ELECTION 2021-GOVERNOR-NEW JERSEY
Murphy, Ciattarelli in close fight for NJ governor’s race
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy appeared to be in a close fight Tuesday with Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli as he waged a reelection campaign centered on the progressive policies he’s enacted in his first term. The Associated Press has not declared a winner in the race as voters were still being tallied. But returns showed Ciattarelli with a slight lead over the first-term incumbent. A Ciattarelli win would send a jolt of surprise through state and national politics, though a win by Murphy for a second consecutive term as a Democrat would break historic trends in the state.
ELECTION 2021
Youngkin wins Virginia governor’s race, jolting Democrats
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Republican former business executive Glenn Youngkin has won Virginia’s governor’s race, a major political turnabout in a state that had been trending increasingly blue. The win, confirmed early Wednesday, is sure to alarm national Democrats already nervous about holding their party’s narrow control of Congress in next year’s midterm elections. The 54-year-old Youngkin is a political newcomer and was a virtual unknown at the start of the race. He beat Democrat Terry McAuliffe, who served as governor from 2014 to 2018. President Joe Biden won Virginia by a comfortable 10 percentage points last year, but that disappeared as Youngkin beat back the Democrats’ efforts to portray him as a clone of former President Donald Trump.
AP-US-ELECTION-2021-MAYORS
Adams wins NYC mayor; Wu makes history winning Boston mayor
NEW YORK (AP) — Former police captain Eric Adams easily won the race for New York mayor, and Boston elected its first woman and Asian American to the city’s top job. The results emerged Tuesday after voters across the U.S. picked local leaders who were largely defined by their stances on police and crime. Adams will become the second Black mayor of the nation’s largest city. He first triumphed this summer in a crowded Democratic primary after he struck a nuanced stance on law enforcement issues. Boston voters elevated City Council member Michelle Wu, who is the daughter of Taiwanese immigrants.
AP-US-ELECTION-2021-ASIAN-AMERICAN-MAYORS
Wu, Pureval mayoral wins mark milestone for Asian Americans
Two major U.S. cities have elected their first Asian American mayor and a third could join them. Boston’s next mayor will be Michelle Wu. The city’s first Asian American city councilor on Tuesday beat Annissa Essaibi George, who is Arab Polish American. In Cincinnati, Aftab Pureval, who is of Tibetan and Indian descent, defeated David Mann, who is white. In Seattle, Bruce Harrell, who is Black and Japanese American, was ahead of City Council President M. Lorena González. These candidacies signal just how large the Asian American and Pacific Islander electorate has multiplied with more feeling empowered to be a voice in the political fray.
ELECTION 2021-SCHOOL BOARD RACES
Education fight a winning message in Va., but not everywhere
MISSION, Kan. (AP) — Several high-profile school board candidates who fought COVID-19 restrictions and anti-racism classes have lost their election bids. The defeats happened in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Connecticut late Tuesday, just as the Republican candidate for governor in Virginia won after making education a key part of his campaign. Voters weighed in on dozens of races that have been dominated by debates over masks, vaccines, race and history. The outcomes will show whether the education fight has staying power and becomes a rallying issue for Republicans in the 2022 midterms. The political tracking website Ballotpedia identified 76 school districts in 22 states where candidates took a stance on race in education or critical race theory.
ELECTION 2021-BALLOT INITIATIVES
As voters across US weigh new rights, Maine says yes to food
Maine voters have created the nation’s first constitutional right to grow and eat food. The Maine measure approved Tuesday was one of several ballot issues in states seeking to create new constitutional rights. Early results showed Texas voters supporting a constitutional right for nursing home residents to have visitors and for people to participate in religious services. Both of those things were restricted by some officials to try to slow the spread of COVID-19. New York voters were considering whether to expand voting rights and create a right to clean air and water.
AP-BBO-WORLD-SERIES-BRAVES-ASTROS
Hammerin’ Braves rout Astros to win 1st WS crown since 1995
HOUSTON (AP) — The Atlanta Braves have won their first World Series championship since 1995, hammering the Houston Astros 7-0 in Game 6. Jorge Soler hit his third home run of the Series, and Freddie Freeman and Dansby Swanson also connected. Max Fried threw six dominant innings in the signature pitching performance of the Series. Steadied by 66-year-old manager Brian Snitker, an organization man for four decades, the underdog Braves won the franchise’s fourth title. Consider it a tribute to the greatest Braves player of them all, Mr. Hank Aaron. The Hall of Fame slugger died Jan. 22 at 86, still rooting for his old team, and his legacy was stamped all over this Series.
AP-US-VIRUS-OUTBREAK-
COVID-19 vaccine campaign expands to elementary-age children
Schoolchildren take the spotlight this week as the U.S. enters a new phase in COVID-19 vaccination aimed at curbing deaths, hospitalizations and more than a year of disrupted education. With authorities promising enough vaccine to protect the nation’s 28 million kids ages 5-11, pediatricians’ offices, pharmacies, hospitals and schools were poised to begin the shots after the final OK late Tuesday. Many locations planned mass vaccination events in coming days. The vaccine — one-third the dose for teens and adults — requires two shots three weeks apart. Children who get vaccinated before Thanksgiving will be fully covered by Christmas.
SUPREME COURT-GUNS
Supreme Court to hear arguments in major gun rights case
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments in a gun rights case that could lead to more guns on the streets of New York and Los Angeles. The case also could threaten restrictions on guns in subways, airports, bars, churches, schools and other places where people gather. The case the justices are hearing Wednesday could dramatically increase the number of people eligible to carry firearms as they go about their daily lives. The case centers on New York’s restrictive gun permit law and the right to carry a gun outside the home for self-defense.
KENOSHA PROTEST-SHOOTINGS
Witness: Rittenhouse said people ‘were trying to hurt him’
KENOSHA, Wis. (AP) — A friend of Kyle Rittenhouse testified that the Illinois teen was “freaking out” and “really scared” in the moments after he shot three people during street protests against racial justice, and that Rittenhouse told him he had to do it because “people were trying to hurt him.” Dominick Black said Tuesday he was stunned when Rittenhouse called him seconds after the first shooting to say he had just shot someone. He was the first witness after opening statements at Rittenhouse’s murder trial cast him in sharply different lights. Testimony is expected to continue on Wednesday.
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