Overview

• The Trump administration this week withheld roughly $18 billion for two New York City infrastructure projects, including the Hudson River Tunnel, citing the shutdown and putting a central New Jersey commuting priority on hold.
• Democratic nominee Mikie Sherrill pledged to fight to complete the tunnel and tied Republican Jack Ciattarelli to Trump, while Ciattarelli said Sherrill’s vote against a stopgap bill makes her responsible for the shutdown’s fallout.
• Recent surveys show a competitive race: Emerson found a 43%-43% tie, Fox News showed Sherrill 50%-42%, and a new Zogby poll also put her at 50%-42%, with 16% undecided as early voting begins Oct. 25 and Election Day falls on Nov. 4.
• The National Personnel Records Center apologized for improperly releasing Sherrill’s largely unredacted military file, and the National Archives inspector general has opened an inquiry, prompting a Sherrill ad and GOP calls for more records tied to a 1994 academy controversy.
• Affordability remains pivotal as Sherrill attacks with a new “high tax Jack” ad, Ciattarelli vows no tax increases and proposes cuts, and Sherrill clarifies she will not raise the sales tax after declining to make a blanket pledge during a debate.