>>> FUNDING FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS BROUGHT TO YOU BY MEMBERS OF THE NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION.

RJW BARNABAS HEALTH.

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 NJ PBS, THIS IS NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS WITH BRIANA VANNOZZI.

>> HELLO, WELCOME TO NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

I'M JOANNA GAGIS IN FOR BRIANA VANNOZZI.

POLITICAL ANALYSTS HAD SAID A JACK CIATTARELLI WIN WOULD BE A POLITICAL TSUNAMI IN NEW JERSEY.

WELL LOOKS LIKE TODAY, EVERYONE GOT A LITTLE SOAKED.

THE RACE ISN'T OVER YET.

BUT BY CLOSE OF BUSINESS TODAY, JACK CIATTARELLI AND GOVERNOR PHIL MURPHY REMAINED IN A DEAD HEAT.

IT DIDN'T START THAT WAY.

EARLY LAST NIGHT, MURPHY WAS OFF TO A QUICK LEAD, BUT THE MARGINS SHRUNK LITTLE BY LITTLE AND HIS PLANS TO SWEEP DRIED UP QUICKLY.

INSTEAD, THEY FOUND AN ELECTORATE ENERGIZED BEHIND THEIR OPPONENT AND RELIABLY BLUE COUNTIES TURNING RED.

THEY ARE IN FOR A DAYS IF NOT WEEKS LONG BATTLE AND VOTES WILL BE COUNTED AND RECOUNTED BEFORE A WINNER IS DECLARED.

BUT AS THE CANDIDATES WAIT TO SEE WHO WILL BE NAMED NEW JERSEY'S NEXT GOVERNOR, BRENDA FLANAGAN REPORTS ON WHAT THIS RED WAVE MEANS FOR REPUBLICANS MOVING FORWARD.

>> I PREPARED ONE HELL OF A VICTORY SPEECH.

I WANTED TO COME IN HERE TONIGHT AND TELL YOU WE HAD WON.

BUT I'M HERE TO TELL YOU WE ARE WINNING.

WE ARE WINNING.

>> Reporter: WITH THE RACE TOO CLOSE TO CALL, REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER JACK CIATTARELLI RALLIED HUNDREDS OF CHEERING SUPPORTERS AT HALF PAST MED NIGHT ON A WILD ELECTION NIGHT THAT SAW THE LEAD SEESAW BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN THE PRESUMED UNDERDOG WHO POLLS PUT 8 TO 11 POINTS BEHIND AND THE INCUMBENT GOVERNOR.

>> THERE IS ONLY ONE POLL THAT MATTERS.

FOR 22 MONTHS, WE HAVE BEEN UP AND DOWN THIS STATE TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT MATTER.

I DON'T NEED A SURROGATE.

I DON'T NEED CELEBRITIES.

I DON'T NEED FORMER PRESIDENTS.

ALL I NEED IS THE PEOPLE OF NEW JERSEY TO LISTEN TO THE FACTS.

>> WHAT WAS THE SECRET SAUCE TODAY?

>> THE SECRET SAUCE WAS GRASS ROOTS.

I SAW JACK EVERYWHERE.

AND I SAID THIS GUY REALLY CARES ABOUT HIS TICKET.

HE SOLD TO INDEPENDENTS AND SOFT DEMS.

I FELT GREAT.

>> I WAS SHOCKED.

I KNOW MOST OBSERVERS, MYSELF INCLUDED, EXPECTED THE GOVERNOR TO WIN.

>> Reporter: ANALYST BEN SAYS CIATTARELLI IGNITED A FIRE STORM OF PROTEST, A LEVEL ACROSS PARTY FRUSTRATION OVER JOB LOSS AND COVID MANDATES THAT THE POLLS APPARENTLY UNDERAPPRECIATED.

THE PANDEMIC TOOK AN ECONOMIC AND EMOTIONAL TOLL AND PEOPLE VENTED AT THE BALLOT BOX.

>> THE ELECTORATE IS CLEARLY IN A BAD MOOD.

THEY ARE JUST FRUSTRATED.

AND ANGRY.

AND IF YOU ARE UPSET BECAUSE YOU CAN'T GET A PART FOR YOUR WASHING MACHINE AND YOU CAN'T AFFORD GAS ON YOUR KIDS AND SCHOOLING AND LEARNING, THIS WAS YOUR MOMENT TO EXPRESS YOUR ANGER.

>> Reporter: REPUBLICANS TURNED OUT FOR THEIR CANDIDATE.

CIATTARELLI RACKED UP A 75,000 VOTE MARGIN IN OCEAN.

45,000 IN MONMOUTH, AND FLIPPED COUNTIES LIKE GLOUCESTER FROM BLUE TO RED.

MURPHY DID NOT DELIVER THE NUMBERS MURPHY EXPECTED.

>> AND WHAT THAT DOES IS, IT FUELS THE SIDE THAT LOST.

THE SIDE THAT LOST IS PASSIONATE AND ENERGIZED AND WANTS TO WIN.

AND SOMETIMES, THE SIDE THAT JUST WON GETS A LITTLE COMPLACENT.

THERE IS A TREMENDOUS ENTHUSIASM GAP WITHOUT TRUMP IN OFFICE.

OR RUNNING.

YOU REALLY SAW THE ENTHUSIASM GAP.

THE REPUBLICAN ENTHUSIASM STAYED HIGH.

>> YOU GUYS ARE THE FUEL IN MY TANK.

THE WIND IN MY SAILS.

YOU ARE MY ENERGY SOURCE.

KEEP IT COMING.

>> Reporter: WHILE MOST IN NEW JERSEY APPROVED OF HOW MURPHY HANDLED THE PANDEMIC OVERALL, FURY AT MASK AND VACCINE MANDATES BOILED OVER CREATING A GRASS ROOTS ANTI-MURPHY MOVEMENT.

>> WITHOUT TRUMP IN OFFICE OR RUNNING, YOU REALLY SAW THE ENTHUSIASM GAP.

THE REPUBLICAN ENTHUSIASM STAYED HIGH.

>> I'M A JERSEY CITY TEACHER AND I'M DONE WITH THE MANDATES.

THE MASKS, WE ARE DONE.

WE ARE DONE.

>> I'M A BEST CANDIDATE VOTER.

AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF YOU ARE GOING TO SCREW MY KID, I'M GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE NOT IN POWER.

>> Reporter: BOTH CIATTARELLI AND THE STATE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN SAID THEY WILL MAKE SURE EVERY LEGAL VOTE IS PROPERLY COUNTED.

THAT MEANS LAWYERS.

A RECOUNT DECIDED THE 1981 GOVERNOR'S RACE BETWEEN JIM FLORIO AND REPUBLICAN TOM CANE WHO WON BY A SCANT 1700 VOTES.

THE SIZE OF THE MARGIN WILL DETERMINE WHETHER THE LAWYERS GET INTO IT.

>> YOU WILL SEE A RECAP.

YOU ARE DOWN TO LESS THAN HALF A POINT.

>> WE HAVE TO HAVE TIME TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY LEGAL VOTE IS COUNTED.

AND I'M CONFIDENT.

I'M CONFIDENT THAT WHEN THEY ARE, I CAN STAND BEFORE YOU AND NOT SAY WE ARE WINNING.

I CAN STAND BEFORE YOU AND SAY WE HAVE WON.

>> Reporter: I'M BRENDA FLANAGAN, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>> BY ALL ACCOUNTS, GOVERNOR MURPHY SHOULD HAVE HAD A RELATIVELY EASY WIN.

HE LED IN ALL THE POLLS BY DOUBLE DIGITS.

SO WHILE WE DON'T KNOW THE RESULTS, WHAT HAPPENED TO TURN THE TIDE AGAINST THE GOVERNORS?

WERE THE RECENT GOVERNMENT VISITS A SIGN THAT THEY KNEW THEY WERE FALTERING?

DAVID CRUZ LOOKS AT WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS RACE THAT IS STILL FAR FROM OVER.

>> Reporter: IT WAS A LONGER NIGHT THAN MOST OBSERVERS AND CERTAINLY MOST POLLSTERS EXPECTED.

PHIL MURPHY AHEAD IN ALL OF THE POLLS AND JACK CIATTARELLI TELLING ANYONE WHO WOULD LISTEN THAT THE RACE WAS TOO CLOSE TO CALL.

BOTH WAITED UNTIL AFTER MIDNIGHT TO COME OUT AND TALK TO THEIR SUPPORTERS.

>> GREETINGS FROM ASBURY PARK.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR STICKING AROUND.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT A LITTLE WHILE LONGER THAN WE HAD HOPED.

WE WILL WAIT FOR EVERY VOTE TO BE COUNTED AND THAT IS HOW OUR DEMOCRACY WORKS.

>> SOME OF YOU HAVE BEEN HERE FOR FIVE HOURS.

THE HEADQUARTERS FOR PHIL MURPHY IS EMPTY.

YOU HAVE BEEN WITH ME FOR THE 22 MONTHS THAT I HAVE BEEN A CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR.

EVERY TIME THE PRESS HAS ASKED ME WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR ENERGY?

I SAID WHERE DO I GET MY ENERGY?

TAKE A LOOK AT THESE PEOPLE SHOWING UP.

YOU'RE THE WIND IN SAILS, YOU ARE MY ENERGY SOURCE.

>> WE ARE SORRY TONIGHT CANNOT BE THE CELEBRATION WE WANTED IT TO BE.

BUT WHEN EVERY VOTE IS COUNTED AND EVERY VOTE WILL BE COUNTED, WE HOPE TO HAVE A CELEBRATION.

AGAIN, THANK YOU ALL.

>> Reporter: BUT AS THE NIGHT WENT ON, AND THE NEXT MORNING ARRIVED, BOTH SIDES COULD MAKE THAT CLAIM.

AND, THE RACE HAS STILL NOT BEEN CALLED BUT MANY DEMOCRATS TODAY WERE SAYING IT SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THIS CLOSE.

AND, THE INTROSPECTION WAS WELL UNDERWAY.

>> JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE A DOUBLE LEAD.

BECAUSE YOU HAVE MORE, YOU STILL HAVE TO DO THE HARD WORK OF TALKING DIRECTLY TO VOTERS, BUILDING ALLIANCES.

THAT ARE INDEPENDENT OF THE PARTY MACHINES.

AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT THEY DIDN'T DO ENOUGH.

TO MAKE SURE THEY HAD THEIR OWN ABILITY TO TURN OUT THE VOTE.

INDEPENDENTLY, OR WHATEVER THEY WERE GOING TO DO.

THEY NEEDED TO BUILD AN OPERATION TO INDEPENDENTLY TURN OUT THE BASE.

>> Reporter: THAT WAS ONE ASSESSMENT FROM THE LEFT FLANK OF THE PARTY WHICH WAS THE PHILOSOPHICAL BASE ON WHICH MURPHY STOOD IN 2017.

THAT WAS THEN.

THIS VERSION OF MURPHY WAS A PARTY INSIDER.

RUNNING A MORE TRADITIONAL RACE THAT URGED SOME PARTY MEMBERS.

BUT, THE POLLS, THEY SAID EVEN WITH THAT, THIS WAS A SURE WIN.

WASN'T IT?

>> THE SNAPSHOT WAS WRONG.

WE HAVE TO OWN UP TO THAT.

>> Reporter: THE ENTHUSIASM GAP WE HEARD ABOUT WAS REAL.

MURPHY UNDERPERFORMED IN ALMOST EVERY COUNTY COMPARED TO 2017.

IT IS STILL TOO EARLY TO ASSESS WHETHER THE PRESIDENT'S POOR NUMBERS OR BACKLASH TO DONALD TRUMP'S LOSS LAST YEAR, OR SOMETHING ELSE WERE MORE OR LESS OF A FACTOR.

BUT TODAY, THE STATE'S BUSINESS COMMUNITY WAS FEELING POSITIVE.

>> IF JACK CIATTARELLI WINS, OBVIOUSLY, HIS FOCUS WAS BASICALLY A BUSINESS FOCUS AND A NEW JERSEY BUSINESS REBOUND.

AND, IF THE GOVERNOR IS REELECTED, I THINK THAT IS A STRONG SIGNAL.

THOSE KINDS OF THINGS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED MORE ROBUSTLY.

SO, I STANDBY WHAT I SAID BEFORE THE ELECTION.

AND THINK THAT STATEMENT HAS BEEN ENHANCED.

>> Reporter: ONE THING CIATTARELLI DID SEEM TO HAVE WHICH FOR REPUBLICANS EVEN CHRIS CHRISTIE IN HIS GLORY DAYS WOULD BE A RARITY.

COAT TAILS.

WHICH APPEAR TO BE CLOSE TO SENDING THE POWERFUL DEMOCRATIC SENATE PRESIDENT STEVE SWEENEY PACKING.

JUST ONE OF THE MANY HEADLINES THAT COULD COME FROM THIS ELECTION DAY AS THE COUNT AND LIKELY RECOUNT PROCEED.

I'M DAVID CRUZ, NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS.

>>> YESTERDAY HAS BEEN CALLED A WAKEUP CALL, A WARNING, AND A DISASTER FOR DEMOCRATS.

WITH REPUBLICANS FLIPPING SEVERAL SEATS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND THEN AT TIMES ON THE BRINK OF CLAIMING THE GOVERNORSHIP, HOW MUCH OF THIS RED TIDE REFLECTS THE FEELING AROUND NATIONAL POLITICS AND HOW MUCH OF IT WAS JUST A SIGNAL TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HERE IN NEW JERSEY THAT THEIR POLICIES ARE OUT OF TOUCH WITH VOTERS?

JOINING ME NOW TO BREAK IT ALL DOWN IS CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT MICHAEL ARON AND COLLEEN O' DEA.

>> MICHAEL, WE WILL START WITH YOU.

WHAT WE SAW LAST NIGHT WAS AN UPSET BY ANY STRETCH OF THE IMAGINATION.

MURPHY HAD KIM BY 16 POINTS WHEN HE RAN IN 2017.

BIDEN TOOK THE STATE AT 14 POINTS.

IF YOU ARE PLAYING MONDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK TODAY, WHAT WENT WRONG FOR MURPHY?

>> THAT'S HARD TO SAY.

THERE ARE PROBABLY HALF A DOZEN TO A DOZEN REASONS.

ONE OF THE REASONS IS THAT IT TURNS OUT THAT NEW JERSEY IS A MIDDLE OF THE ROAD STATE.

HAS BEEN FOR A LONG TIME.

EXPRESSED ITSELF IN THAT WAY LAST NIGHT.

YOU LOOK AT THE VOTING OF OCEAN COUNTY AND MONMOUTH COUNTY, THERE IS AN ELEMENT OF RESENTMENT AGAINST THE ESTABLISHMENT IN NEW JERSEY.

AND, IT FINDS ITS STRONGEST EXPRESSION THERE IN OCEAN AND MONMOUTH.

SO SOUTH JERSEY TOOK IT ON THE CHIN YESTERDAY.

STEVE SWEENEY APPEARS TO HAVE LOST HIS LONG TIME RUNNING MATE.

THEN, THE UP AND COMING SENATOR IN MONMOUTH COUNTY APPEARS TO BE AT LEAST 500 VOTES BEHIND.

IT WAS A VERY TOUGH NIGHT FOR DEMOCRATS.

>> COLLEEN, GOING TO YOU, WHAT DOES THIS RED GROUND SWELL SIGNAL TO DEMOCRATS?

WAS THE GOVERNOR'S AGENDA TOO PROGRESSIVE?

IS THIS ABOUT COVID?

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF IT?

>> SOME OF IT IS ABOUT COVID.

AS MICHAEL POINTED OUT, THERE HAS BEEN AN AWFUL LOT OF BACKLASH FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE ANGRY.

BUSINESS OWNERS ANGRY THEY WERE SHUT DOWN FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS.

ANGRY THAT THEY THINK THEY DID NOT GET ENOUGH HELP FROM THE STATE.

OR GET IT FAST ENOUGH.

PARENTSANGRY ABOUT MASK MANDATES.

FOR CHILDREN IN SCHOOLS.

FOR CHILDREN IN DAY CARE.

AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC, SOME ANGRY ABOUT MASK MANDATES, YOU KNOW, THAT WE HAD FOR A LONG TIME IN SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS.

THE OTHER THING I THINK INTO THIS WAS THE QUESTION OF PROPERTY TAXES WHICH IS ALWAYS A BIG ISSUE IN NEW JERSEY.

YOU KNOW, GOVERNOR MURPHY HAD MADE THAT STATEMENT A COUPLE OF YEARS BACK.

WE KNEW IT WOULD COME UP IN ADS.

HE SAID IF TAX RATE IS YOUR ISSUE, NEW JERSEY IS NOT YOUR STATE.

AND, THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR ASSOCIATION SPENT A GOOD CHUNK OF MONEY JUST HAMMERING THAT HOME.

AND I THINK THAT ALSO PROBABLY HAD AN IMPACT THERE.

SO, YOU KNOW, CERTAINLY, DEMOCRATS FEEL LIKE THE GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE JUST WASN'T THERE TO HELP THEM.

IT DIDN'T RESONATE WITH VOTERS.

>> YOU MENTIONED SENATE PRESIDENT STEVE SWEENEY.

JUST FOUR YEARS AGO, HE WITHSTOOD A CONTEST TO HIS SEAT.

THE LARGEST TEACHER UNION IN THE STATE SPENT MILLION OF DOLLARS TRYING TO TAKE HIM DOWN.

HE DIDN'T FALL THEN.

AND NOW, YESTERDAY, WE SEE A TRUCK DRIVER EDWARD DURR WHO SPENT LESS THAN $200 ON HIS CAMPAIGN.

NOW, TAKE DOWN THE SENATE PRESIDENT.

THE LONGEST STANDING SENATE LEADER OR LEGISLATIVE LEADER IN THE STATE.

HOW MUCH OF THIS ACTUALLY WAS ABOUT IN-FIGHTING BETWEEN SWEENEY AND GOVERNOR MURPHY IN YOUR OPINION AND DID THEY CANNIBALIZE THEIR OWN PARTY?

>> THEY EACH HAD TERRIBLE NIGHTS LAST NIGHT.

IT IS INTERESTING THAT THE TWO GUYS THAT HAVE BEEN SOMEWHAT ANTAGONISTIC TO EACH OTHER OVER THE YEARS BOTH GOT SMACKED LAST NIGHT.

EDWARD DURR IS A NOBODY.

AS OF A WEEK AGO, HE PUT $200 IN HIS CAMPAIGN.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS BEHIND THE ANTI-SWEENEY PUSH.

>> REPUBLICANS HAD A HUGE NIGHT.

WHAT ARE THEY WALKING AWAY FEELING AND, WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE WILL BE THE MESSAGE THAT CARRIES FORWARD FOR THEM FROM HERE ON OUT?

>> YEAH, SO THEY FEEL EMBOLDENED.

THERE IS NO QUESTION ABOUT IT.

IT HAS BEEN A PARTY THAT HAS BEEN STRUGGLING SINCE CHRIS CHRISTIE LEFT.

AND ANYTHING BEFORE THAT, YOU KNOW, THERE WAS A LOT OF TALK THAT CHRIS CHRISTIE DIDN'T DO ANY REAL BUILDING OF THE REPUBLICAN BASE.

HE DIDN'T SINK A LOT OF MONEY INTO TRYING TO DRUM UP SUPPORT AND GET VOTER, YOU KNOW, GET VOTERS EXCITED.

AND SO, WE DID HAVE SEATS.

WE SAW DISTRICTS LIKE THE 16th WHERE IT APPEARS THE REPUBLICANS MAY HAVE TAKEN IT BACK.

SWING DEMOCRATIC AFTER BEING REPUBLICAN DISTRICTS FOR A LONG TIME.

THEY SEEM TO HAVE SWUNG BACK.

SO, IT SEEMS LIKE JACK CIATTARELLI CERTAINLY HAS QUITE A PRESENCE ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL.

HE IS VERY WELL SPOKEN.

HE IS A VERY GOOD CANDIDATE.

AND IT CERTAINLY SEEMS LIKE HIS MESSAGE RESONATED AND HELPED BRING SOME OF THE OTHER CANDIDATES ALONG WITH HIM.

AS WE LOOK TO COAT TAILS.

AND, MURPHY, WELL, MURPHY DIDN'T DO SO WELL.

MAYBE HE HAD COAT TAILS BUT THEY DIDN'T HELP.

>> THERE IS SO MUCH MORE WE COULD TALK ABOUT.

BUT THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE.

MICHAEL AND COLLEEN.

THANK YOU BOTH SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>>> SENATE PRESIDENT STEVE SWEENEY COULD BE THE MOST POTENTIALLY SHOCKING UPSET FROM YESTERDAY'S LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS BUT HE IS NOT THE ONLY DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATOR IN TROUBLE.

THE LOWER HALF OF HIS TICKET COULD BOTH LOSE THEIR SEATS.

IN THE SECOND DISTRICT.

VINCE PALESTINA HOLDS A LEAD OVER VINCE MAZIO.

IN THE 8, FACING ELIMINATION BY REPUBLICAN JEAN STANFIELD.

AND FURTHER NORTH, SENATOR VINCE GOPAL HAS BARELY BEEN CLINGING ONTO HIS SEAT AS LORI ANETTA LOOKS POISED TO TAKE THE 11th.

JOANNE DOWNY AND ERIC COTELLING ARE ALSO FACING DEFEAT.

BUT A FEW KEY RACES DIDN'T GO TO REPUBLICANS.

ANDREW ZWICKER PULLED OUT A WIN BRINGING HIS ASSEMBLY MEMBERS ALONG WITH THE WIN.

AND SENATOR LINDA GREENSTEIN AND HER ASSEMBLY MEMBERS WILL HOLD ONTO THEIR SEATS.

GAVE HER POLITICAL COMEBACK A GOOD RUN.

BUT, FELL SHORT TO NOW THREE TIME INCUMBENT DEMOCRAT JOHN HOGAN.

VOTERS HAD TO PONY UP ON WHETHER NEW JERSEY SHOULD ALLOW BETTING ON COLLEGE SPORTS.

RHONDA SCHAFFLER, WHAT CAN YOU TELL US?

>> Reporter: LOOKS LIKE NEW JERSEY VOTERS DEFEATED THE PROPOSAL TO ALLOW BETTING ON COLLEGE SPORTS IN THE STATE.

WITH MORE THAN 97% OF THE PRECINCTS REPORTING, MORE THAN 56% OF NEW JERSEYANS VOTED NO TO THE PROPOSAL.

43% SUPPORTED IT.

AS OF THIS AFTERNOON, THE OUTCOME STILL HAS NOT BEEN OFFICIALLY CALLED.

A SECOND BALLOT QUESTION ASKING WHETHER NON-PROFITS SHOULD USE PROCEEDS IN GAME OF CHANCE LIKE RAFFLES WAS APPROVED WITH 64% VOTING YES.

ONE REASON FOR THE TIGHT GOVERNOR'S RACE IS DISCONTENT FOR NEW JERSEY BUSINESSES ABOUT THEIR RECOVERY.

THE ECONOMY OVERALL, AND TEXAS.

THAT'S THE WORD FROM TWO OF THE STATE'S TOP BUSINESS LEADERS.

MICHELLE FROM THE NJ BIA AND THE NEW JERSEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE'S TOM BACKEN WHO IS A MEMBER OF THE NJ PBS BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

>> YOU HAVE SO MANY RESTAURANTS WHO HAVE CLOSED.

>> Reporter: NEW JERSEY BUSINESSES GOT WHACKED YET AGAIN WITH ANOTHER TAX.

SO, THOSE ISSUES ARE REAL, AFFORDABILITY IN NEW JERSEY IS REAL.

>> Reporter: BOTH SAY THEY WANT TO SEE THE NEXT GOVERNOR, WHOEVER THAT IS, DOUBLE DOWN ON IMPROVING THE BUSINESS CLIMATE IN THIS STATE.

>>> SOME BIG CHANGES AS DEBATE CONTINUES IN WASHINGTON ON A MASSIVE SOCIAL SPENDING BILL.

AN AGREEMENT WAS REACHED ON A PLAN TO CURB PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS.

AND THERE'S A PROPOSAL BEING DISCUSSED TO LIFT THE CAP ON STATE AND LOCAL TAX DEDUCTIONS KNOWN AS SALT FOR FIVE YEARS.

THE FEDERAL RESERVE HAS ANNOUNCED IT WILL SOON SCALE BACK ON ITS MONTHLY PURCHASES IN THE BOND MARKET.

THAT IS SOMETHING IT WAS DOING TO HELP SUPPORT THE ECONOMY THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

>>> NOW, HERE IS A CHECK ON WALL STREET TRADING FOR TODAY.

I'M RHONDA SCHAFFLER.

AND THOSE ARE YOUR TOP BUSINESS STORIES.

>>> SUPPORT FOR THE BUSINESS REPORT PROVIDED BY NEW JERSEY MONTHLY MAGAZINE, COVERING ALL OF NEW JERSEY, WHAT TO DO, WHERE TO GO, AND SO MUCH MORE.

ON THE STANDS AND ONLINE ON NJMONTHLY.COM.

>>> IT WAS THE NEWS THAT MANY FAMILIES IN NEW JERSEY HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR.

LATE IN THE DAY YESTERDAY, THE CDC RECOMMENDED THE PFIZER VACCINE FOR KIDS 5-11 YEARS OLD.

FOR THOSE PARENTS AND KIDS WHO HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THAT ANNOUNCEMENT, VACCINATION APPOINTMENTS WERE ALREADY OPEN THIS MORNING.

THAT IS BECAUSE THE STATE HAS ALREADY STORED UP MORE THAN 200,000 SHOTS.

230 SITES ARE ACROSS THE STATE INCLUDING PEDIATRICIAN OFFICES, HOSPITALS, AND PHARMACIES.

SOME FAMILIES ARE JUMPING ONLINE, OTHERS REMAIN HESITANT.

SO JUST HOW QUICKLY WILL THESE SHOTS ROLL OUT?

RAVEN SANTANA HAS THE STORY.

>> Reporter: WELL, HOLDING A TEDDY BEAR AND LOLLIPOPS, TEN- YEAR-OLD TOMMY LANDA BARELY FLINCHED RECEIVING HIS FIRST DOSE OF THE VACCINE AT THE NEWBRIDGE MEDICAL CENTER AND HIS BRAVE ACT WAS MET WITH CHEERS.

ALONGSIDE HIS PARENTS, HE SHYLY ADD HIT TODAY ME THE REASON BEHIND WANTING TO BE THE FIRST IN LINE.

>> I WANTED TO GET IT SO I COULD GO TO MY FRIEND'S BIRTHDAY PARTIES AND BE SAFE.

>> Reporter: THE LANDAS ARE ONE OF THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES WAITING FOR THE APPROVAL OF THE COVID-19 VACCINE FOR KIDS AGES 5-11 PUT INTO EFFECT THIS WEEK.

>> CHILDREN ARE GETING THE SAME SCHEDULED DOSE.

YOU GET ONE DOSE THREE WEEKS LATER.

IT IS A LOWER DOSE.

A THIRD OF WHAT THE ADULTS GET.

RIGHT NOW, THERE IS NO EVIDENCE SUPPORTING THE NEED FOR A BOOSTER.

>> Reporter: EPIDEMIOLOGIST STEPHANIE SYLVERA SAYS IT IS 90% EFFECTIVE IN PREVENTING COVID-19 IN KIDS AGES 9-11.

IT IS CRITICAL THEY RECEIVE IT.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN ALMOST 2 MILLION INFECTIONS IN THIS AGE GROUP.

OVER 8,000 HOSPITALIZATIONS.

BUT THERE HAVE BEEN JUST OVER 100 DEATHS.

>> WHY DO YOU THINK YOU WANT TO GET THE SHOT TODAY?

>> SO IT CAN KEEP ME SAFE.

>> KEEP YOU SAFE FROM WHAT?

>> FROM THE CORONAVIRUS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> Reporter: PRESIDENT AND CEO OF UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL'S FIVE- YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER RECEIVED HER SHOT.

HE KNOWS WHAT IT IS LIKE CARING FOR A CHILD WITH COVID.

>> I WAS PUBLIC ABOUT THE FACT SHE HAD CORONAVIRUS JUST A NUMBER OF MONTHS AGO.

SHE I THINK WAS PROBABLY AFFECTED BY THE ALPHA VARIANT.

AND IT WAS A BIG SCARE.

IT WAS A HUGE STEP FOR THE COUNTRY AND THE SAFETY OF PARENTS AND KIDS EVERYWHERE.

>> Reporter: STILL, SOME PARENTS IN NEW JERSEY ARE ON THE FENCE.

>> I'M STILL A LITTLE WARY ABOUT WHAT THE LONG TERM CONSEQUENCES COULD BE.

TO THEM.

TO THE KIDS.

>> Reporter: ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE SAYS THE COUNTY RECEIVED 6,000 DOSES OF THE CHILDREN'S VACCINE THIS MORNING WHICH WILL BE DISTRIBUTED BY APPOINTMENT ONLY FROM 4:00 TO 7:00 P.M.

THEY WILL BE ADMINISTERED BY PEDIATRIC NURSES IN FUN BRIGHT FRIENDLY SPACES LIKE RIGHT HERE.

SEPARATED FROM ADULTS.

AND, CHILDREN CAN REMAIN SAFE AND NOT HAVE TO WAIT IN LONG LINE.

>> WE WANT TO MAKE IT AS EASY AS POSSIBLE FOR THE FAMILY MEMBERS.

THE KIDS WILL BE SCARED BUT THE PARENTS WILL BE SCARED.

SO, I'M TELLING ALL MY PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR ME HERE, LET'S MAKE THEM FEEL AS FRIENDLY AS POSSIBLE.

THAT'S WHY WE HAVE THE BOOTHS DRESSED UP WITH ANIMALS AND FISHES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

AND A MONITOR AREA WHERE THEY SIT DOWN TO WATCH CARTOONS AND STUFF ON TV.

AND WHAT WE ARE ALSO DOING IS EVERY KID THAT GETS VACCINATED WILL GET A TICKET TO TURTLE BACK ZOO.

NOT ONLY FOR THEMSELVES.

IT WILL BE FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR.

>> WE ARE TAKING APPOINTMENTS.

ONLY.

NOT WALK INS.

WE JUST GOT OUR FIRST SHIPMENT OF VACCINES AND ARE WAITING TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE WITH AN APPOINTMENT GETS A VACCINE.

>> Reporter: IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED TO LOOK ON YOUR LOCAL COUNTY AND PHARMACY SITES TO CHECK FOR OPENINGS AS THEY HAVE BEEN FILLING UP QUICKLY.

FOR NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS, I'M RAVEN SANTANA.

>> THAT DOES IT FOR US THIS EVENING BUT TUNE IN TO CHAT BOX WITH DAVID CRUZ.

FOR POLLS FROM THE SO-CALLED ENTHUSIASM GAP BY DEMOCRATS.

DAVID LOOKS AT WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS WEEK'S SURPRISE ELECTION.

WATCH FROM WHEREVER YOU STREAM ON THURSDAY AT 6:30 P.M. ON NJ SPOTLIGHT NEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL, TWITTER, OR FACEBOOK.

I'M JOANNA GAGIS.

THANKS FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

>> NJM INSURANCE GROUP.

SERVING THE INSURANCE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY.

AN INDEPENDENT LICENSEE OF THE BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD ASSOCIATION.

PSEG.

AND FUEL MERCHANT'S ASSOCIATION.

AND SMART HEAT NJ.

>>> DAY AFTER DAY.

WE RELY ON ELECTRICITY.

FOR ALL THE ORDINARY THINGS IN OUR LIVES.

AND, FOR THE EXTRAORDINARY.

>> MOM!

>> HEY, SWEETIE!

HOW ARE YOU?

SO, TELL ME ABOUT THE GAME.

>> I SCORED TWO GOALS.

>> THAT'S MY BOY.

>> Reporter: AT PSEG, OUR COMMITMENT TO YOU NOW IS MORE POWERFUL THAN EVER.

>>> AT UNCERTAIN TIMES, YOU NEED SOMEONE WHO HAS YOUR BACK.

THAT IS WHY AT HORIZON BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF NEW JERSEY, WE MAKE SURE OUR HEALTH PLANS HAVE ALL THE BENEFITS YOU NEED.

MORE WAYS TO GET CARE VIRTUALLY.

MORE SUPPORT FOR YOUR MENTAL HEALTH, TOO.

MORE TOOLS ON YOUR PHONE.

ALL IN A RANGE OF HEALTH PLANS SO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY CAN FIND JUST WHAT YOU NEED.

AND, WE CAN HELP.

BECAUSE EVERYONE SHOULD FEEL LIKE SOMEBODY HAS THEIR BACK.