceeds the chamber's combined recent giving to two statewide campaigns, including Issue 3 and Vivek Ramaswamy's gubernatorial bid. At stake is an Amazon Web Services data center already under construction in Trenton's industrial park; supporters of the ban say the project would be capped at 25 megawatts, while city officials maintain it can proceed under existing permits. The measure could also block a second Amazon facility. The Ohio Supreme Court recently rejected the city council's attempt to keep the amendment off the ballot.

Control of the Michigan House of Representatives, all 110 seats of which are on the Nov. 3 ballot, hinges on six competitive districts, three of them in Metro Detroit. Republicans currently hold a 58-52 majority after flipping the chamber in 2024, and Democrats need to sweep these toss-ups to regain the majority.

The key races include the 27th District (Jaime Churches vs. incumbent Rylee Linting), 31st District (Shannon Dare Wayne vs. Laura Perry, an open seat), 44th District (Jim Haadsma vs. incumbent Steve Frisbie, a rematch after Haadsma lost by 79 votes in 2024), 46th District (Jan Maino vs. incumbent Kathy Schmaltz), 54th District (Sarah Pounds vs. Roman Gaskey, another open seat), and 109th District (Anna Aho Rink vs. incumbent Karl Bohnak). Several races are drawing heavy ad spending and feature first-time candidates. Outcomes will determine whether Republicans retain their narrow majority or Democrats reclaim the chamber ahead of 2026 legislative priorities.

Trenton City Council has introduced legislation outlining financial benefits for residents that would take effect only if voters reject Issue 17, a November 3 ballot measure that would bar new data centers requiring more than 25 megawatts within city limits. The measure reached the ballot after the Ohio Supreme Court ruled the city improperly refused to certify the citizen-led charter amendment.

The proposals, which received a first reading this week, include a one-year property tax millage holiday, a freeze on new levies for police, streets, and fire/EMS through 2035, and a 30% YMCA membership discount, all contingent on Issue 17's defeat and a proposed Amazon data center project proceeding. Mayor Ryan Perry said the goal is transparency about economic trade-offs, not voter influence, but residents called the measures politically coercive.

Greg Lawson of the Buckeye Institute said explicitly tying legislative benefits to an election outcome is unusual and could invite litigation after the vote, though he stopped short of calling it illegal. The proposals are not yet final and require further council action.

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.

Gov. Mikie Sherrill called on Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell to resign by Friday after an independent investigation found he engaged in sexual harassment and violated state ethics rules. The 61-page report, led by former state Attorney General Christopher Porrino, concluded that Caldwell twice sought a state job promotion for his girlfriend, made a sexually charged comment to a staff member, and ignored repeated warnings about his conduct.

The probe began in May after Sherrill's office received an anonymous letter alleging inappropriate behavior by Caldwell, a former president of Centenary University. Caldwell has denied the allegations through his attorney, Thomas Calcagni, who called the investigation one-sided and lacking due process; Caldwell has suggested race and gender bias played a role, as he is Black. Sen. Cory Booker and other Democrats have backed Sherrill's call for resignation. Caldwell has given no indication he intends to step down, raising the possibility of a prolonged standoff with the governor over New Jersey's second-highest office.

The city of Trenton, Ohio abruptly withdrew its petition to annex roughly 600 acres in neighboring Madison and St. Clair townships for a proposed 18-building Amazon Web Services data center, prompting Butler County commissioners to cancel a scheduled Sept. 15 hearing. The townships had previously refused to cede the land, citing concerns over traffic, road maintenance and economic incentives, which forced the annexation into a formal commissioners' hearing under Ohio law.

Trenton had asked to postpone the hearing until after a November election in which city residents will vote on whether to ban data centers within city limits, but county officials said any delay required board approval in public session. Rather than proceed, Trenton withdrew the petition less than a day before the hearing. Commissioners expressed frustration at repeatedly learning of developments at the "11th hour" and said the withdrawal denied the public a promised airing of a high-profile, closely watched proposal. Trenton could refile the annexation request in the future.