>> Major funding for NJ Spotlight News is provided by NJM Insurance group and by the PSEG foundation.

Briana: Tonight on "NJ Spotlight News", the final push.

Candidates are making the final pitch for your vote.

>> Really is a tale of two very different electorates.

Briana: Plus election anxiety.

The razor thin margin and recent polling and the divisiveness on the campaign trail is leading to hot levels of voter stress -- high levels of voter stress.

>> We are seeing a lot of negative images on social media that professionals have pointed to as really polarizing people further in their beliefs.

Briana: Also, will they or won't they?

Will they throw their hat in the ring for New Jersey Governor?

>> It's a very strange and weird approach, I want to serve in Congress, I want to be your congressman because it's very important election.

And before even being sworn in, it giving in and to -- saying, just kidding.

Briana: Food banks are stocking up for the expected increase in the need for help.

>> People are surprised to hear that the need is much greater today than even during the heights of COVID.

Briana: "NJ Spotlight News" begins now.

Bill ♪ >> From NJPBS Studios, this is "NJ Spotlight News" with Briana Vannozzi.

Briana: Good evening and thanks for joining us this Monday night.

I am Briana Vannozzi.

We begin with a few key stories were following.

First, we are down to the final hours before election day.

Candidates in New Jersey and at the presidential level are making the last campaign pushes, courting undecided voters, and on the national stage, trying to win over electorates in battleground states that could determine who wins the presidency.

New Jersey's nine-day long early voting period wrapped up Sunday evening, which also ended up being the single biggest in person early birding day -- early voting day since it was introduced in 2020 one.

Nearly 1.2 million voters took advantage of that option, while another 760,000 residents and in mail-in ballots.

About 29% of registered voters have cast a ballot before election day.

Ice President Harris is expected to win the garden state by double digits, so Democrats are taking their get out the vote efforts to nearby states to make an impact.

Both parties are focusing on the congressional race between incumbent Tom Kane Junior and Sue Altman in New Jersey's only swing district.

Along with the U.S. Senate race between Democrat Andy Kim and businessman Curtis Paschall.

Expect lots more doorknocking, phone calls and text messages until the polls close tomorrow at at :00 p.m.

Firefighters have larger contain a major wildfire in North Jersey which had threatened homes and closed the road in Rockaway Township.

The lookout wildfire was 202 acres and 85% contained as of today, slightly smaller than the New Jersey Forest fire service first estimated.

Firefighters were able to prevent any injuries or damage to buildings.

The blaze, which was parked on Halloween, quickly became dangerous, threatening for than a dozen buildings and causing multiple homes to be evacuated.

Danger remains high to start this week.

In South Jersey, a wildfire down Township Cumberland County is now 90% under control after burning through 137 acres their private extreme fire risk remains, significant part in water should -- Waterson Township is sitting smoke into nearby towns.

An unprecedented dry spell, virtually no rainfall and all of October, and according to state climatologist Dave Robinson, September and October combined to have been the driest consecutive months in recorded history, dating back to 1895.

The trouble New Jersey hospital system is filing for bankruptcy.

Fairpoint health announced this morning and has filed for reorganization under Chapter 11 and revealed the Hudson County nonprofit is more than $100 million in debt.

The long anticipated move brings to ahead months of turmoil surrounding the health systems strained finances.

Care point operates Jersey City's Christ Hospital, Hoboken University Medical Center and Bayonne Medical Center, all considered safety net hospitals because they serve vulnerable populations in densely packed cities.

The company says it's obtained $67 million in new financing to ensure the hospital stay open, bowing it will not cause interruptions to patient care.

Last month two hospitals merged -- announced they won't merge to form a new health care system call Hudson health.

They say will ensure salaries and benefits continue for employees who had recently been warned their jobs might be eliminated.

The latest round of swing state polling shows the presidential race is far too close to call, with no clear winner between ice President Kamala Harris and Former President Donald Trump in any of the seven battleground states.

Even blue New Jersey has deeply divided factions beats -- between Democrats and Republican, making it a true tossup.

Just 30% of GOP voters in the state believed President Biden was rightfully elected in 2020, according to new special Rutgers poll out today in partnership with NJ advanced media, which finds one in five voters would support legal challenges to the outcome this election cycle.

Though 81% say they have faith in the legitimacy of the electoral process, whether looking back on 2020 are looking ahead.

For more on this poll and what all the latest surveys are telling us, I'm joined by Ashley Koenig from the Eagleton Center for Public interest polling, and Patrick Murray, director of Monmouth University polling Institute.

Pat, Ashley, good to see you both.

A long stretch of days ahead of us.

Interesting findings in the poll, a blue state like New Jersey, it's a small majority of voters who are distrusting in the electoral process.

But a number of voters number the last -- nonetheless.

How does New Jersey compare it nationally when it comes to trust in the electoral process?

>> There are a lot of features among New Jersey voters, they trust Garden State much more when it comes to mail-in ballots or in person voting.

In terms of the process as voters a 10, they are less likely to trust other states and what the process may look like in other states.

All of this kind of goes hand-in-hand with New Jerseyans are worried about the future of democracy and they are of curse -- of course worried there could be political violence after the election.

Briana: It seems like the story will not end on Tuesday night, it will be those days that follow.

>> Very much so, exactly.

We know that if someone's candidate of choice doesn't win, about half say -- some say that would donate, some say that would support legal challenges, may be active protests of a peaceful kind.

We see some optimism that New Jerseyans don't seem like they would engage in this political violence.

The one in 10 say they know someone who would.

So again, somewhat troubling numbers, some optimism, but overall pretty bleak outlook among New Jersey voters on what will happen.

Briana: We know it is a tossup, but are there clearer stories that the polls are painting about what is -- what has largely propelled this election cycle?

>> It really is a tale of two very different electorates who live in their own worlds, as it were.

One of the things I keep trying to point out to people is when we ask about issues that are important, Democrats and Republicans, more specifically Harris and Trump supporters, and talk in a very different language.

You would think they were talking about two different countries.

When we ask what threats they feel, one of the key things is immigration, crime come of those are the big issues on the Trump side.

On the Harris side, is things like fundamental rights and freedoms and the future of democracy.

There is a mix in between there, but really, they are looking at two very different countries.

The polling has been telling us that all along, which is the reason why this race has been so stable in its uncertainty.

Because they have just dug in, very different views of what this election means and what is going on in the country right now.

Briana: Two different worlds that are worlds apart.

Sue Altman and Tom Kane Junior, do things like the gender gap, Democrats losing ground with maybe black or Latino voters, does it matter as much New Jersey and in a race like CD seven which for us is the most contentious?

>> CD7, I have polled that race, have a good deal of insight on it.

It's one of the most highly educated congressional districts in the country.

What I was looking at as a key difference was the gender gap between white men with a college degree and white women with a college degree.

That was bigger than we've seen a lot of other places that are not as competitive.

Again, it's because they are focused on different issues.

Reproductive rights and freedoms overall for women in that category, but for men, it was about the economy and economic growth and opportunity.

If Sue Altman is going to have a chance to pull this off, it's getting some of those white men with a college degree to think about reproductive rights and abortion is economic opportunity types of issues.

I know there is been a push in that area.

That is really what is playing out in that race.

Briana: What else are you looking for, or what races are you washing -- watching come tomorrow?

>> We have come a long way from the Senate race last year.

It's become somewhat of a sleeper.

We see some comfortable leads at the moment for Democrats heading into election day.

Also a sneak peek for results tomorrow, the economy is the number one issue when it comes to New Jersey voters.

There is a huge partisan divide and it comes to Republicans and independents voting on the economy and Democrats voting on abortion.

Briana: Good to talk to you both.

Rest up, big day ahead.

Make sure you keep it right here for NJ decides 2024 election night coverage.

We are live starting at 8:00 p.m. with all the results.

Reporters fanned out across the state, a campaign headquarters, and in studio political analysis.

That's tomorrow night, Tuesday, November 5 and streaming on our YouTube channel and our digital site, until the very last race is called.

No matter who you're voting for this election, the stress and anxiety is real.

The major party candidates have framed the presidential race as an existential battle and it appears most people have taken those warnings to heart.

Report from the American psychological Association find stress related to the 2024 election is only slightly higher than it was four years ago, but significantly greater then it was in 2016.

In New Jersey, a majority of voters also express some kind of dread when asked about this election cycle, according to another survey.

With so many people going into Tuesday on edge, our mental health writer akin to the issue and have summer trying to cope.

It's good to be with you, this has been a hot topic lately.

Why is the uncertainty more widespread right now?

What is driving it?

>> There's a few drivers of it right now, one of them being that many people anticipate the election to be very close and maybe not called after tomorrow night.

In addition to that, we are seeing a lot of negative images and content on social media that mental health professionals appointed to as really polarizing people further in their beliefs and maybe creating some of these echo chambers they have pointed to where a lot of these negative beliefs they have are kind of reinforced with the content they are viewing.

Finally, a lot of it is related to the fact that we are in a geographic location between two major media markets, Philadelphia and New York, where they are really trying to influence the outcome of the election in about a ground state like Pennsylvania.

Because of that, there are so many more negative ads that New Jersey voters are seeing that is increasing to it -- leading to an increase in mental health issues for voters.

Briana: Not to mention phone calls, text messages and everything.

What exactly are they stressed about, is it potentially violence or protests after the elections, or is it simply who is going to be sitting in the Oval Office?

>> It's accommodation of both.

A lot point to specific issues like immigration, the economy and women's rights.

Others have said the anxiety they feel will most likely dissipate after tomorrow night's election.

Many have said they just want it to be over with because a lot of their favorite TV shows are sporting events have a lot of negative ads and they want that to draw to a close.

It's definitely something many are saying they worry about the future of the country and others just want to see it wrapped up sooner rather than later.

Briana: It feels like the election cycle starts earlier and earlier every year, not to mention we have a candidate, Former President Donald Trump, who has been the electoral ether for a decade now.

So people have been consuming that media for 10 years.

>> Absolutely.

In addition to that, a lot of mental health professionals have said that in order to cope with that, there's a couple of things folks can do.

In addition to taking care of their physical health, just also making sure they monitor their social media activity, take a break from it, and setting boundaries with loved ones that have different political opinions, to make sure they get out and move and exercises well and essentially kind of unplugged from a lot of the news or content they are viewing right now.

Briana: Stress and anxiety affect people differently.

It is also something were people coming together over it?

They feel like, I'm not alone, a lot of other people feel the same way?

>> They are.

That may be one of the Silver linings mental health professionals have pointed to.

They're going out to Dornoch early on or if they're going in person, early voting with a group of friends are loved ones or family members, that is definitely a positive aspect of addressing stress or anxiety, to put that worry into action for whoever you are voting for, to make sure you're getting out there and being proactive rather than reactive to the stress and anxiety you may be feeling.

Briana: We mentioned last couple of election cycles, but is it typically or historically normal for folks to feel some type of stress leading up to a major election?

>> There is.

This one is heightened now because of the state of the nation and just the polarization any people are feeling and the polarization between candidates and political parties that is heightened by the presence of social media, as well as what we have seen is a lack of newspapers nationwide.

You are not getting unbiased, objective reporting.

Any people are going to these silos that reinforce some of the native thoughts or images they've seen in the past.

Briana: Curating our newsfeeds, as they say.

Thanks, Bobby.

Election day 2020 four isn't even here yet and already the upcoming 2025 gubernatorial race is heating up, with a growing pool of candidates and barbs being traded between some of the top contenders.

Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop is accusing Congress members of being deceptive as they campaign for their reelection, while simultaneously planning to almost immediately run for governor.

Is it disingenuous, or just politics?

David Cruz takes a look.

David: The Jersey City mayor's campaign for governor so far has been characterized by well-timed viral moments that have gotten lots of attention.

There's the time he publicly question why he was supporting Tammy Murphy for U.S. Senate.

>> I got to tell you, that sounds like buyers regret.

>> I'm not going to call it buyers regret.

I made a decision, I've got to stick with it.

>> For the time he accused the governor of retaliating against him because of it, strategically calling for the end of the party line.

All attention grabbers.

He took another stab at that strategy easily when he berated two potential primary foes, Josh Gottheimer and Mikey Cheryl, for running for reelection's in Congress, while really running for governor.

>> It's a very strange and weird approach to say I want to serve in Congress, I think this is very important, I want to be your congressman because it's an important election, then get elected to that seat, and before even being sworn in, pivoting and saying just kidding, I wasn't being honest, I really want to run for governor because I think this is a better position.

Most elected officials don't do that.

>> While it's clear they have been circumstance -- circumspect against their potential plans, their candidacies for governor have been the worst kept secrets in New Jersey.

There election ads barely ricin -- barely mention their districts.

Talk about the height of hypocrisy.

I presume the mayor will stop leaving the boundaries of Jersey City to run for a statewide office that he started running for the for either of us ever got to Congress.

Political observers give him credit for his bluff.

It was an easy punch to throw and did the trick of putting Gottheimer and Cheryl on blast.

>> Mikey Cheryl and Josh Gottheimer have been very, very careful not to play into anything that could be perceived as starting their campaigns early.

>> They shrugged about them and their ambitions for other office.

>> I think it is natural for anyone in any career to look ahead to what their next step is, and politics is no different.

>> Do you think most people are even thinking about Josh Gottheimer and Mikey Cheryl running for governor?

Do most people even think about that right now?

>> No.

I mean, I knew about Sheryl's interest.

I wasn't clear about Gottheimer.

And I know about the governor's interest, so who knows.

>> I think it's politics as usual.

I don't think it's more dishonest than anything obscene lately.

>> After all, he once ran for governor, and few people didn't think he would do it again, even when he was running for reelection as mayor.

But for another week, Gottheimer and Cheryl had to remind voters that they are not running for governor, while Steve Fulop got to remind them that he is.

I'm David Cruz, "NJ Spotlight News".

Briana: Now that Halloween is behind us, New Jersey is starting to prepare for the holiday season.

The community Food Bank of New Jersey and other food pantries around the state, that means meeting and increased demand for food assistance.

With food inflation prices, housing, rent and other essentials, the food bank is planning 11 food distribution events for the month of November alone, giving away tens of thousands of turkeys and all the fixings to make sure every family has what they need on the table.

Raven Santana reports S part of our ongoing series, hunger in New Jersey.

>> People are surprised to hear that they need today is much greater than it was even during the heights of COVID.

>> Elizabeth McCarthy says the pandemic may be over, but food insecurity remains.

Carthy says throughout the course of the year the food bank serves over 90 million meals to the people in the state of New Jersey, and she anticipates that number to increase.

>> There are number of reasons for that.

There were more financial supports in place during COVID.

Right now, prices have gone up somewhat, rent has gone up dramatically.

We are seeing longer lines and we have ever seen at our pantries.

>> Which is fine -- why the food bank is starting to prepare, providing thousands of items like turkeys and fixings to the most vulnerable.

>> We try to match the need to the community and to different families.

Not every family can have an oven big enough for turkey or have enough to store it if is too much food for the family.

We are always surveying people to see what kind of foods they want.

Different dietary and nutritional needs, making sure we have choices available for people.

>> In addition to those 5000 turkeys, roasters and hams, 25,000 of these holiday boxes will be distributed through November and each includes a variety of nonperishable items.

>> With vegetables and cranberry sauce and stuffing and everything people might want for their holiday meal.

It is culturally different in different areas so we work with our partners to find out what communities are really looking for, for the holidays.

>> On average they get about 17,000 volunteers at this location.

John has been volunteering at the food bank for 11 years.

>> Before ours here in a room where all they do is package and box the donations.

>> Volunteers are motivated and mindful about my food banks are critical to so many before, during, and after the holiday season.

>> Hunger has been with us forever.

The need is ongoing.

We have to address what is within us to help people in need.

>> The thing we most want people to know is we are here year-round.

Food insecurity is here year-round.

I'm not trying to discourage anyone from donating at the holidays, but come back in January, in February.

We always really need help from all of our neighbors.

>> She says monetary donations are even more impactful, as a single dollar can provide approximately three meals for a family in need.

For NJ Spotlight News, I'm Raven Santana.

Briana: That will do it for us tonight.

For Rigo, this is your last chance you get to know the candidates running in our district.

Check out our podcasts, were David, Colleen and I go one on one with the candidates running for the 12 congressional seats up for grabs and the only U.S. Senate seat on the ballot here in New Jersey.

You can download the entire series wherever you listen and hear why they think they deserve your vote.

I'm Briana Vannozzi.

Thanks for being with us.

Have a great night and we will see you right back here on election day.

>> The New Jersey education Association, making public schools great for every child.

RWJBarnabas Health, let's be healthy together.

And New Jersey realtors, the voice of real estate in New Jersey.

More information is online at NJrealtor.com.

>> NJM Insurance group has been part of New Jersey for over a century.

We support arts and culture related and nonprofit organizations that serve to improve the lives of children, rebuild communities, and help to create a new generation of safe drivers.

We are proud to be part of New Jersey.

NJM.

We've got New Jersey covered.

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