AGP Executive Report

Election Oversight: New Jersey is pulling improper voter registrations and adding daily audits at motor vehicle offices after registration errors. A separate ballot-cure law won’t take effect until 2027, leaving voters unable to fix some mail-in ballot mistakes this November. Midterm Races: Senate rivals Cory Booker and Curtis Bashaw clashed in a debate, while 7th District challenger Rebecca Bennett made health care cuts a centerpiece of her campaign against Rep. Tom Kean Jr. Federal Funding: New Jersey joined 13 states suing over canceled grants meant to improve unemployment systems. Campaign Cash: Rep. Josh Gottheimer says he has raised more than $23 million for fellow Democrats this election cycle, alongside a $14.5 million war chest of his own. School Policy: More than 8 in 10 New Jersey residents support the state’s new K-12 school-day cellphone ban, a Rutgers-Eagleton poll found.

Voter Roll Overhaul: Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced registration-system reforms after reviews found 1,090 more problems in state voter records. New Jersey voters and the ACLU are also challenging efforts to remove voters ahead of the midterms. House Battleground: Democrat Rebecca Bennett says her race against Rep. Tom Kean Jr. is still a toss-up, despite a poll giving her a five-point lead. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries campaigned with Bennett as Democrats target the seat. Transit Disruptions: NJ Transit riders face five weeks of major service changes as crews shift track onto the new Portal North Bridge. Some trains on the Morris & Essex, Gladstone Branch and Montclair-Boonton lines will terminate in Hoboken instead of New York. Prediction-Market Fight: New Jersey is asking the Supreme Court to decide whether Kalshi’s sports contracts fall under state gambling laws. The NFL and the American Gaming Association are backing the state’s push for review.

Election Oversight: New Jersey’s voter-registration problems remain under scrutiny ahead of the midterms. Gov. Mikie Sherrill ordered daily audits after a review found about 1,090 additional errors, following an earlier software failure that wrongly registered thousands of applicants. E-Bike Rules: The state’s new law requires licenses and registration for e-bikes, drawing criticism from riders, shops and advocacy groups who say the rules could make cycling harder. Public Spending: Washington Township used opioid settlement funds for police SUVs and surveillance cameras, not drug education, according to an NJ.com investigation; the township had reported spending the money on education. Federal-State Fight: New Jersey joined other states in suing over canceled federal grants to improve unemployment systems. Campaign Trail: Sen. Cory Booker and Republican challenger Justin Murphy debated, with much of the discussion focused on President Trump.

Midterm Politics: New Jersey’s campaign debate is focused on Trump, affordability and concerns over voter rolls, school funding and state health benefits. Republican Senate leader Anthony Bucco is promoting an affordability plan. Election Oversight: Gov. Mikie Sherrill says the state has removed more problematic registrations and ordered daily audits at the Motor Vehicle Commission after errors led to noncitizens being registered. The state also says its new mail-ballot cure law won’t be ready for November. Congressional Races: Sen. Cory Booker and Republican challenger Justin Murphy mostly debated Trump. In the competitive NJ-7 race, Republicans filed an FEC complaint alleging Rebecca Bennett’s joint fundraising committee improperly funded more than $1 million in TV ads. Public Accountability: Washington Township used opioid settlement money for police SUVs and license-plate cameras, despite reporting spending on drug education, an NJ.com investigation found. Federal-State Disputes: New Jersey joined 13 states in suing over canceled federal grants to upgrade unemployment systems. Legal Fight: Rep. LaMonica McIver is asking the full Third Circuit to review assault charges stemming from a confrontation outside Newark’s Delaney Hall detention facility.

Election Safeguards: Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced voter-registration reforms and daily audits at motor vehicle offices after New Jersey found more improper registrations. A separate lawsuit accuses Ocean County election officials and the county GOP chair of targeting Democratic voters for removal. Unemployment Benefits: New Jersey joined 13 states in suing to recover $20.7 million in canceled federal grants for modernizing the state’s unemployment system and fighting fraud. 2026 Campaign: Sen. Cory Booker and challenger Justin Murphy clashed in a debate over the Iran war and the economy, as Democrats look to regain ground in New Jersey’s congressional delegation. Prediction Markets: New Jersey’s fight over sports event contracts is gaining national attention: the NFL backed the state’s request for Supreme Court review as federal regulators move to claim authority over event contracts. Energy Costs: Sherrill joined a bipartisan governors’ coalition seeking coordinated action on electricity prices in the PJM region.

Unemployment Funding: New Jersey joined 13 states in suing to recover about $20.7 million in canceled federal grants for modernizing its unemployment system and preventing fraud. Election Oversight: The state says it found 1,090 more voter-registration problems and is adding daily audits at motor vehicle offices. Separately, the ACLU sued Ocean County election officials, alleging voter challenges targeted Democrats and unaffiliated voters. Midterm Politics: New Jersey Republicans are divided over whether President Trump’s unpopularity will hurt their candidates. Rebecca Bennett, challenging Rep. Tom Kean Jr., says she would back Hakeem Jeffries for House speaker if Democrats win control. Senate Race: Cory Booker faulted Israel and Trump for starting the Iran war, while Republican challenger Justin Murphy defended the decision. Energy Costs: Gov. Mikie Sherrill joined a bipartisan governors’ effort to coordinate action on electricity affordability in the PJM region.

Senate Race: Cory Booker and Republican challenger Justin Murphy clashed in their only scheduled debate, with sharp divisions over Trump’s Iran policy and the economy. Election Oversight: A state review found more than 1,000 voter-registration problems, prompting Gov. Mikie Sherrill to announce MVC safeguards. New Jersey voters also sued GOP officials over challenges seeking to remove Democrats from the rolls. Statehouse: Senate President Nick Scutari became acting governor as Sherrill campaigns out of state. Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell resigned amid an ethics investigation and sexual-assault allegations. Gambling Regulation: The NFL backed New Jersey authorities in asking the Supreme Court to let states regulate sports prediction markets such as Kalshi. Privacy: Businesses’ use of license-plate readers is drawing scrutiny in South Jersey, where advocates say the public has little insight into what data companies collect or share.

Voter Registration: Gov. Mikie Sherrill announced reforms to New Jersey’s voter-registration process after a review found more than 1,000 additional records with problems. The state plans daily audits to catch further errors. Voter Challenges: The League of Women Voters and three Bay Head residents sued Ocean County election officials, alleging a GOP-led effort singled out Democratic and unaffiliated voters for eligibility checks ahead of the midterms. Prediction Markets: The NFL backed New Jersey’s request for U.S. Supreme Court review of Kalshi’s sports contracts, arguing states—not federal regulators—should oversee markets that resemble sports betting. State Leadership: Senate President Nicholas Scutari was sworn in as acting governor while Sherrill campaigns in the Midwest.

Voter Registration: Gov. Mikie Sherrill says a fresh MVC review found about 1,100 additional records needing follow-up after a software error. She ordered daily audits and agency reforms, and said the latest cases did not involve noncitizens. The scrutiny comes as ICE reviews millions of voter records and reports say federal officials considered deporting noncitizens mistakenly registered in New Jersey. Statehouse Shake-Up: Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell resigned amid an ethics investigation, saying he is entitled to due process. Sherrill is weighing a successor. Judicial Appointments: Sherrill nominated Hunterdon County Commissioner Director John Lanza, a Republican, for a Superior Court seat. If confirmed, his departure would prompt a special election for his commission seat. She also nominated judges for Mercer County and Tax Court. Election Rules: State officials say New Jersey’s new “naked ballot” cure law will not be ready for November, leaving uncertainty over whether voters can fix certain mail-ballot errors. Political Legacy: Former state Sen. Sandra Cunningham, a Hudson County trailblazer, has died at 76.

Voter Registration: Gov. Mikie Sherrill says a review found about 750 additional records affected by an age-screening glitch and roughly 340 potentially improper registrations tied to prison reentry events. No underage people voted; the state is adding daily audits as an independent investigation continues. Separately, documents show federal officials discussed deporting up to 400 noncitizens who voted after an earlier registration error. Election Rules: New Jersey says it can’t implement its new mail-ballot cure law by Nov. 3, leaving some voters unable to fix technical mistakes. ELEC also issued interim guidance on government-funded communications by incumbents during the 90 days before an election. Statehouse: Lawmakers are weighing in as Sherrill searches for a lieutenant governor. Former state Sen. Sandra Cunningham, a Hudson County political trailblazer, has died at 76. Local Government: North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco is expected to resign Thursday after more than three decades in office. School Oversight: A state audit found Newark schools received $6.65 million in aid overpayments and flagged background-check and spending concerns; some matters were referred to the state Division of Criminal Justice.

Election Oversight: Newly released records say ICE collected tens of millions of voter records and considered undercover probes of voter-registration groups, including in New Jersey, as part of a search for alleged noncitizen voting. Immigration Enforcement: Asbury Park’s Mercy Center says a suspected ICE arrest outside its food pantry left local residents afraid to come for food; Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s office has not yet been mentioned in the report, and city police said they knew nothing of the incident. Data Center Fight: Princeton is urging NJDEP to deny an air permit for the Princeton Nurseries data center, where plans call for 20 diesel generators; public comments are open until Nov. 9. State Policy: Sherrill faces a Jan. 1 deadline to decide whether New Jersey will join a federal scholarship tax-credit program Republicans say could direct up to $911 million to students. Ethics: An editorial praised Sherrill’s handling of Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell’s resignation after an independent investigation substantiated misconduct complaints.

First Amendment Fight in NJ Higher Ed: A Passaic County Community College professor is named in a First Amendment lawsuit after a student says she ordered him to remove a “Trump 2020” flag during a Zoom class and then removed him from the session. Sports Betting Legal Battle: Kalshi’s bid to keep state gambling rules at bay is running into tougher federal court rulings, with a Sixth Circuit loss deepening a split over who regulates prediction contracts. NJ Courts & Fees: A federal judge rejected a painting company’s challenge tied to a magistrate’s denial of about $350,000 in legal-fee coverage for a union pension dispute. Environment & Industry: New Jersey reached a $24M resolution with Hess and a former munitions maker over alleged pollution and natural resource damages tied to multiple industrial sites. Immigration Detention Spotlight: After a hunger strike at Delaney Hall, conditions reportedly worsened, with detainees and advocates describing continued harsh treatment. Public Safety: A former Middletown police sergeant was sentenced to five years after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit official misconduct in a ghost-gun/drug investigation. Election/Politics Watch: Assemblyman Jerry Walker says he hasn’t ruled out a 2027 State Senate challenge to Sen. Angela McKnight.

NJ Politics & Elections: Michael Suleiman, a former Atlantic County Democratic chairman, opened a campaign account to challenge State Sen. Vincent Polistina in the 2nd District—an unusually competitive seat that has swung parties for decades. Health Policy & Courts: New York joined a multi-state lawsuit targeting HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s childhood vaccine rollbacks, arguing the changes bypassed required expert review and public input; separately, NJ-linked coverage highlights how clinicians may need clearer warnings on rare GLP-1 drug risks like NAION. Public Safety & Immigration: A national police union endorsed Rep. Shomari Figures’ bill to cover college and job-training costs for dependents of law enforcement and other public servants. State Government & Health Costs: Gov. Mikie Sherrill accepted billionaire Mark Cuban’s offer to help tackle New Jersey’s soaring health benefits costs, with lawmakers praising the “all hands on deck” approach. Federal Military Naming: Sen. Cory Booker introduced legislation to block renaming the future USS Doris Miller aircraft carrier. Local Economy: The NJ food retail industry honored state lawmakers at the Good Government Breakfast for work tied to grocery policy priorities.

Health Care Cost Fight: Gov. Mikie Sherrill welcomed billionaire Mark Cuban to help a state panel tackle soaring public-worker insurance costs, with the first meeting set for Oct. 16. Autism Oversight: Parents rallied at the Statehouse pushing A-2705 to require cameras in group homes, while an autism-treatment task force advanced ideas like licensing ABA providers and tying Medicaid reimbursements to surveys. Public Safety & Courts: NJ appeals judges limited geofence warrants after police used Google location data in a gas-station robbery case without enough probable cause. State Government Power: Assembly Minority Leader John DiMaio and Sen. Doug Steinhardt proposed a constitutional change requiring legislative approval for lieutenant governor replacements, targeting Sherrill’s vacancy-filling authority. Regulation & Labor: A Jersey City cannabis dispensary sued over a state labor peace requirement, arguing it can’t be enforced. Criminal Justice: Trenton police seized 70+ illegal slot machines tied to dozens of businesses. Elections & Campaigns: Rebecca Bennett raised $4M in Q3 in NJ-7 as she tries to unseat Rep. Tom Kean Jr. Federal Watch: The FBI warned NJ residents about fake “FBI video call” scams demanding payment.

Education Costs: Long Island’s per-pupil spending is projected to hit a record $41,913 this year, driven by higher health insurance, salaries, fuel, and special-education mandates. Courts & Immigration: The U.S. Supreme Court declined to review a New Jersey ruling that lets unauthorized immigrant workers pursue wage-and-hour claims under state law. Climate Litigation: The Supreme Court is set to hear a major climate case that could decide whether local courts can order billions in damages tied to greenhouse-gas emissions. Public Safety: The FBI warned Americans about a new twist on phone scams where fraudsters spoof real agency numbers and use real agents’ names. NJ Health Policy: A Medicare bill clearing the Senate would let wheelchair users pay only the upgrade cost for lighter titanium or carbon-fiber chairs starting in 2028. Local Justice: An Egg Harbor Township man accused in a $361,000 Brigantine contractor fraud scheme will remain jailed pending trial. Tech & Communities: A new push to speed data center approvals is colliding with local opposition over power, water, and costs, with New Jersey in the mix.

Public Safety & Transportation: Consumer Reports says e-scooters can’t be trusted on safety and urges stronger baseline standards, pointing to New Jersey’s tougher e-bike/e-scooter rules and noting how state speed thresholds determine licensing and registration. State Government & Health Costs: Gov. Mikie Sherrill is weighing billionaire Mark Cuban’s offer to join her committee tackling New Jersey’s public employee health benefits costs, a politically sensitive budget fight. Legal & Accountability: A Seton Hall security report shows mixed campus crime trends—rape and drug abuse violations fell in 2025, while burglary, dating violence, and aggravated assault rose. Local Politics & Elections: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries predicts Democrats can win the House by picking up seats in swing districts and expanding margins into more Republican terrain. NJ Spotlight on Ethics: Former NJ Lt. Gov. Dale Caldwell resigned after harassment and ethics findings, and he’s drawn fresh scrutiny for claiming he “AIed” the report to clear himself. Culture & Community: A New Jersey nonprofit and immigrant programming are highlighted in a Hispanic/Latino heritage segment, alongside Goya’s 90-year milestone.