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RandySF's JournalFlorida City mayoral election will head to runoff
Ballots were cast by residents of the Miami-Dade County city for mayor and for two commission seats.
The mayoral race came down to Israel J. Andrews, Alphonso D. Bryant, Sharon “Sheep” Smith-Butler, Charlotte Thompson and Walter P. Thompson. Sr.
Ultimately, none of the candidates received more than 50% of the vote, so the race will head to a runoff.
Top vote-getters Charlotte Thompson, who received 39% of ballots cast, and Sharon Smith-Butler, receiving 26%, will go to the runoff.
https://www.local10.com/news/local/2026/01/27/florida-city-mayoral-election-will-head-to-runoff/
NY: Driver Rams Car Into Headquarters of Chabad Hasidic Movement
A motorist rammed his car at least four times into a side entrance of the global headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch Orthodox Jewish movement in Brooklyn Wednesday night, according to video of the crash.
The driver was immediately arrested, the police said. There did not appear to be any injuries, Motti Seligson, a spokesman for the movement, said. The police said Wednesday night they were still investigating and had no information on a motive or charges against the driver. The car is registered to Dan Sohail, 36, of Carteret, N.J., an internal police document showed.
The episode unfolded at 8:45 p.m. at the Gothic revival structure at 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights. Video taken at the scene shows a gray Honda sedan, with a cargo carrier on the roof and New Jersey plates, at the bottom of a driveway. The car slams into a set of wooden doors, one of which splinters and flies from its hinges. As people look on, yelling “Yo! Yo!” and “No!,” the car backs up and hits the doors again, breaking off another door, and again and again.
As onlookers cautiously approach the car, the driver, a heavyset man with a beard, wearing shorts despite the temperature of 16 degrees, gets out and starts walking up the driveway. He agitatedly explains to a bystander, “It slipped.” Two officers walk up to him and handcuff him behind his back. He does not resist. He appears to spit at the crowd as the officers lead him toward a police vehicle.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/28/nyregion/chabad-crash-eastern-parkway.html
NJ-11: Gill (D) picks up more endorsements in primary, including a former congressman
With just eight days left to go until the February 5 special Democratic primary for the 11th congressional district, two of the race’s frontrunners, Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill (D-Montclair) and former Rep. Tom Malinowski, are continuing to pick up new supporters.
This morning, Gill got an endorsement from former Rep. Steve Rothman (D-Englewood), who spent nearly two decades representing a Bergen County-based district in Congress.
“Brendan Gill represents the kind of leadership our district needs right now,” Rothman said in a statement. “He understands our communities and he understands how Congress must deliver for the constituents who make up those communities. Throughout his career, Brendan has shown a real commitment to public service and to standing up for working families.”
Gill previously got endorsements from the families of two late congressmen, Reps. Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson) and Donald Payne Jr. (D-Newark), who died in 2024. None of the state’s current House members have made an endorsement in the race, nor has Gov. Mikie Sherrill (who held the 11th district before her election to the governor’s office), but Senator Andy Kim is supporting Malinowski.
https://newjerseyglobe.com/congress/gill-picks-up-more-endorsements-in-nj-11-primary-including-a-former-congressman/
NJ-12: Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D) endorsed by Mercer County Executive
In the remarkably crowded Democratic primary for New Jersey’s 12th congressional district, Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson (D-Trenton) earned a new endorsement today that should help her stand out from the pack: Mercer County Executive Dan Benson.
Benson, who was once colleagues with Reynolds-Jackson in the State Assembly and whose county is home to around 30% of the 12th district’s Democratic primary voters, said that Reynolds-Jackson is well-prepared to represent Central Jersey in Congress.
“We do not need to look beyond the borders of Mercer County and the district to find the candidate best prepared to succeed Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman,” Benson said. “In the Assembly, I watched Verlina tackle tough issues like New Jersey’s maternal mortality crisis, expanding paid family leave, and stopping medical debt from destroying people’s credit. She is a proven leader who is ready to serve on day one.”
No fewer than 16 Democrats have entered the race to succeed retiring Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing), with a few more waiting in the wings. That kind of crowded field means that anyone who can put together a coherent regional base will be in serious contention to win the deep-blue district’s June 2 primary.
https://newjerseyglobe.com/congress/verlina-reynolds-jackson-endorsed-by-mercer-county-executive-for-nj-12/
NJ-11: Some 17-year-olds can vote in primary next week
Seventeen-year-olds in New Jersey’s 11th district who turn eighteen by April 16 are eligible to vote in next week’s special primary election for Mikie Sherrill’s congressional seat.
This marks the implementation of a new state law sponsored by State Sen. Andrew Zwicker (D-South Brunswick), allowing people eligible to vote in a general election to vote in a primary at 17, as long as they reach the legal voting age by the general election.
The new law took effect on January, opening the 11th district primary to eligible seventeen-year-olds for the first time. Over 1,500 17-year-olds are permitted to vote on February 5 to pick nominee.
Early voting begins tomorrow.
https://newjerseyglobe.com/campaigns/some-17-year-olds-can-vote-in-nj-11-primary-next-week/
Pennsylvania man arrested for threatening Governor Sherrill
A Pennsylvania man was arrested for leaving sexually explicit and threatening messages for Gov. Mikie Sherrill last year.
Stephen M. Cilurso, a 72-year-old resident of Alden, PA, was charged with stalking and harassment by the New Jersey State Police on January 22. He had allegedly left messages for Sherrill in October and November of last year.
The charges were filed in the Livingston Municipal Court — Sherrill’s congressional office is in Livingston — and then transferred to the Essex County Prosecutor.
Cilurso was arrested by the U.S. Marsal is Pennsylvania and is awaiting extradition to New Jersey.
https://newjerseyglobe.com/governor/pennsylvania-man-arrested-for-threatening-sherrill/
PA-03: Congressional Forum Set For February 9
The leading candidates for the 3rd Congressional District seat presently held by retiring Rep. Dwight Evans will meet in a forum on Monday, February 9, at the Church of the Holy Trinity on Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia.
The event is hosted by PoliticsPA, in partnership with the Center City Residents’ Association (CCRA), and sister news-site PhillyDaily. The forum begins at 7 p.m. and is open to the public.
Thirteen candidates have filed their candidacy with the FEC, including Democrats State Sen. Sharif Street, State Rep. Chris Rabb, State Rep. Morgan Cephas, Dr. Dave Oxman, Dr. Ala Stanford, Karl Morris, Cole Carter, NaDerah Griffin, Jahmiel Jackson, Pablo McConnie-Saad, Isaiah Martin, Robin Toldens, and Republican Sheila Armstrong.
The forum is expected to last approximately 90 minutes and will include candidates who have registered the highest fundraising and public polling numbers available. Moderators include Gina Ceisler Shapiro, CCRA Executive Vice President; Dick Polman, veteran national political columnist; and Steve Ulrich, managing editor of PoliticsPA.
https://www.politicspa.com/pa-03-congressional-forum-set-for-february-9/145538/
PA-09: Wallace Campaign (D) Raises Over $250,000 In Q4
Rachel Wallace, a former White House staffer from Schuylkill County, announced that her campaign for the Democratic nomination in the 9th Congressional District raised more than $250,000 in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Endorsed by former congressman Tim Holden, Wallace said her campaign received gifts from all 50 states, including the majority from Pennsylvania, and has north of $200,000 cash on hand at the start of the new year.
Wallace, who previously worked at the State Department and as Chief of Staff in Joe Biden’s Office of Management and Budget, is a native of Pottsville and returned to her home after her mother was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease so she could be closer to her family.
Her website says she is focused on fixing healthcare, lowering the cost of living, and keeping promises to veterans and farmers. She wants to hold incumbent Rep. Dan Meuser accountable for his votes to take away health care, while doubling his own wealth since taking office.
https://www.politicspa.com/pa-09-wallace-campaign-raises-over-250000-in-q4/145536/
PA-HD193: Dems Select Crawley As Candidate for Special Election
The race is now set for the March 17 special election to fill the 193rd Legislative District seat in Pennsylvania’s House of Representatives.
The Pennsylvania House Democratic Campaign Committee announced it has nominated Todd Crawley, the former Director of Public and Environmental Health and Safety at Harrisburg Area Community College.
Crawley, who was selected over Neil Clifford, will face Republican Catherine Wallen in a contest to complete the term of Torren Ecker, who resigned from the House to take a post on the Adams County Court of Common Pleas.
“My job has given me a lot of experience and lessons that I want to carry with me to Harrisburg as your next Representative from the 193rd district. I have created and implemented policies and procedures for health and safety from the ground up,” Crawley told WHTM-TV. “As Director of Public and Environmental Health and Safety, I was directly responsible for the well-being of 50,000 students, faculty, and staff. I don’t take that responsibility lightly. I will fight to make this state safe and livable for everyone in Pennsylvania. That goes from the individual to the environment at large. I would seek legislation to block or place extreme limits on future data center installations to protect our environment and our health.
https://www.politicspa.com/hd-193-dems-select-crawley-as-candidate-for-special-election/145520/
SPOTLIGHT RACE: Jen Mazzocco for PA-HD42 (Special Election)
I’ve devoted my career to public service as an elected official, public school teacher, union leader, and community organizer. I live in Dormont with my husband and two daughters. I attended the University of Pittsburgh for both my undergraduate degree and a Master of Arts in Teaching.
I’ve taught for 15 years at Allderdice High School, where I lead in multiple capacities including as President of the Allderice Staff Association, coach of the Debate team, and National Honor Society Sponsor.
I am an active member of my union, the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers, where I’ve been a building representative, led their Political Action Committee from 2018 until 2025, and currently serve as a Secondary Schools Representative on the Executive Board.
I’ve worked hard in two terms on council to make Dormont a livable and thriving community. As Dormont Council President for the past two years, and Vice President for the two years prior, I’ve partnered closely with Mt. Lebanon to develop our regional active transportation plan; adopted an effective traffic-calming policy; authored our Complete Streets policy; and established the Safe Mobility Commission and advocated for transit-oriented development. I also helped create the Dormont Human Relations Commission, advanced a non-cooperation agreement with ICE, and have fought for policies to make Dormont an inclusive place, including a non-discrimination ordinance with protections for the LGBTQ+ community. I was recently sworn in to my third term on council.
I’m deeply committed to supporting the most vulnerable members of our community. I serve on the board of the Dormont Community Development Corporation, as Communications Director and Co-Chair of the Dormont Free Pantry Advisory Committee. In 2020, I helped launch the Dormont Free Pantry, housed in the borough building. For the past five years I’ve volunteered weekly, organized deliveries, recruited volunteers, led fundraising, and ensured the Pantry serves anyone in need of food assistance. In my role as a DCDC Communications Director, I am heavily involved in outreach and planning for Dormont Pride in the Park, ensuring that Dormont is an inclusive community where everyone is welcome.
https://www.jenforpa.com
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