The battle for New Jersey’s governorship has become a razor-thin contest, with a new Emerson College/Pix 11/The Hill poll showing Democrat Mikie Sherrill holding 49% support compared to 48% for Republican Jack Ciattarelli. When undecided voters were asked which way they lean, Sherrill’s edge ticked up slightly to 50% against Ciattarelli’s 48%.
The results mark a stunning turnaround for Ciattarelli, who has managed to erase what was once a commanding 20-point lead for Sherrill earlier in the summer. With Election Day rapidly approaching, strategists on both sides say the race could hinge entirely on turnout.
Demographic divides continue to shape the race. Women favor Sherrill by a significant 18-point margin, while men back Ciattarelli by 16 points — a gap that has widened on both sides since September. “Since last month, Ciattarelli’s lead among men increased by four points, and Sherill’s lead among women grew by eight points,” said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling.
Economic concerns are dominating voter priorities in the Garden State. A majority — 52% — identified the economy as their top issue, reflecting frustration with New Jersey’s notoriously high taxes and cost of living. Just 14% said “threats to democracy” were their main concern, while 11% cited housing affordability. Only 5% of voters pointed to immigration policy or health care as their biggest issue.
Both candidates appear to be evenly matched not only in polling but also in likability. Sherrill earns a 47% favorable rating among voters, with an identical 47% viewing her unfavorably. Ciattarelli’s numbers are virtually the same, with 48% viewing him positively and 48% negatively.
The poll also painted a grim picture for outgoing Democratic Governor Phil Murphy, whose approval numbers have sunk as he completes his final term. Only 34% of voters approve of his performance, while half disapprove and 16% remain neutral.
President Donald Trump’s ratings in the state are somewhat higher but still underwater. The survey found that 45% of respondents approve of his job performance, while 53% disapprove.
Emerson College conducted the survey between October 25 and 28, polling 1,000 registered voters using text messages, automated calls, and a vetted online panel. The margin of error is plus or minus three percentage points.
Last month’s Emerson survey also placed the two contenders in a 43% tie, a result that initially stood out from other polls but has since been validated as the race tightened dramatically.
Overall polling averages now show Sherrill holding a slim 3.7-point advantage in the RealClearPolitics aggregate, down sharply from her 9.3-point lead at the start of September. Notably, the same polling averages underestimated Ciattarelli’s strength by roughly five points during his near-upset against Phil Murphy in 2021.
Still, there are warning signs for the GOP challenger. Early voting data compiled by Michael Pruser, Director of Data Science for Decision, indicates that 54% of ballots so far have come from registered Democrats, compared with 28% from Republicans — a turnout imbalance that could prove decisive in the final tally.
{Matzav.com}Hundreds of thousands of Jews gathered in the streets of Yerushalayim on Thursday in a massive atzeres tefillah and outcry before the Ribono Shel Olam, pleading for the annulment of the government’s draft decree and protesting the continued imprisonment of bnei yeshiva who refuse to report to army enlistment offices.
Under the banner “Nikhalu haYehudim al gezeiras ha-giyus,” the event brought together gedolei Yisroel and rabbonim from every community, united in their call to defend the sanctity of Torah and the right of its learners to study without interference.
Massive Turnout and Spiritual Unity
Beginning late Wednesday night, throngs began streaming toward Yerushalayim despite transportation difficulties, eager to arrive early for the historic gathering. Yeshivos across the country organized special early-morning sedarim in nearby batei medrash before heading to the site of the atzeres.
By morning, prominent gedolim had taken their places on balconies and platforms across the capital. Rav Moshe Hillel Hirsch, Rav Berel Povarsky, Rav Yitzchok Zilberstein, the Admorim of Kretchnif and Modzitz, Rav Chaim Feinstein, Rav Yitzchok Ezrachi, Rav Dovid Cohen of Chevron, Rav Shraga Steinman, Rav Tzvi Drebkin, Rav Chaim Peretz Berman, and many others were seen at the central balcony of the Yirmiyahu 33 hotel. Rav Dov Landau was seen on a balcony of one of the surrounding buildings.
Nearby, the Gerer Rebbe and Rav Meir Tzvi Bergman led tefillos from the Shmuel Hanavi–Yirmiyahu intersection, joined by the Admor of Sadigura. Other Admorim observed from various locations across the city: the Admor of Belz from the balcony of his grandson’s home on Shmager Street, the Admor of Vizhnitz—who came specially from his lodging in Ora—reciting Tehillim in the nusach of the Yamim Nora’im, the Admor of Slonim on Malchei Yisroel Street, the Admor of Boyan from his kloiz balcony, and the Admor of Sanz at the Yirmiyahu Junction.
The Rosh Yeshiva of Mir, Rav Eliezer Yehuda Finkel, stood together with thousands of bochurim and rabbeim of the yeshiva, while gedolei Torah from across the Sephardic world gathered in the Bais Yisroel building under the leadership of Rishon LeTzion Rav Yitzchak Yosef and members of the Shas Moetzet Chachmei HaTorah.
Tefillos, Tehillim, and Selichos
The gathering, characterized entirely by solemn tefillah rather than speeches or political addresses, opened with Minchah led by Rav Avishai Mandel. Tehillim was then recited following the Seder HaShlah, with the mashgiach, Rav Don Segal, leading one segment. Additional kapitlach were recited by Rav Shalom Baruch Prizand and Rav Mordechai Shepsel Eisenberger.
Selichos and the Yud-Gimmel Middos Harachamim followed, led by Rav Avraham Salim, Rav Eliyahu Man, and the mashpia Rav Elimelech Biderman. Rav Reuven Elbaz then led Kabalas Ol Malchus Shamayim, followed by Kaddish recited by the mekubal Rav Yaakov Ades. The gathering concluded with Tekias Shofar, symbolizing a collective cry to Shomayim.
Gedolei Yisroel Declare: “The Torah Is Our Life”
At the close of the event, the official declaration of the atzeres—approved by the gedolei hador—was read aloud to the masses. Its central messages were:
As the sun set over Yerushalayim, the thunderous sound of Tehillim and cries of Shema Yisroel echoed through the city, a historic show of unity and spiritual defiance declaring that Am Yisroel will never relinquish its most sacred treasure—the eternal Torah.
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{Matzav.com}
Yisrael Beytenu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman issued a scathing condemnation of the chareidi leadership following the tragic death of a young participant during a mass protest, accusing rabbinic and political figures of exploiting their followers for power.
“The rotten chareidi leadership is directly responsible for the painful death of a young boy in a despicable and unnecessary demonstration,” Liberman charged in a blistering statement. “He came out on the orders of that leadership to be a human shield for the power and influence of the chareidi activists.”
Lieberman, a longtime critic of Israel’s chareidi establishment, has frequently accused religious leaders of manipulating their followers for political gain.
Chareidi representatives have yet to respond directly to Lieberman’s statement, though sources within several factions described his remarks as “a new low” and “a cynical exploitation of tragedy for political purposes.”
{Matzav.com}
As New York City’s mayoral race enters its final stretch, new polling paints a mixed but largely favorable picture for Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, who continues to lead Andrew Cuomo by varying margins across three major surveys — ranging from a narrow 10-point edge to a commanding 25-point advantage.
A new Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday showed the race tightening, with Mamdani ahead of Cuomo 43% to 33%, while Republican Curtis Sliwa trailed at 14%. That marks a modest gain for Cuomo, who had trailed by 13 points earlier this month before Mayor Eric Adams’ announcement that he would not seek re-election.
“Zohran Mamdani has a 10-point lead over Andrew Cuomo with Curtis Sliwa a distant third, but one wildcard remains. The percentage of likely voters not weighing in has increased a bit since earlier this month, suggesting there’s room for movement in the final stretch,” said Quinnipiac assistant director Mary Snow.
While Quinnipiac points to a closer contest, an Emerson College/Pix11/The Hill poll released Thursday morning found a far different outcome. In that survey, Mamdani surged to a dominant 25-point lead — 50% to 25% — over Cuomo, who is running as an independent candidate.
In the Emerson poll, Sliwa claimed 21% of the vote, nearly splitting the anti-Mamdani bloc between himself and Cuomo. That number marked a significant increase from the prior Emerson survey last month, when Sliwa stood at 10%. Over that same period, Mamdani’s support rose from 43% to 50%, while Cuomo slipped slightly from 28% to 25%.
Among Black voters, Mamdani’s backing skyrocketed from 50% to 71% since his primary victory over Cuomo, consolidating a crucial voting bloc that has become central to his campaign’s strength.
The Marist Institute for Public Opinion released its own poll Thursday morning showing a middle ground between the other two surveys — placing Mamdani at 48% and Cuomo at 32%, with Sliwa earning 16%.
“It’s Mamdani’s race to lose. Mamdani is in a strong position,” said Marist pollster Lee Miringoff, noting that Cuomo’s relentless attacks have failed to dent Mamdani’s popularity with voters.
According to Marist’s data, a majority of likely voters — 57% — view Mamdani favorably, while 55% of city voters hold an unfavorable opinion of Cuomo. “Cuomo is upside down,” Miringoff remarked.
The data also highlights a key dynamic: Mamdani is benefiting from the anti-Mamdani vote being split between Cuomo and Sliwa. In a head-to-head matchup without Sliwa, Mamdani leads Cuomo by only 7 points, 51% to 44%, according to Marist. Without Cuomo in the race, Mamdani dominates Sliwa 59% to 33%.
Mamdani’s appeal is particularly strong among younger voters, leading Cuomo 64% to 21% among those under 45. Cuomo, meanwhile, performs slightly better among voters over 45, with 39% to Mamdani’s 38%.
Ideologically, Mamdani dominates among liberals, while Cuomo performs better among moderates. Sliwa commands the support of 45% of conservative voters — outpacing both Mamdani and Cuomo in that demographic.
Among Jewish voters, Cuomo leads with 55% support, while Mamdani — despite his harsh criticism of Israel — secures the backing of roughly a third, according to the Marist findings.
The Emerson poll further revealed that those who already cast ballots early favored Mamdani by a 33-point margin, 58% to 25%. Among those yet to vote, Mamdani still leads, 45% to 26%.
Emerson surveyed 640 likely voters between October 25 and 27, with a margin of error of ±3.8 percentage points. The Marist poll interviewed 792 likely voters from October 24 to 28 via phone, text, and online, with a margin of error of ±4.2 points. Quinnipiac’s survey covered 911 likely voters from October 23 to 27, with a ±4-point margin of error.
{Matzav.com}
A new J.L. Partners/Daily Mail survey paints a bleak picture of voter sentiment toward Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral bid, with nearly half of New Yorkers expressing fear that crime and violence will spiral if he takes office.
According to the poll released Thursday, 47% of respondents said they believe crime would worsen under Mamdani’s leadership, while 45% said they expect antisemitism to rise. Only 32% of those surveyed think New York would become a safer city if he wins.
Concerns about public safety weren’t limited to street crime. Roughly 39% of voters said they expect the risk of terrorism to climb if Mamdani becomes mayor, compared to just 18% who believe it would decline.
When participants were asked to sum up what they thought a Mamdani-led city would look like after four years, the most common single word was “disaster.”
Other colorful descriptions included “s–thole,” “hell,” and “chaos,” reflecting deep unease among many voters. The survey was conducted from October 23 to 26 among 500 registered voters.
Despite the grim perceptions revealed by the poll, Mamdani continues to hold a solid advantage in multiple surveys over Andrew Cuomo as the New York mayoral race nears its final days.
A Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday found Mamdani ahead of Cuomo by 10 percentage points — 43% to 33%.
An Emerson College/Pix11/The Hill poll released Thursday morning showed an even wider gap, giving Mamdani a 25-point lead over Cuomo, who is running as an independent, with results showing 50% to 25%.
Meanwhile, data from the Marist Institute for Public Opinion showed Mamdani ahead by 16 points, 48% to 32%, keeping the socialist frontrunner firmly in control of the race despite widespread voter anxiety over what his administration might bring.
{Matzav.com}