>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS PROVIDED BY THE MEMBERS OF NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCATION, MAKING PUBLIC SCHOOLS GREAT FOR EVERY CHILD.

RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH, LET'S BE HEALTHY TOGETHER.

AND, THE OCEAN WIND PROJECT BY ORSTED.

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

>> FROM NJPBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>>> HELLO, AND WELCOME TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM JOANNA GAGIS IN FOR BRIANA VANNOZZI.

TODAY IS THE DAY THAT NEW JERSEYANS WILL DECIDE WHO WILL BE THE NEXT GOVERNOR.

WILL IT BE FOUR MORE YEARS OF GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY, OR WILL VOTERS HAD A NEW DIRECTION WITH JACK CHITARELLI?

ALL EYES WILL BE WATCHING THE TOP OF THE TICKET, BUT THERE ARE RACES HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE STATE THAT HAVE A HUGE IMPACT ON RESIDENCE.

EVERYONE OF THE STATES 120 LEGISLATIVE SEATS IS UP FOR GRABS.

REPUBLICANS ARE MAKING A PUSH TO FLIP SEVERAL OF THEM TO TRY TO GAIN CONTROL, AND THE CONTESTS HAVE HEATED UP IN THREE DISTRICTS.

TWO, 8 AND 16.

BUT HAVE TODAY ENDS WILL DEPEND ON WHO MAKES HER WAY TO THE POLLS.

WILL WE SEE HIGHER THAN NORMAL VOTER TURNOUT OR PARTICIPATION LIGON THIS OFF YEAR ELECTION?

IS A QUESTION THAT COULD DECIDE THE POLITICAL FATE OF REPUBLICAN, JACK CIATTARELLI HAS BEEN CANVASSING THE STATE IN THE LAST HOURS OF THE CAMPAIGN ENCOURAGING VOTERS TO GET OUT AND VOTE FOR HIM.

SR.

CORRESPONDENT, BRENDA FLANAGAN , WAS THERE AS HE MADE HIS FINAL PUSH.

>> AND, GUYS.

JACK CIATTARELLI, BE SURE TO VOTE TODAY.

>> REPUBLICAN, JACK CIATTARELLI WRAPPED UP HIS CAMPAIGN WITH THREE FINAL STOPS WITH COUNTY DINERS, LATE POLLS MADE TO 11 POINTS BEHIND IN COMING, GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY.

BUT AS SUPPORTERS SCRAMBLED THE POPPING ALONG THE HIGHWAY, THE CHALLENGER CALLED IT A CLOSE ELECTION.

>> WE DID PLAN OUR WORK AND I THINK WE'RE RIGHT WHERE WE NEED TO BE.

I REALLY DO.

THIS IS A DEAD HEAT.

>> IS LOOKING FOR A BOOST FROM VOTER TURNOUT THAT COULD ALSO BENEFIT MURPHY.

REGISTERED DEMOCRATS OUTNUMBER REPUBLICANS BY 1 MILLION VOTERS.

IT IS AN UPHILL CLIMB.

>> THE MATH IS DIFFICULT TO SAY THE LEAST FOR REPUBLICAN IN NEW JERSEY.

YOU NEED TO WIN OVER 90% OF REPUBLICAN VOTERS, YOU NEED TO AND PROBABLY TWO THIRDS OF DEMOCRATS.

EXCUSE ME, INDEPENDENT/UNAFFILIATED VOTERS.

AND YOU STILL NEED A PRETTY GOOD CHUNK OF DEMOCRATS.

MAYBE 15%.

>> I LOVE YOUR SPIRIT.

>> AND, JACK CIATTARELLI HAS GOT TO HOLD HIS BASE.

THE ONE-TIME MODERN CAMPAIGN OFTEN GOT CAUGHT IN THE POLITICAL CROSSFIRE OF CULTURE WARS, TRYING TO WALK THE LINE BETWEEN BLUE NEW JERSEY, AND HIS HEART RATE SUPPORTERS ON ISSUES LIKE GUN CONTROL, COULD CRITICAL RACE THEORY, MASKING VACCINATION MANDATES, AND IMMIGRATION.

WE SAMPLED A FEW RANDOM PROJECT MOTORS ON THEIR ISSUES.

>> I AM VACCINATED, YOU KNOW, I THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD GET VACCINATED BUT I DON'T THINK SOMEBODY SHOULD BE TELLING YOU WHAT TO DO.

>> I FEEL HE'S THE BETTER CANDIDATE RUNNING.

I'M TIRED OF HIGH TAXES AND ALL THAT.

>> ARE DISTINCT ILLEGALS AND THE SANCTUARY CITIES IN THE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS GOING TO ALL THAT INSTEAD OF THE MAYBE REDUCING THE PROPERTY TAXES.

>> I DON'T LIKE PHIL MURPHY.

>> WHY NOT?

>> I JUST DON'T LIKE EVERYTHING HE DOES.

>> SOME 700,000 PEOPLE CAST EARLY BALLOTS, MOST OF THEM, MALIN.

TURNOUT, EXPECTED TO BE LOW, 38 OR 39%.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO WATCH.

>> YOU NEED TO PUT SOME COUNTIES IN THE MIDDLE AND REALLY, REPUBLICANS TEND TO DO THAT WITH MIDDLESEX COUNTY, TOWNS LIKE WOODBRIDGE, EDISON.

ALSO SIMILAR IN SOUTH JERSEY.

I FLIPPED AS WELL.

WHEN HE STARTED SEE THOSE WHICH HAVE I WOULD SAY, WORKING- CLASS, MIDDLE-CLASS, BLUE- COLLAR, MESA POLITIES AND COUNTIES, THAT'S WHERE REPUBLICANS TEND TO THE DEMOCRATS.

>> JACK CIATTARELLI SAYS HE EXPECTS VOTER TURNOUT TO RUN HIGHER MAYBE 45%.

ANALYSTS SEE A MORE SMALLER REPUBLICAN BASE.

>> ENTHUSIASM HELPS IN MAKING SURE YOUR VOTERS GET TO THE POLLS.

BUT, FOR JACK CIATTARELLI, BECAUSE HE'S A REPUBLICAN RUNNING STATE WERE NEW JERSEY, THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH REPUBLICANS.

SO, IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW HARD THEY PUSH THE BOOT.

>> HE STARTED RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR IN 2016, LOST THE PRIMARY AND JUST KEPT ON RUNNING .13% OF NEW JERSEY VOTERS STILL DON'T RECOGNIZE HIS NAME.

BUT, THAT IS DOWN FROM 50%, BACK IN JUNE.

>> YOU BEEN AT THIS FOR FIVE YEARS, HOW DO YOU FEEL AT THIS POINT?

>> I FEEL VERY SATISFIED BECAUSE I WORKED REALLY HARD.

THE ONLY TIME I GET NERVOUS IS WHEN I HAVE NOT PUT IN A MAXIMUM EFFORT AND I CAN PUT IN MY MIRROR AND SAY WE DID WHAT WE NEEDED TO DO.

I BELIEVE WE ARE GOING TO.

>> I AM BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> MEANWHILE, PHIL MURPHY IS TRYING TO BE THE FIRST MAKATI GOVERNOR TO WIN REELECTION IN NEW JERSEY SINCE BRENDAN BYRNE IN 1977.

HE HAS LED IN THE POLLS THROUGHOUT THIS RACE.

EVEN AS WE OBTAINED IN THE FINAL STRETCH.

MURPHY HAS BEEN TOUTING HIS STRONGER FAIR IN NEW JERSEY PROGRESSIVE AGENDA BUT IT'S HIS HANDLING OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC THAT'S RESONATED MOST WITH VOTERS EARNING HIM THE EDGE OVER JACK CIATTARELLI.

SO, WILL HE KEEP THAT LEAD IN THE LAST VOTES ARE CAST TONIGHT?

AND, WHAT IS HE DOING TO GET THAT BOAT OUT TODAY?

SENIOR POLITICAL COURSE ON IT, DAVID CRUZ HAS MORE.

>> FOUR MORE YEARS.

>> NEW JERSEY HAS BEEN VOTING FOR WEEKS, NOW.

BY MAIL, AND FOR 9 DAYS WHICH ENDED SUNDAY IN PERSON.

BUT, ELECTION DAY IS STILL ELECTION DAY.

AND, THAT MEANS GO, TB.

GET OUT THE VOTE.

FOR GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY, AHEAD IN EVERY POLL, BUT INSISTING THAT HIS RUNNING LIKE HE IS 10 POINTS DOWN, THAT MEANT MEDIA HITS WITH BLACK AND LATINO RADIO, AND A VISIT HERE TO NEWARK.

A BIG TURNOUT IS CRITICAL TO THE DEMOCRAT.

>> WE ARE TAKING FOR GRANTED WHAT WE HAVE.

SO WE WANT TO SPREAD THE MESSAGE SO EVERYBODY'S COMFORTABLE WITH WHAT IS GOING ON AND COME OUT OF THE BOAT.

>> BE AS AGGRESSIVE AS YOU CAN TO KEEP VOTERS OUT PRETTY HAVE A DOUBLE OR TRIPLE WHAT WE HAD IN THE PRIMARIES.

WE ARE FLOODED OUT THERE, RIGHT?

>> THAT IS RAY OR MAYOR ANONYMOUSLY POPULAR IN THE STATES CITY TRYING TO MUSTER ENTHUSIASM FROM STREET TEAMS WILL HAVE TO CARRY THE LOAD TODAY, GRABBING VOTERS AND GETTING THEM TO THE POLLING PLACES.

>> WE ARE BACK AS A STATE.

NEW YORK IS LEADING THE WAY.

IT IS EXTRAORDINARY THAT ALL OF THOSE NAYSAYERS OUT THERE SAID HE COULD NOT GET IT DONE, OR I COULD NOT GET IT DONE, GUESS WHAT.

TOGETHER, WE GOT IT DONE.

>> SENATOR CORY BOOKER, FORMER MAYOR HIMSELF DID HIS PART BY TAKING THE SOCIAL MEDIA, URGING HIS FOLLOWERS TO VOTE THE LINE.

>> IT IS ELECTION DAY, AND I'M ASKING YOU TO GET YOUR VOTE IN TODAY.

PLEASE, VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS UP AND DOWN THE BALLOT, STARTING WITH GOVERNOR MURPHY.

GOVERNOR OLIVER ALL THE WAY DOWN THE DEMOCRATIC LINE.

>> 2021 MARKS THE FIRST YEAR OF SOME NEW TECHNOLOGY, AND THERE WERE REPORTS OF PROBLEMS, TECHNOLOGICAL AND PERSONNEL WISE AT SOME POLLING STATIONS AROUND THE STATE.

THE GOVERNOR WAS ASKED ABOUT THAT THIS MORNING.

>> I HEARD SOMETHING THIS MORNING, I DID.

IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THEY'VE BEEN LARGELY ADDRESSED.

GOING BACK INTO MY OFFICIAL OFFICE AFTER A COUPLE STOPS AT THE MAYOR AND I WILL DO ANOTHER CHECK IN.

>> YOU ASK THIS TO BE AN ISSUE QUESTION WHY >> TOLD IT WAS, THERE WERE INCIDENTS BUT NOT WIDESPREAD.

AM GOING TO GO BACK AND CONFIRM THAT BECAUSE I'VE BEEN ON THE TREND.

TALK TO THE OFFICIAL SITE >> ARE YOU AT ALL CONCERNED IS STARTING THIS NEW SYSTEM WITH THE ELECTION THAT DURING THE SELECTION THAT IT DID LEAD TO SOME CONFUSION?

>> APPARENTLY, SOME PLACES THERE WAS CONFUSION BUT I DON'T THINK IT WAS WIDESPREAD.

AND BY THE WAY, WE GOT 207,000 PEOPLE TO VOTE EARLY IN PERSON WHICH IS FAR MORE THAN I THOUGHT WE WOULD.

SO, THIS THING, UNLESS THERE IS SOMETHING THAT I'M NOT AWARE OF I SUSPECT I WOULD BE AWARE OF, THE NET OF THIS WILL BE HUGELY POSITIVE.

>> THE CONSENSUS IS THAT MOST OF THEM ARE BREAK INTO THE DEMOCRAT SIDE.

AS WE SAID, ELECTION DAY IS STILL ELECTION DAY.

AND THERE ARE MILES TO GO BEFORE EVEN AN INCUMBENT UP IN THE POLLS CAN GET SOME SLEEP.

I AM DAVID CRUZ, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> YOU MAY NOTICE YOUR POLLING LOCATION FEELS LIGHTER TODAY.

BECAUSE MORE THAN 700,000 PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY CAST THEIR BALLOTS.

NEW JERSEY OFFER THREE DIFFERENT WAYS OF UNLOADING THIS ELECTION CYCLE.

SO, IS THE EARLY TURNOUT WHAT OFFICIALS EXPECTED?

WILL IT AFFECT YOU GOT THE VOTES?

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, IN THIS OFF YEAR ELECTION, DID IT DRIVE MORE PEOPLE TO THE POLLS, OR PERHAPS KEEP THEM AWAY?

MELISSA ROSE COOPER TAKES A LOOK.

>> A BUSY ELECTION DAY FOR THE UNION WORKERS AS THEY PROCESS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MAIL-IN BALLOT.

AND, WITH EARLY VOTING AVAILABLE IN NEW JERSEY FOR THE FIRST TIME, VOTERS NOW HAVE TWO ADDITIONAL OPTIONS TO MAKE SURE THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD.

>> EARLY VOTING WAS WILDLY SUCCESSFUL, I THINK.

WE HAD JUST OVER 10,700 EARLY VOTERS THAT, IN THE NINE DAYS OF EARLY VOTING, WITH SEVEN LOCATIONS COUNTYWIDE.

VOTE BY MAIL BALLOTS WERE JUST OVER 47,000 ISSUED.

AND SO FAR, JUST OVER 25,000 HAVE BEEN RETURNED.

>> LAST YEAR, THE STATE SENT EVERY REGISTERED VOTER A MAIL- IN BALLOT DUE TO THE COMING PANDEMIC .97% OF PEOPLE WHO VOTED LAST YEAR DID SO BY MAIL, BUT THIS YEAR, RESIDENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CAST THEIR BALLOT IN PERSON LIKE RODNEY DURHAM WHO SAYS HE WAS IN AND OUT OF THIS SITE AT WOODROW WILSON SCHOOL IN ELIZABETH WITHIN A FEW MINUTES.

>> REALLY EASY, REALLY EASY.

>> NO LINES, NO ISSUES?

>> NO, NOTHING.

>> ROUGHLY 525,000 PEOPLE JUST ABOUT BY MAIL.

ANOTHER 208,000 OPTED FOR EARLY VOTING.

THAT IS JUST OVER 11% OF REGISTERED VOTERS CASTING A BALLOT BEFORE ELECTION DAY.

A THIRD OF THE TOTAL TURNOUT IN 2017.

FEMA THERE IS AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF POWER CONCENTRATED ON THIS PALLET.

THE ENTIRE STATEHOUSE IS UP FOR ELECTION WITH GOVERNOR COUNTY OFFICES, LOCAL OFFICES, SCHOOLBOARD OFFICES, AN IMMENSE AMOUNT OF POWER, THERE IS NOBODY IN THE STATE THAT WILL BE IMPACTED BY THE FOLKS WHO GET ELECT TODAY.

>> VOTING ADVOCATES MAKING AN EXTRA PUSH FOR PEOPLE TO GET OUT THIS YEAR, INCLUDING MAKING VARIOUS RESOURCES AVAILABLE SO VOTERS UNDERSTAND WHAT IS AT STAKE.

>> WE WANT TO SEE VOTER TURNOUT ABOVE THAT 2017 RATE WHICH WAS I THINK ABOUT 39% THE LAST GUBERNATORIAL, WHICH IS JUST, YOU KNOW, SUPERLOW.

THERE'S NO REASON FOR IT.

SO, WHEN VOTERS UNDERSTAND HOW IMPORTANT THESE ELECTIONS ARE, PARTICULARLY, LOCAL ELECTIONS, THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO TURNOUT.

>> OVER IN ESSEX COUNTY, THEY ARE HOPEFUL FOR A GREAT TURNOUT.

>> WE ARE EXPECTING MORE THAN 150,000 VOTERS.

MAYBE MORE THAN 100,000 ON ELECTION DAY, BUT THEN, WE ARE INCLUDING EARLY VOTING NUMBERS, AND VOTE BY MAIL MEMBERS.

>> TO FIGHT THEM REPORTED ISSUES WITH AN ELECTRONIC HAVE BEING USED, EXIT COUNTY COURT SAYS OVERALL, THINGS HAVE BEEN PRETTY SMOOTH.

>> WE'RE GOING FROM PAPER.

YOU KNOW, VOTERS REGISTERED VOTERS ON PAPER.

TO iPADS.

SO, IF THERE'S ANY CONNECTIVITY ISSUES, THEN WE ARE MOVING COWORKERS TO DIFFERENT AREAS OF THE POLLING PLACE.

WE HAVE NIGHTHAWKS, WHICH ARE SUPER WI-FI CONNECTORS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE iPADS ARE CONNECT DID IN THAT MANNER.

>> CHANGES A PROCESS, RIGHT?

AND SO, IT IS NEW FOR PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY'RE ACCUSTOMED TO GOING INTO A MACHINE, AND IS PUSHING A BUTTON.

AND NOW, WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY, THEY HAVE TO ADAPT TO THE CHANGES.

>> PULLED CLOSE AROUND THE STATE AT 8:00 P.M.

VOTERS CAN STILL SEND IN THEIR BALLOTS BY MAIL AS LONG AS THEY ARE POSTMARKED BY TODAY OR PLACED IN THE BALLOT DROPBOX BY 8:00 P.M. FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM MELISSA ROSE COOPER.

>>> NEW JERSEY IS ONE OF JUST TWO STATES HOLDING DIVINATORY ELECTION TODAY.

THE OTHER, VIRGINIA, HAS CAPTURED THE NATION'S ATTENTION.

THAT RACE IS SEEN AS AN EARLY REFERENDUM ON BIDEN'S PRESIDENCY.

LATEST POLLING SHOWS MOST AMERICANS DISAPPROVE OF THE PRESIDENT'S JOB PERFORMANCE BUT HERE IN NEW JERSEY, HOW MUCH IS THE NATIONAL NARRATIVE AFFECTING VOTERS DECISIONS?

ASHLEY KOENIG IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST POLLING, AND SHE JOINS ME NOW TO BREAK DOWN THE FINDINGS OF THEIR LATEST POLL.

ACTUALLY, THIS WEEK'S EAGLETON POLL PUT GOVERNOR MURPHY EIGHT POINTS AHEAD OF JACK CIATTARELLI.

IT'S BEEN A PRETTY STEADY LEAD.

WHAT IS THE POLL SHOW ABOUT WHY VOTERS ARE SUPPORTING EITHER CANDIDATE?

>> RIGHT.

SO WE ASKED VERBATIM, WHY ARE YOU SUPPORTING THE CANDIDATE WHO YOU SAY YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE FOR, ALREADY VOTED FOR, AND IT REALLY COMES DOWN TO NOT POLICY, OR THE CANDIDATE HIMSELF, BUT IT COMES DOWN TO PARTISANSHIP, ESPECIALLY OPPOSITION TOWARDS THE CANDIDATE'S OPPONENT.

MORE ABOUT PARTISAN LOYALTY, MORE ABOUT THE SHORTCUT OF I AM A DEMOCRAT REPUBLICAN.

AND REALLY TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUE THAT STATED.

VERY FEW MENTIONED TAXES ARE IN THE ECONOMY AND VERY FEW MENTIONED THE PANDEMIC.

>> WAS INTERESTING.

AS WE LOOK AT VIRGINIA AND HOW THESE TWO CURATORIAL ELECTIONS PLAY OUT ON THE NATIONAL STAGE, HERE IN NEW JERSEY, ONLY 2% OF THE RESPONDENTS IN YOUR POLL MENTIONED PRESIDENT TRUMP.

IS THIS ELECTION MUCH MORE FOCUSED ON NEW JERSEY?

>> YOU KNOW, I WOULD ACTUALLY SAY THE OPPOSITE.

I WOULD SAY THIS IS A MUCH MORE NATIONALIZED ELECTION CYCLE THAT WE'VE SEEN IN RECENT HISTORY WITH THE NEW JERSEY.

AT LEAST IN TERMS OF THE CAMPAIGN TACTICS.

WHILE IT WAS 2% WHO SPECIFICALLY MENTIONED PRESIDENT TRUMP, YOU KNOW, THAT'S IN THE CONTEXT OF YOU KNOW, HUNDREDS OF RESPONDENTS THAT WE POLLED.

TALKING ABOUT THE PARTISANSHIP AND THEIR ALLEGIANCE TO THE PARTY AND THEIR HATRED FOR THE OPPONENT ALL THAT FIELD BY THE HARBOR PARTISANSHIP AND POLITICAL POLARIZATION RECEIVED NATIONWIDE INCLUDING THE ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL BY BOTH CANDIDATES.

>> YOU MENTIONED TAXES AND THE ECONOMY, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE DRIVING VOTERS HERE IN NEW JERSEY?

>> AGAIN IT COMES DOWN A LOT TO PARTISANSHIP.

AND, THAT KIND OF VISCERAL REACTION AGAINST THE OPPONENT.

BUT, IF WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THAT FOR MURPHY, THE PANDEMIC PLAYS BOTH WAYS, IT IS A DOUBLE- EDGED SWORD.

THEY WERE IN FAVOR FROM THE PANDEMIC.

SOME AGAINST MURPHY BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

INCLUDING MANDATES AND THE NURSING HOME SCANDALS THAT HAVE HAPPENED.

BUT AGAIN, ON THE OTHER SIDE WITH JACK CIATTARELLI, AGAIN ANY ASSOCIATION WITH TRUMP IN THE PANDEMIC AS WELL.

>> WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT SURPRISED YOU IN TERMS OF THE FINDINGS THIS YEAR?

>> YOU KNOW IT, AGAIN, I THINK IT'S REALLY THAT LACK OF FOCUS ON POLICY, AND ESPECIALLY NEW JERSEY CENTRIC POLICY THAT IS FUELING VOTERS TO THE POLLS ON TOP OF, WE HAVE TWO VERY EXTREME CANDIDATES, OR AT LEAST THEY ARE PERCEIVED TO BE EXTREME.

MOST NEW JERSEYANS SEE GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY AS EITHER VERY, OR SOMEWHAT LIBERAL.

AND, MOST NEW JERSEY VOTERS ACTUALLY SEE HIS OPPONENT, JACK CIATTARELLI IS VERY, OR SOMEWHAT CONSERVATIVE AND MEANWHILE, NEW JERSEYANS IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AS SOMEWHERE RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE.

SO AGAIN, BOTH SIDES OF THE SPECTRUM MAY BE REPRESENTED IN THIS CAMPAIGN.

>> AS ALWAYS WE WILL WATCH TO SEE WHETHER THESE POLLS BEAR OUT IN TERMS OF HOW PEOPLE VOTED.

ASHLEY, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> A REMINDER TO JOIN US HERE ON NJ FIVE TONIGHT FOR OUR SPECIAL NJ DECIDES 2021 ELECTION COVERED AT 10:00 P.M. WE WILL BRING YOU THE MOST UP- TO-DATE RESULTS AND ANALYSIS FOR ALL THE MATCHUPS ACROSS THE STATE.

BUT, YOU CAN ALWAYS HAD TO OUR DIGITAL NEWS RIGHT, NJSPOTLIGHTNEWS.ORG FOR INFO ON HOW AND WHERE TO VOTE TO SEE CANDIDATE PROFILES AND GET DISTRICT TO DISTRICT ANALYSIS AND ELECTION DAY RESULTS.

>>> AC/DC ADVISORY PANEL HAS VOTED TO RECOMMEND THE PFIZER COVID-19 VACCINE FOR KIDS IT IS 5 TO 11.

ON THE HEELS OF THE FDA AUTHORIZING THE VACCINE FOR THIS AGE GROUP LAST WEEK.

ONCE THE CDC DIRECTOR GIVES THE FINAL GREEN LIGHT, THE SHOPS COULD BE AVAILABLE HERE IN NEW JERSEY AS EARLY AS TOMORROW MORNING.

STATE OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE MORE THAN 200,000 DOSES READY TO GO AT 230 LOCATIONS, INCLUDING P ATTRITION'S OFFICES AND PHARMACIES.

AND, LATER THIS MONTH, AND SCHOOL CLINIC WILL BE READY TO ADMINISTER THE SHOPS TO THE MORE THAN 760,000 ELIGIBLE KIDS.

THE VACCINE SCHEDULE WILL NEAR THE ONE FOR ADULTS, TWO DOSES, THREE WEEKS APART.

BUT, THESE ARE ONLY A THIRD OF THEM GIVEN TO OLDER KIDS AND ADULTS.

THE DATA SHOWS THE VACCINE IS MORE THAN 90% EFFECTIVE FOR THIS AGE GROUP.

ALSO ON THE BALLOT, WHETHER OR NOT NEW JERSEYANS WANTS TO WAGER ON COLLEGE BOARDS.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER HAS THE SPREAD AND ALL THE OTHER BUSINESS HEADLINES COULD WHAT CAN YOU TELL US?

>>> VOTERS TODAY ARE DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT TO ALLOW GAMBLING IN THE STATE OR ON GAMES IN WHICH NEW JERSEY TEAMS PARTICIPATE.

HEADING INTO ELECTION DAY, RESIDENTS WERE SHARPLY DIVIDED.

ACCORDING TO A RECENT STOCKTON UNIVERSITY POLL.

THE MAJORITY OF VOTERS, 51% OPPOSE EXPANDED SPORTS BETTING.

THAT IS UP FROM A PREVIOUS STOCKTON POLE WHEN 45% WERE OPPOSED.

STOCKTON'S JANE EXPLAINS WHAT IS THE OPPOSITION TO BETTING ON COLLEGE SPORTS QUESTION MARKS THE ACT THERE ARE CONCERNS OBVIOUSLY THAT THE PRESSURE IT PUTS ON THE ATHLETES, THE COLLEGE ATHLETES WERE NOT AS MATURE AS THE PROFESSIONAL ATHLETES.

SO, THAT'S ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT, YOU KNOW, THE ABILITY TO FIX THE GAMES.

>> ANOTHER POLL BY DICKINSON ALSO FOUND VOTERS WERE SPLIT ON THE SPORTS BETTING QUESTION.

AND, THERE'S ANOTHER QUESTION ON THE BALLOT.

VOTERS WHO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT PROFIT SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO USE REVENUES FROM RAFFLES AND BINGO GAMES TO FUND THEIR OPERATIONS.

THERE IS RECORD SPENDING ON THIS ELECTION BY INDEPENDENT GROUPS.

THE ELECTION LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION SAYS AS OF LATE LAST WEEK, INDEPENDENT GROUPS SPEND AN ALL-TIME HIGH OF $39.2 MILLION, WHICH INCLUDES A SPENDING ON BOTH OF THE GENERAL ELECTIONS AS WELL AS THE PRIMARY.

HERE'S A LOOK AT THE TOP SPENDERS.

A COMMITTEE SET UP BY THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION SPENT $6.7 MILLION IN SUPPORT OF GOVERNOR MURPHY'S CAMPAIGN.

ANOTHER MAJOR MURPHY SUPPORTERS, THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

ABOUT REGARDING STATE FORWARD AND SPENT 5 1/2 MILLION.

THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION THAT NEARLY 3.8 MILLION TO SUPPORT JACK CIATTARELLI'S CAMPAIGN.

THE COMMITTEE TO BUILD THE ECONOMY, A MURPHY BACKER SPENT CLOSE TO 2.9 MILLION.

AND THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION SPENT 2.2 MILLION.

THEY WILL RELEASE FINAL ENDING NUMBERS LATER THIS MONTH.

NOW, HERE IS A CHECK ON THE NUMBERS FROM WALL STREET.

I AM RHONDA SCHAFFLER, THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT IS DECEMBER 1st AND SECOND THE HARD ROCK HOTEL AND CASINO IN ATLANTIC CITY.

INFORMATION ONLINE AT NJ TIA.ORG.

>>> SHE IS PROBABLY BEST KNOWN FOR HER TIME FOR SOME TRAFFIC PROBLEMS IN FT. LEE EMAIL SENT TO BRIDGET AND KELLY WHO WAS AN AIDE TO GOVERNOR CHRIS CHRISTIE DURING THE BRIDGE GAME SCANDAL.

THAT EMAIL LED TO KELLY'S CONVICTION IN 2016 THAT WAS LATER OVERTURNED BY THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.

NOW, THE FORMER POLITICAL INSIDER IS LOOKING FOR A COMEBACK.

RUNNING A TIGHT RACE FOR BERGEN COUNTY CLERK AGAINST INCUMBENT, JOHN HOGAN WHO IS SEEKING A THIRD TERM.

KELLY HAS BROUGHT REPUBLICAN SUPPORT, BUT CAN SHE FLIP THIS SEAT IN THE VERY BLUE BERGEN COUNTY?

REAGAN SANTANA BREAKS IT ALL DOWN.

>> WE SAVED $2 MILLION AFTER 10 YEARS AND ELECTION PRINTING COST.

WE HAVE INCREASED OUR ACCESS TO THE PUBLIC QUESTION ARE >> SOME OF THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS JOHN HOGAN SAYS HIS OFFICE HAS ACHIEVED AS BERGEN COUNTY CLERK FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS.

WHILE IMPORTANT, IT IS RARE THAT COUNTY CLERK RACES MAKE HEADLINES AT HOWEVER, THIS YEAR, ALL EYES ARE ON THE COUNTY WHERE THE INCUMBENT IS FACING OFF AGAINST BRIDGET AND KELLY, SHE IS A FORMER DEPUTY CHIEF OF STAFF TO CHRIS CHRISTIE, WHO SENT OUT THE FAMOUS TIME FOR SOME TRAFFIC PROBLEMS EMAIL THAT SAID IN MOTION THE SCANDAL KNOWN AS BRIDGE GAIT.

>> SHE LOVES THE PUBLIC TRUST, AN IT'S HARD TO REGAIN THAT TRUST.

OVER THE PAST 10 YEARS, THE FIRST YEAR IN OFFICE, I OBTAINED, I WANT THE PUBLIC TRUST.

I HELD ONTO THE PUBLIC TRUST AND I THINK IT'S GROWING STRONGER AND STRONGER EVERY DAY.

IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT THAT IS GOING TO BE A DISTRACTION FROM ALL THE GOOD THAT WE'VE DONE IN THE CLERK'S OFFICE.

>> WE SPOKE WITH HOGAN AFTER CASTING HIS VOTE ALONGSIDE HIS WIFE AND DAUGHTER.

HOGAN SAYS HE DOES NOT HAVE AN ISSUE WITH KELLY TRYING TO RESURRECT HER POLITICAL CAREER, BUT HE DOES HAVE AN ISSUE WITH HOW SHE WENT ABOUT IT.

>> I WOULD THINK THAT SHE WOULD NOT HAVE A CHANCE, AND THAT IS MY BEST INTEREST.

BUT, I THINK SHE, AS I SAID THROUGHOUT THE CAMPAIGN, I THINK SHE SHOULD HAVE STARTED ON A LOCAL LEVEL, LIKE I DID IN THIS TOWN, ESPECIALLY WITH ALL THE BAGGAGE THAT SHE HAS.

YOU CANNOT START AT THE TOP AND SHE SHOULD VOLUNTEER IN HER COMMUNITY.

THE PROBLEM IS, SHE NEEDS A JOB.

AND, I HAVE A JOB AND I'M DOING THE JOB WELL.

>> I VOLUNTEER, AND MR. HOGAN JUST DOES NOT KNOW MY RESUME BECAUSE THE ONLY THING HE SEES AS BRIDGE GAIT.

SO I THINK MR. HOGAN PROBABLY IS SAYING THAT BECAUSE HE REALLY DID NOT WANT A CANDIDATE LIKE BRIDGET KELLY RUNNING AGAINST HIM.

SCOTT KELLY DID NOT HOLD BACK AS SHE CANDIDLY TOLD ME SHE'S NOT ASHAMED OF HER PAST.

>> DID YOU EVER IMAGINE YOU WOULD BE RUNNING >> NO.

>> THE ANSWER IS AN ABSOLUTE HARD NO.

I TRIED TO GET BACK INTO THE WORLD IN WHICH I WORKED AFTER THIS RING WOULD NOT RETURN MY CASE.

AND BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE WERE LIKE WE CANNOT DO THAT.

YOU KNOW, CHRIS CRISTI THIS, CHRIS CRISTI THAT AND ALMOST A FEAR OF HIM.

AND WHEN THE PARTY CAME TO HIM THERE WAS SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT.

I TALKED TO MY KIDS AND FAMILY AND IF THIS IS THE ONLY WAY I CAN GET BACK DOING THIS THING THAT I LOVE TO DO MOST, WHICH IS PUBLIC SERVICE, AND I GET ENTRUSTED BY THE VOTERS, AND NOT SOME POLITICAL BOSS, I THINK I'M IN BETTER SHAPE NOW.

>> IN FACT, SHE SAID SHE HAS NEVER BEEN MORE OPTIMISTIC AND EXCITED ABOUT HER FUTURE.

>> EVERYBODY WOULD SAY THE ODDS, THE ODDS, THE ODDS, THE ARE NOT GOOD FOR THE SUPREME COURT EITHER AND I WALKED THERE UNANIMOUSLY.

>> DEFINITELY A CHANCE FOR A NEW START.

THAT SAID, I DON'T KNOW IF I CALLED BRIDGE GAIT A PERMANENT CURSE, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A PERMANENT LET'S SAY, TATTOO.

OKAY?

>> MY KELLY IS A COLUMNIST FOR THE NEWSPAPER AND USA TODAY.

KELLY SAYS SHE IS APPEALING TO DEMOCRATIC WOMEN IN THE SUBURBS, WHICH COULD HELP HER GAIN VOTERS.

CF.

THE QUESTION IS ALSO, I THINK HERE IS, SHE IS TRYING TO PORTRAY HERSELF AS A BIG DUMB SO TO SPEAK.

ESCAPE GOAT WHO WAS USED, AND THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT BACKS THAT UP.

THAT SAID, THOUGH, ALMOST LIKE A KIND OF HILLARY CLINTON QUALITY TO HER.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE EITHER LOVE HER OR HATE HER.

THAT SAID, SHE'S GOT A SHOT TONIGHT.

IT'S A SLIM ONE.

IT'S DEFINITELY UPHILL.

BUT, IF SHE CAN SHIFT ABOUT 7%, AT LEAST THAT'S WHAT HER CAMPAIGN FEELS.

IF SHE CAN SHIFT ABOUT 7% OF DEMOCRATIC VOTERS TO VOTE DEMOCRATIC, YOU KNOW, AND THEN SHIFTS TO HER AND VOTE FOR HER, SHE'S GOT A REAL SHOT TRIP >> A SHOT TO JOIN PUBLIC SERVICE AND RETURN TO DOING WHAT SHE LOVES.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I AM REAGAN SANTANA.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR US THIS EVENING.

A REMINDER TO JOIN US RIGHT HERE TONIGHT FOR OUR SPECIAL NJ DECIDES 2021 ELECTION COVERAGE LIVE ON OUR NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL STARTING AT 8:30 P.M. WITH EARLY VOTER RETURNS, PLUS, WE WILL HAVE ALL THE LATEST ELECTION ANALYSIS AND REPORTING STARTING RIGHT HERE ON AIR AT 10:00 P.M.

I AM JOANNA GAGIS, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

WE WILL SEE YOU BACK HERE TONIGHT.

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

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