>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY AN JM INSURANCE GROUP SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

AND HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY.

AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

>>> FROM NJ PBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BREANNA.

>> GOOD EVENING, AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON THIS PRIMARY ELECTION NIGHT, CANDIDATES ARE IN THE FINAL HOURS OF THEIR CAMPAIGN PUSH, AND THERE IS STILL TIME TO VOTE IN PERSON, POLLS ARE OPEN UNTIL 8:00 PM, AND VOTERS WILL GET TO CHOOSE THE DEMOCRATIC AND REPUBLICAN NOMINEES FOR GOVERNOR, ALL 120 SEATS IN THE LEGISLATURE ARE ON THE BALLOT.

ALONG WITH A NUMBER OF MAYORAL AND LOCAL RACES.

OUR TEAM IS FANNED OUT ACROSS THE STATE FOLLOWING THE CANDIDATES IN KEY RACES AS THEY TRY TO CORRAL EVERY LAST VOTE, WE WILL BRING YOU UPDATES THROUGHOUT THE EVENING, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A YEAR, RESIDENTS ARE BACK TO CAST A BALLOT IN PERSON, IT WAS A MOSTLY VOTE BY MAIL ELECTION DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE BEGIN IN UNION COUNTY, WHERE MELISSA ROSE COOPER HAS BEEN KEEPING AN EYE ON VOTER TURNOUT AS A NEW EAGLETON POLL SHOWS MOST RESIDENTS ARE UNAWARE OF THE PRIMARY, JUST ONE IN FIVE SURVEYED KNEW TODAY WAS AN ELECTION.

MELISSA, WHAT ARE YOU SEEING ON THE GROUND?

>> Reporter: I AM HERE OUTSIDE THE FRASER BUILDING AND IT IS ONE OF SEVERAL POLLING LOCATIONS IN THE AREA, AS YOU CAN SEE BEHIND ME THERE IS NOT TOO MANY PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN WAITING IN LINE, IT IS KIND OF SOMETHING THAT VOTERS HAVE BEEN SAYING THEY HAVE BEEN SEEING ALL DAY AND IT HAS BEEN A PLEASANT SURPRISE.

>> IT WAS SO EASY, SUPER SUFFICIENT IN THEIR AND EASY, MANAGEABLE.

IT REALLY TOOK ME ONLY FIVE MINUTES.

>> Reporter: EASY SEEMS TO BE THE SENTIMENT MANY PEOPLE IN WESTFIELD SHARED TODAY AS THEY CAST THEIR VOTES FOR THE PRIMARY ELECTION.

>> I WAS SURPRISED.

IT SCARES ME A LITTLE BIT.

IT USED TO BE PACKED.

>> Reporter: FOR MANY VOTERS LIKE ROBERTA, IT IS THE FIRST TIME THEY ARE CASTING THE BALLOTS IN PERSON, SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> WONDERFUL.

I HAVE VOTED HERE FOR 50 YEARS.

>> Reporter: GOOD NEWS FOR UNION COUNTY OFFICIALS AFTER SOME POLLING SITES PREVIOUSLY REPORTED A SHORTAGE OF WORKERS.

>> EACH DISTRICT HAVE TWO OR THREE PEOPLE AT A TABLE, WHICH IS THE WAY IT SHOULD BE.

>> Reporter: WHILE MANY PEOPLE ARE OPTING TO HEAD TO THE POLLS, UNION COUNTY CLERK, JoANNE, SAYS THERE IS A LOT OF VOTERS CHOOSING TO GO THE MAILING ROUTE INSTEAD.

36,000 WERE SENT OUT IN THE COUNTY HAS RECEIVED UNDER 10,000 BACK.

>> I THINK SOME PEOPLE ARE STILL HESITANT.

ABOUT GOING TO THE POLLING PLACE.

I SAW TODAY WHEN I WENT TO SOME OF THE POLLING PLACES, NOT ONLY THE POLL WORKERS, BUT SOME OF THE VOTERS HAD MASKS ON, AND MANY OF THEM WERE OLDER VOTERS, SO I ASSUME THAT THEY WERE PROBABLY VACCINATED BUT THEY ARE STILL CAREFUL.

>> Reporter: FOR THOSE CHOOSING TO GO TO THE POLLS, THEY SAY IT IS A WONDERFUL FEELING.

>> IT WAS GOOD TO BE IN PERSON.

WE HAVE CHANGED OUR VOTING SYSTEM HERE IN WESTFIELD, SO IT IS THE PAPER AUDIT TRAIL IS NOW IN PLACE WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT NEW.

BUT, THE PEOPLE INSIDE WERE VERY HELPFUL IN EXPLAINING HOW IT WORKS.

IT IS GREAT.

GOOD TO GET BACK TO NORMAL.

>> Reporter: FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>> AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET FOR THIS PRIMARY, GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY RUNNING UNOPPOSED AS HE LOOKS TO BECOME THE FIRST DEMOCRAT IN MORE THAN 40 YEARS, TO WIN REELECTION TO A SECOND TERM.

THE LATEST WRECKERS POLL SHOWS HE HOLDS A HUGE LEAD OVER THE APPARENT REPUBLICAN FRONT RUNNER IN THE RACE, AHEAD BY 26% AMONG REGISTERED VOTERS.

HIS CANDIDACY IS CONSIDERED A TEST BETWEEN THE MODERATE REPUBLICAN ESTABLISHMENT AND THE DONALD TRUMP FACTION OF THE PARTY.

SENIOR CORRESPONDENT, BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS.

>> Reporter: THE PRESUMED FRONT RUNNER IN NEW JERSEY'S REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY GREETED EVERYONE HE MET ON THE WAY WITH HIS WIFE TO CAST A BALLOT IN THEIR HOMETOWN, HILLSBORO.

JACK IS A LOCAL FAVORITE, EVEN IF HE IS NOT ALL IN FOR DONALD TRUMP, SAFE FORMER FANS OF THE PRESIDENT.

>> HE WASN'T A POLITICIAN.

HE DIDN'T FIT IN A CLUB.

HE WAS A BUSINESSMAN.

>> EVEN THOUGH HE IS NOT A SOLID IN THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN.

>> HE IS CONSERVATIVE, HE IS ENTITLED TO, HIS OPINION AND I AM ENTITLED TO LOOK AT HIS OPINION AND VOTE FOR IT.

>> THIS IS NOT ABOUT DONALD TRUMP.

THIS IS ABOUT NEW JERSEY.

PEOPLE REALIZE THAT.

THIS CAMPAIGN IN THE NEXT FIVE MONTHS WILL BE ABOUT HIS FIELD RECORD AND WHAT WE HAVE TO DO TO GET NEW JERSEY ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

>> Reporter: DEPENDING ON TURNOUT, HE HEWS MORE TO THE MAINSTREAM THAT IS FAR RIGHT OPPONENTS, WHO HAVE BOTH CHALLENGED HIM AS A REPUBLICAN, BUT PERHAPS THAT WORKS FOR HIM.

>> YOU 2 CANDIDATES ON THE RIGHT, SPLITTING UP THAT PRO TRUMP VOTE AND I THINK THAT CERTAINLY WILL HELP HIM IN A WAY BETTER THAN IF THERE HAD BEEN ONE WHO CAN CONSOLIDATE IT.

YOU WANT MORE OF THOSE MAINSTREAM REPUBLICANS, MORE TRADITIONAL REPUBLICANS TO COME OUT.

>> Reporter: HIS RUNNING WITH OFFICIAL REPUBLICAN PARTY BACKING IN ALL 21 COUNTIES AND THAT GIVES HIM THE POSITION ON THE PALATE, HE IS THE ONLY CANDIDATE IN THIS RACE TO QUALIFY FOR PUBLIC MATCHING FUNDS, AND HE HAS SPENT FIVE TIMES MORE THAN ALL OF HIS OPPONENTS COMBINED.

HE HAS BEEN RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR SINCE 2017, WHEN HE LOST THE PRIMARY TO FORMER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, KIM.

BUT THE FORMER ASSEMBLYMAN STILL STRUGGLES FOR NAME RECOGNITION ACCORDING TO A NEW RECORDS EAGLETON SURVEY, IT SHOWS 52% OF THOSE POLLED DON'T KNOW WHO HE IS, 26% HAVE NO OPINION OF HIM, 12% LIKE THE GUY, 11% DON'T.

SUPPORTERS CHEERED THE 59-YEAR- OLD AT HIS ELECTION HEADQUARTERS IN SOMERVILLE THIS AFTERNOON, HE IS AIMING TO UNSEAT INCUMBENT PHIL MURPHY WHO IS TRYING TO BE THE FIRST DEMOCRAT TO WIN REELECTION TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SINCE BRENDAN, IN 1977.

MURPHY IS STILL RELATIVELY POPULAR AND TO BE HIM, HE WOULD HAVE TO FORGE A COALITION, UNITE A DEEPLY DIVIDED REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>> THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE EVENTUALLY HAS TO HOPE THAT THEY CAN PUT ALL OF THE TRUMP SUPPORTERS THAT HAS TO GROW THAT MUCH LARGER FOR REPUBLICANS WIN THE GENERAL ELECTION, YOU NEED TO WIN 90 TO 95% OF REPUBLICANS, YOU NEED TO WIN INDEPENDENT VOTERS BY MORE THAN 25 POINTS AND YOU PROBABLY NEED TO WIN UPWARDS OF 25% OF DEMOCRATS AND YOU CERTAINLY DON'T DO THAT JUST BY PARROTING DONALD TRUMP, IT HAS TO BE A MUCH BIGGER MESSAGE.

>> WE WILL TALK ABOUT HOW TO FIX NEW JERSEY.

WE HAVE THE WORST BUSINESS CLIMATE IN THE NATION.

THOSE TWO THINGS HOLD PEOPLE BACK.

>> IN HILLSBORO, I AM BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> THIS RACE IS AS MUCH ABOUT WHO CAN BEAT PHIL MURPHY IN NOVEMBER AS IT IS ABOUT ROYALTY TO FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

AS BRENDA MENTIONED, 2 OUT OF THE 3 OPPONENTS FACING JACK, DESCRIBED THEMSELVES AS ULTRACONSERVATIVE HARD-LINE TRUMP SUPPORTERS.

JOANNA HAS BEEN KEEPING AN EYE ON THE LATEST WITH THOSE CAMPAIGNS, JOANNA?

>> Reporter: THREE OF THE FOUR GOP CANDIDATES IN THIS PRIMARY ARE CONSIDERED OUR COURSES, BY POLITICAL INSIDERS.

LEVINE HAS THE STEEPEST HILL TO CLIMB IN THIS RACE, SEEING THAT THEY SPENT THE FINAL HOURS RACING TO SECURE THE VOTES OF NEW JERSEY INTO SUPPORT FROM BOROUGH PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, AND THAT IS WHERE THE CAMPAIGN PULLED OUT ALL OF THE STOPS, WITH A FAKE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, SAYS REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST, JEANETTE HOFFMAN.

>> HE PUT OUT AN ENDORSEMENT YESTERDAY FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP THAT WAS DECRIED AS FAKE, FROM THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN, JASON MILLER A SPOKESMAN FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS NOT ENDORSED HIM.

>> Reporter: THE CAMPAIGN DENIES IT CAME FROM THEM, BUT HE POINTS TO OTHER LIES THAT HAVE COME FROM HIM DURING THIS RACE INCLUDING HIS REFUSAL TO APPEAR IN A DEBATE WITH GOP FRONT RUNNER ASSEMBLYMAN, JACK, ON NJ PBS FALSELY CLAIMING THAT A VACCINE WAS REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE.

THEY HAVE BOTH RUN ON A MEDICAL FREEDOM PLATFORM, OPPOSING MASKS AND VACCINES.

WHAT HOFFMAN CALLS THE TWEETS THIS WEEK A DESPERATE MOVE FROM A DESPERATE CAMPAIGN.

THE FOURTH CAMPAIGN FOR HIM.

>> YOU HAVE HEARD ABOUT THESE TACTICS BEFORE AND CAMPAIGNS AND IT IS A SHAME WHEN CANDIDATES STOOPED TO THIS, TO TRICK LOOTERS AND TO SEE VOTERS INTO BELIEVING SOMETHING THAT IS NOT REAL, HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE INVESTIGATED AND WE WILL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS.

HOFFMAN SAYS IT IS A START -- SMART STRATEGY, EVEN THOUGH THE FORMER RESIDENT HAS REFUSED TO ENDORSE A CANDIDATE.

>> THE FORMER PRESIDENT IS STILL A BIG FORCE IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, IT IS NOT A GREAT TACTIC FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION, I THINK JACK IS RIGHT TO MAKE MURPHY THE FOCUS OF THIS PRIMARY.

>> Reporter: NOW BECAUSE VOTER TURNOUT IS SO LOW IN THE PRIMARIES, ONLY ABOUT 20% OF REPUBLICANS ARE EXPECTED TO VOTE TODAY, ANY ONE OF THESE THREE COULD UPSET ASSEMBLYMAN, JACK, BUT IF ANYONE IS BETTING, ANALYSTS SAY THEIR CHIPS ARE ON JACK TO SECURE THE PARTY TONIGHT.

I AM JOANNA, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> AS YOU HEARD EARLIER, THE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN VOTE COULD SPLIT BETWEEN PHIL AND HIRSCH, CLEARING AN ALREADY WIDE OPEN PATH, FOR JACK, HE HAS BEEN WALKING A FINE LINE, STICKING TO HIS MODERATE BASE, WHILE ALSO NOT ENTIRELY DENOUNCING THE FORMER PRESIDENT, OUR CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT, MICHAEL, IS HERE WITH HIS TAKE ON WHAT TO EXPECT TONIGHT.

>> Reporter: MICHAEL, HERE WE ARE, IT IS 2021, AND YET THE TRUMP FACTOR IS STILL LOOMING LARGE OVER SOME OF THESE RACES.

PARTICULARLY THE GUBERNATORIAL.

>> IT IS, BREANNA.

BUT, I THINK IT IS LOOMING LARGER IN THE MIDDLE PORTION OF THE COUNTRY, THEN ON THE 2 COASTS, TRUMP IS DEFINITELY A FACTOR, THERE IS A TRUMP BASE IN NEW JERSEY, IT TENDS TO BE IN THE MORE RURAL PARTS OF NEW JERSEY.

BUT, THIS IS A HOME OF MODERATE REPUBLICANISM, TOM KANE, JOHN BRAMLETT, YOU CAN RUN UP AND DOWN THE ROSTER OF NOTABLES WHO ARE REPUBLICAN MARTYRS, AND I THINK THEY CARRY THE DAY IN THIS STATE AND I THINK WE WILL SEE THAT TONIGHT.

>> WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF GOVERNOR MURPHY'S POSITION RIGHT NOW, THE LATEST EAGLETON POLL BASICALLY SAYS IT IS HIS RACE TO LOSE, OBVIOUSLY HE IS RUNNING UNOPPOSED, BUT WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE FACT THAT HE IS IN A PRETTY GOOD SPOT FOR A DEMOCRAT WHOSE RUNNING FOR REELECTION?

>> HE IS IN A GOOD SPOT, AND AS YOU POINTED OUT EARLIER, YOU HAVE TO GO BACK TO BRENDAN TO FIND A DEMOCRAT ELECTED TO TWO TERMS AND THE ONLY REASON HE WON THE PRIMARY IN 1977, WAS BECAUSE THEY WERE ABOUT 10 OTHER CANDIDATES WHO SPLIT THE VOTE AND HE WON WITH ABOUT 25 TO 30% OF THE VOTE.

SO, PHIL MURPHY IS IN A GOOD POSITION.

ANYTHING OVER 50% IS PROBABLY A GOOD POSITION GIVEN WHAT WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS YEAR.

AND HOW HE HAS MANAGED TO HANDLE IT.

>> MICHAEL, WHAT ELSE ARE YOU WATCHING FOR TONIGHT, IT IS RARE THAT WE SEE ANY BIG SURPRISES IN A PRIMARY, BUT SHOULD WE EXPECT ONE?

>> IT WOULD BE A SURPRISE IF EITHER CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE VOTED 45%, IT WOULD BE A SURPRISE TO ME, IF VALERIE HUDDLE WERE TO UPSET GORDON JOHNSON IN BERGEN COUNTY, JOHNSON WHO HAS THE PARTY BACKING AND THE PARTY LINE ON THE BALLOT, AND IT WOULD BE A SURPRISE TO ME, SOMEWHAT, IF SETH UPSETS VINCE DOWN IN ATLANTIC CITY.

HE HAS A PARTY LINE, GROSSMAN IS A MAVERICK.

>> OKAY, MICHAEL, WE WILL BE CHECKING IN WITH YOU LATER TONIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THINK YOU, BREANNA.

>> AS MICHAEL POINTS OUT THERE IS A LOT AT STAKE IN SEVERAL OF THESE LEGISLATIVE RACES, ALL 120 SEATS UP FOR GRABS, BUT JUST 19 ARE CONTESTED AND THEY SPAN THE STATE, DEMOCRATS HAVE THE UPPER HAND WITH CONTROL OVER BOTH THE ASSEMBLY AND SENATE, AND BIG CAMPAIGN CALM FIRST TO HELP THEM.

A HANDFUL OF CANDIDATES ARE RUNNING OFF THE LINE, THAT MEANS WITHOUT THE BACKING OF THEIR PARTY, CASTING SOME DRAMA OVER WHAT TENDS TO BE A LOW INTEREST ELECTION CYCLE.

NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, COLLEEN IS KEEPING TABS ON IT ALL.

A LOT OF TALK ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S RACE TODAY BUT THERE IS A NUMBER OF OTHER RACES TO WATCH AS WELL, WHERE ARE YOU LOOKING?

>> Reporter: WE ARE LOOKING AT BERGEN COUNTY, AT THE 37th DISTRICT WHERE LORETTA WEINBERG IS RETIRING, AND THE 2 ASSEMBLY MEMBERS, GORDON JOHNSON AND VALERIE ARE FIGHTING IT OUT.

WE ARE ALSO LOOKING UP IN MORRIS COUNTY AT THE 26th DISTRICT WHERE BETTY LOU TO CROCE AND JAY WEBER BOTH ASSEMBLY MEMBERS ARE RUNNING ON OPPOSITE SIDES, RATHER THAN RUNNING TOGETHER.

THERE IS ALSO A REALLY HOT RACE IN THE 20th DISTRICT IN UNION COUNTY, WHERE YOU HAVE GOT SENATOR JOE, BEING CHALLENGED BY ASSEMBLYMAN HOLLY, WHO IS HIS ASSEMBLY MEMBER AND THEN DOWN IN THE 13th DISTRICT, WE HAVE ANOTHER ASSEMBLY MEMBER WHO DID NOT GET ENDORSED BY HER PARTY, SERENA, SHE IS RUNNING OFF THE LINE, SO TO SPEAK FOR REELECTION.

>> A LOT OF THESE RACES ARE A MICROCOSM OF THIS WHOLE DEBATE OVER THE PARTY LINE, WHETHER YOU HAVE IT, WHETHER YOU DON'T.

IS IT GOING TO COME DOWN TO THAT TONIGHT?

>> YES, I THINK IN THESE FEW DISTRICTS, THE 37th, THE 13th, AND IN THE 26th, THAT IS ABSOLUTELY GOING TO BE THE CASE.

I THINK THOSE WILL TELL US JUST HOW POWERFUL THE PARTY LINE IS BECAUSE YOU HAVE INCUMBENTS IN ALL OF THOSE CASES, WHO ARE RUNNING OFF THE LINE.

SO INCUMBENCY IS POWERFUL, BUT SO IS THE LINE.

WE WILL SEE HOW THAT SHAKES OUT.

>> WHAT IS AT STAKE FOR THESE INCUMBENTS BECAUSE IT IS NOT OFTEN THAT WE LOOK AT CONTESTED RACES, WHERE MULTIPLE TERM INCUMBENTS ARE INVOLVED, AND ALSO THE FACT THAT WE HAVE GOT QUITE A FEW VETERAN LAWMAKERS WHO RETIRED AND THUS, THEIR SEATS ARE OPEN.

>> YEAH, WE HAVE GOT, I MEAN WE HAVE GOT PEOPLE HERE WHO COULD JUST LOSE THEIR CAREERS, THEY MAY BE OVER TONIGHT IF THEY DON'T WIN.

VALERIE AND JOHNSON HAVE BOTH BEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE FOR DECADES, AND YOU HAVE GOT SERENA IS RELATIVELY NEWER BUT CERTAINLY BETWEEN JAY WEBER AND BETTY LOU TO CROUCH, YOU ALSO HAVE LEGISLATORS WHO HAVE BEEN IN FOR QUITE A WHILE.

IT IS A HARD THING TO DO, WHEN YOU ENJOY WHAT YOU ARE DOING, YOU ARE GOING TO TRY TO WIN AGAIN AND YOU MAY NOT WIN, BECAUSE OF THIS.

>> THAT IS POLITICS.

COLLEEN, WE WILL GET INTO ALL OF THAT LATER TONIGHT, WE WILL SEE YOU THEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> SEE YOU LATER, THANK YOU!

>> THE PUSHING AND SHOVING IS ALSO HAPPENING AT THE LOCAL LEVEL TONIGHT, COUNTY CLERKS AND SHERIFFS, VYING FOR THEIR SEAT, AND SEVERAL MAYORAL RACES IN ATLANTIC CITY, EDISON, MOORESTOWN, PLAINFIELD, PARSIPPANY, AND CAMDEN.

THAT IS WHERE WE FIND JANINE DONALDSON, WHERE THREE CANDIDATES ARE GOING UP AGAINST THE FORMIDABLE CAMDEN COUNTY DEMOCRATIC MACHINE.

>> Reporter: I AM HERE IN CAMDEN, WE ARE HAVING VOTER TURNOUT THAT HAS BEEN PRETTY SLOW.

HISTORICALLY, VOTER TURNOUT IS LOW IN THIS AREA FOR PRIMARIES, BUT MANY PEOPLE ARE SAYING THE HEAT ISN'T HELPING EITHER.

NOW WE DID CATCH UP WITH SEVERAL CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR MAYOR, AND THEY ARE TELLING ME THEY HAVE GIVEN THIS RACE THERE ALL AND ARE HOPING FOR CHANGE HERE IN CAMDEN.

>> JUST A FEW MONTHS AFTER FRANK RESIGNED AS MAYOR OF CAMDEN AND VIC WAS APPOINTED MAYOR, VOTERS FINALLY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE THE NEXT LEADER OF THEIR CITY.

>> THE PLAYBOOK HERE THAT THE PARTY WHOSE MOVING FORWARD FOR ELECTIONS HAS I THINK THREE MAJOR PIECES.

ONE IS ABOUT THE LINE WHICH GIVES A STRUCTURAL ADVANTAGE, THE SECOND IS THIS GAME OF MUSICAL CHAIRS WHERE WHEN THERE IS A RESIGNATION, A NEW CANDIDATE CAN RUN AS AN INCUMBENT AND THE THIRD IS ESSENTIALLY INTIMIDATION.

>> STEPHEN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF PUBLIC POLICY FOR THE UNIVERSITY, BELIEVES ALL THREE ARE TAKING PLACE IN THIS PRIMARY ELECTION.

ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THE BALLOT, WHERE INCUMBENT, VIC, IS LISTED IN COLUMN ONE WITH OTHER DEMOCRATS, WHILE HIS CHALLENGERS ARE TWISTED ALONE IN COLUMN FIVE.

>> IT IS A BIG ADVANTAGE AND IT IS BECAUSE FOLKS DON'T HAVE A CHANCE OR A HIGH BAR TO GET OVER TO GET THE NAME RECOGNITION OUT THERE, WHEREAS THE LOCAL PARTY CANDIDATES KIND OF HAVE A BUNCH OF STRUCTURAL VOTES THAT ARE IN THE BANK, THAT WILL HAPPEN NO MATTER WHAT CAMPAIGN THEY RUN AND NO MATTER WHAT THEY DO.

>> ELTON BELIEVES HIS CAMPAIGN HAS EDUCATED VOTERS ON THE BALLOT DESIGN, AND THEY WILL VOTE RIGHT TO LEFT INSTEAD OF DOWN BALLOT.

>> WE ARE TIRED OF THE SUPPRESSING SECTION OF THIS.

I BELIEVE THAT 24,000 PEOPLE THAT ARE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO COME OUT AND TURN UP FOR US TODAY.

>> HOWEVER, VOTER TURNOUT HAS BEEN SLOW SO FAR.

AN ISSUE, THE CHALLENGER BELIEVES THE CITY WILL OVERCOME, BY THE TIME POLLS CLOSE.

HE IS FOCUSED ON THE CONCERNS HE HAS HEARD FROM VOTERS.

>> THE ONLY ISSUE THAT I SAW THIS MORNING WAS THAT THEY WERE OPEN LATE THIS MORNING.

ALSO, WHEN THEY WENT TO VOTE, THE COLUMN ONE WAS ALREADY OUT.

AND ALSO SOME PRETTY BILL -- SOME PEOPLE DIDN'T APPEAR ON THE LIST.

>> Reporter: LAST WEEK GOVERNOR MURPHY ENDORSED, BUT WE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY COMMENT.

THE CHALLENGER, FELICIA IS RUNNING AGAINST WHAT SHE CALLED THE DEMOCRATIC MACHINE.

A MACHINE THAT THEY BELIEVE THEY CAN BEAT.

>> THE BIGGEST THING I WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW IS THAT YOU HAVE A LEADER THAT IS DEDICATED TO FIGHT DIRECTLY FOR YOU, THIS IS ABOUT A RESIDENT'S FIRST APPROACH, THE RESIDENTS HAVE TO COME FIRST FOR 50 YEARS WE HAVE BEEN WASTED BY THE WAYSIDE.

LAID BY THE WAYSIDE.

TODAY, THAT IS OVER.

>> PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HERE FOR SO MANY YEARS IN OUR CITY, THEY TOOK OVER ALL OF THE RESPECT FOR THE PEOPLE.

THAT IS WHY I WANT TO GIVE BACK THAT RESPECT TO MY COMMUNITY.

>> IN CAMDEN, I AM JANINE, FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> WE WILL HAVE FULL COVERAGE OF THE PRIMARY ELECTION TONIGHT, JOIN US AT 8:30 PM ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL FOR A LIVE UPDATE AS THE POLLS CLOSE, THEN COME BACK AT 11:00 PM FOR A SPECIAL EDITION OF NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS ON NJ PBS AND STREAMING ONLINE.

WE WILL HAVE YOUR ELECTION RESULTS AND ANALYSIS, YOU CAN ALSO FOLLOW ALONG@NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG TO GET THE LATEST ON THE RACES.

MORE REPORTS AND INSIGHT THROUGHOUT THE EVENING.

AND NEW REPORTS SHOW A LATE WAVE OF SPENDING AND COMPETITIVE PRIMARY DISTRICTS, RHONDA BREAKS DOWN THE NUMBERS AND OUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES TONIGHT, RHONDA?

>>> WE WANT TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE SPENDING AROUND THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE CAMPAIGNS, NEW NUMBERS FROM THE NEW JERSEY ELECTION LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMISSIONER ELECT SHOW SPENDING BY INDEPENDENT COMMITTEES HAS CENTERED ON 3 CONTESTED DISTRICTS.

THAT IS DISTRICTS 20, 26, AND 37.

EIGHT COMMITTEES REPORTED ACTIVITY IN THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE CAMPAIGNS, MORE THAN $1.7 MILLION OR 88% OF THEIR TOTAL SPENDING HAS GONE TO THOSE THREE DISTRICTS.

MEANTIME, THEY SAY THE DEMOCRATS WHO CONTROL THE LEGISLATURE HAVE RAISED AND SPENT SUBSTANTIALLY MORE THAN THE REPUBLICANS, AND INCUMBENT LAWMAKERS HAVE RAISED NEARLY 8 TIMES MORE IN CAMPAIGN FUNDS, THEN CHALLENGERS.

ONCE THE ELECTION IS OVER, IT IS BACK TO THE BUSINESS OF TRYING TO FINALIZE A NEW STATE BUDGET, AND SENATE REPUBLICANS ARE HOPING SOME OF THEIR IDEAS GAIN SUPPORT.

THEIR RECOMMENDED CHANGES TO THE MURPHY ADMINISTRATION PROPOSAL, FORMALIZED IN A LETTER THIS WEEK, INCLUDE USING FEDERAL COVID-19 FUNDS TO ELIMINATE A PLANNED TAX INCREASE ON BUSINESSES , NEEDED TO REPLENISH THE UNAPPOINTED TRUST FUND.

THEY WANT TO GIVE NEW YORK A TAX BREAK ESPECIALLY SINCE MANY ARE NOW WORKING FROM HOME.

SENATOR STEPHEN SAYS THE STATES DIVISION OF TAXATION SHOULD ADDRESS THAT ISSUE IMMEDIATELY.

>> THEY SHOULD STOP TELLING NEW YORK COMPANIES TO WITHHOLD NEW YORK TAXES AND TO WITHHOLD NEW JERSEY TAXES.

THAT WILL DO A COUPLE THINGS.

ONE, THE MONEY WILL COME TO NEW JERSEY.

TWO, IT WILL AND CREATE A TAX CUT FOR ALMOST ALL OF THE PEOPLE, BECAUSE THE TAX RATES IN NEW YORK ARE HIGHER THAN THEY ARE IN NEW JERSEY.

>> REPUBLICANS ALSO WANT TO DECREASE SPENDING BY $300 MILLION, BUDGET HEARINGS RESUME TOMORROW.

NOW HERE IS A CHECK ON THE WALL STREET TRADING DAY.

I AM ROBIN, THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> TONIGHT, THE BLOWBACK FROM AN INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATIVE REPORT INTO THE STATES ONLY WOMEN'S PRISON CONTINUES, WITH THE RESIGNATION OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS COMMISSIONER.

MARCUS ANNOUNCING TODAY, HE WILL LEAVE HIS POST EFFECTIVE JUNE 18, IT COMES AFTER A STUNNING DECISION BY GOVERNOR MURPHY TO CLOSE THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY FOR WOMEN, AFTER YEARS OF ALLEGATIONS INVOLVING ABUSE, SEXUAL ASSAULT, AND CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR BY STAFF.

LANE MICHIGAN REPORTS.

>> Reporter: IT IS THE SHAKEUP LAWMAKERS AND ADVOCATES HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR SINCE MEDIA REPORTS CAME OUT ABOUT VIOLENT CELL EXTRACTIONS ON JANUARY 11 AT THE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY.

NEW JERSEY'S ONLY WOMEN'S PRISON.

>> THAT WAS NOT THE FIRST CHAPTER IN THE LONG BOOK OF THIS FACILITY, AND I HAVE JUST MADE A DECISION.

>> Reporter: ON MONDAY, THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED HIS INTENTION TO SHUT DOWN THE PRISON AFTER AN INDEPENDENT REPORT HE COMMISSIONED WAS RELEASED.

24 HOURS LATER, DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS COMMISSION, MARCUS, ANNOUNCED HIS RESIGNATION.

AFTER COMBING THROUGH MORE THAN 21,000 DOCUMENTS, 20 HOURS OF VIDEO FOOTAGE AND INTERVIEWS WITH STATE OFFICIALS, FORMER STATE COMPTROLLER AND FEDERAL PROSECUTOR, MATT BOXER, GIVES US AN INSIDE LOOK AS TO HOW THIS ALL UNFOLDED.

>> THIS IS A VERY DISTURBING REPORT.

>> Reporter: ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, DOCUMENTATION STATES THAT THE ASSOCIATED ADMINISTRATOR ALONG WITH 2 MAJORS AT THE FACILITY APPROVED THE CELL EXTRACTIONS.

AFTER A SERIES OF SPLASHING INCIDENTS, A TERM USED TO REFER TO AN INMATE SQUIRTING A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER WITH WICKED.

OFTEN URINE OR FECES.

>> THERE WAS NO ACTING ADMINISTRATOR, EVEN THOUGH THE COMMISSIONER WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THERE WAS ONE.

UNCLEAR AND IN FORMAL AUTHORIZATION PROTOCOLS LIKELY CONTRIBUTED TO THE CELL EXTRACTIONS, THE REPORT CONCLUDES ADDING CELL EXTRACTIONS WERE NOT PROPERLY RECORDED, OFFICERS USED EXCESSIVE FORCE AND FILED FALSE REPORTS AND STAFF FAILED TO PREVENT MALE VIEWING OF INMATE STRIP SEARCHES.

>> THE REPORT FINDS THE SERIES OF CELL EXTRACTIONS WERE SO MISHANDLED AS TO RESULT IN THE INJURY OF MULTIPLE INMATES, AND THE ULTIMATE SUSPENSION OF 34 EMC F SUPERVISORS AND STAFF.

>> HAPPINESS, RELIEF.

A LITTLE SADNESS BECAUSE IT SHOULDN'T HAVE GOTTEN THIS FAR.

>> Reporter: THEY HAVE FOUGHT FOR YEARS TO GET THE FACILITY SHUT DOWN.

>> I HOPE IT IS NOT ALL TALK.

>> ARE YOU FEEL FULL -- ARE YOU FEARFUL AT DOCUMENT >> I AM PRAYING IT IS NOT SOMETHING WORSE.

>> WHAT I HEARD FROM MANY OF THE WOMEN WAS THAT THEY DID NOT WANT THE PRISON CLOSED, THAT THE CAMPUS WAS BEAUTIFUL, THAT THE POTENTIAL FOR PROGRAMMING WAS EXTRAORDINARY, BUT IS IT WISE, BUDGET WISE WOULDN'T IT BE CHEAPER TO REPAIR AND REPLACE , I DON'T KNOW WHAT CLOSURE HAS TO DO WITH CULTURE.

>> GET THIS FACILITY AT LONG LAST INTO HER REARVIEW MIRROR.

>> GOVERNOR MURPHY EXPLAIN SHUTTING DOWN THE PRISON WILL BE A MULTIYEAR PROCESS THAT WILL REQUIRE COOPERATION AND THE REFORMS NEED TO HAPPEN IMMEDIATELY.

AMONG THE REPORT'S SUGGESTIONS ARE INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT, CLARIFIED CELL EXTRACTION PROTOCOLS, DE-ESCALATION TRAINING, BODY CAMERAS, AND FIXING THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THE MORE THAN 100-YEAR-OLD FACILITY.

THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS SPOKESPERSON TOLD US IN A STATEMENT THEY TOOK SWIFT ACTION WHEN THEY FIRST LEARNED ABOUT THE JANUARY 11 INCIDENT AND PLAN TO IMPLEMENT REFORMS.

NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM WE ARE.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR US FOR NOW, DON'T FORGET TO JOIN US ON THE NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL AT 8:30 PM FOR A LIVE UPDATE AS THE POLLS CLOSE, AND AGAIN AT 11:00 PM, RIGHT HERE ON NJ PBS FOR A SPECIAL EDITION OF NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH OUR FULL TEAM COVERAGE.

I BRIANA VANNOZI, FOR THE ENTIRE NEWS TEAM, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING, WE WILL SEE YOU IN JUST A BIT.

>> THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GRADE FOR EVERY CHILD.

LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND THE OCEAN RING PROJECT, AND COMMITTED TO THE CREATION OF A NEW LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE CLEAN ENERGY FUTURE FOR NEW JERSEY.

>> LOOK AT THESE KIDS.

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

I SEE MYSELF.

I BECAME AN ESL TEACHER TO GIVE MY STUDENTS WHAT I WANTED WHEN I CAME TO THIS COUNTRY.

THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, TO DREAM, TO ACHIEVE, A CHANCE TO BELONG AND TO BE AN AMERICAN.

MY NAME IS JULIA AND I AM PROUD TO BE A MEMBER.