Bitter campaign between Gottheimer, Garrett is over; counting underway

One of the nation's most closely watched House races, the bitter campaign between Democratic newcomer Josh Gottheimer and Republican Rep. Scott Garrett ended Tuesday with the polls closed and the counting underway. Mirroring the presidential race, the campaign featured bitter allegations including bigotry, bribery, forgery and assault, and it shattered records for expenditures, with Gottheimer and Garrett each spending at least $4 million while outside groups and super PACs added another $6 million on GottA heimer's side.

In wealthy New Jersey district, congressional race is bitter

A former speechwriter for President Bill Clinton is waging a well-funded campaign against a seven-term incumbent in a New Jersey congressional district. The district across the river from New York is filled with million-dollar homes and massive shopping malls, but it also stretches into the rural northwest part of the state.

Rep. John Lewis campaigns for Gottheimer as 5th District race heats up

With just two weeks to go before Election Day, the campaign for New Jersey's 5th District ratcheted up Tuesday with an appearance from a civil rights icon, food-policy advocates canvassing in Maywood, and nearly $1 million in new advertising announced. More than 100 people gathered at the Logan Family Life Center on Tuesday for a campaign rally on behalf of Josh Gottheimer, the Democrat running in a tight race against incumbent Scott Garrett.

Jackson: 5th District map give Garrett an advantage

Republican Rep. Scott Garrett is facing his toughest political challenge as he seeks another term representing the 5th District in North Jersey, with challenger Josh Gottheimer beating him in fundraising and outside groups pumping in money for ads and mailings to help the Democrat. The thing that saves Garrett, however, could be the district map drawn by Republican members of a bipartisan commission five years ago.

Trump out of Atlantic City but an issue in House race there

The legacy of Donald Trump's casino empire disappeared from Atlantic City with last week's closing of the Trump Taj Mahal, but donations he made years ago are factoring into a New Jersey congressional race. Incumbent Republican Rep. Frank LoBiondo received donations from Trump more often than any other current member of Congress over a 10-year span ending with his final donation in 2007.

GOP Chair of Wall Street Panel Held Fundraiser With Official From ‘Domestic Terrorist’ Group

New Jersey Representative Scott Garrett praised Edward Durfee, the regional coordinator for New Jersey Oath Keepers, at an October gathering. Representative Scott Garrett, a Republican from New Jersey, questions John Stumpf, chief executive officer of Wells Fargo & Co., not pictured, during a House Financial Services Committee hearing in Washington on Sept.

Fed chair Janet Yellen defends regulatory role

Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen was thrust into the election-year boxing ring during a congressional committee hearing on Wednesday, defending the central bank's regulatory role, taking and landing punches on Wells Fargo and other banks considered too big to fail, and addressing accusations of political conflicts of interest. At a house of representatives financial services committee hearing, Yellen also provided details on the changes the central bank is considering making to the annual stress tests it gives US banks.

Yellen says economy likely ready for rate hike later in 2016 new

Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said Wednesday that the central bank has no "fixed timetable" for raising interest rates but she believes the economy is ready for a rate hike by the end of the year. She said during an appearance before the House Financial Services Committee that when the Fed met last week, a majority of her colleagues believed it would be appropriate to raise rates before the end of this year.

Morning Digest: James Zadroga’s father slams Scott Garrett for opposing aid to 9/11 responders

Donald Trump is the Republican nominee, which is frightening.We must make sure his hateful rhetoric does not even come close... Donald Trump has gone too far with his attacks on Gold Star parents Khizr and Ghazala Khan, whose son Army Capt. Humayun Khan... A Donald Trump White House would be a disaster, and this goes way beyond any ideological difference.

Fall campaign season is getting underway in New Jersey

In New Jersey and across the country, post-Labor Day marks the start of a sprint to Nov. 8 when Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican nominee Donald Trump top the ballot. New Jersey residents will also be picking their congressional representatives and deciding on expanding casino gambling to the northern part of the state.

Jackson: Pricey mailings draw critics in an election year

The four- to eight-page tabloid newspapers have Rep. Chris Smith's name in the banner and his picture on just about every page as he meets with constituents, leads hearings or delivers speeches. Topics for stories include legislation sponsored by the Republican from Mercer County, local public works projects he got funded, his ongoing drive for global human rights and how high school students can apply for a chance to attend a military academy or get their art shown in the Capitol.

Protesters left out of oil train safety meeting in Bergenfield

BERGENFIELD - More than 15 protesters were left out of a meeting of local officials on the safety of freight trains carrying crude oil. Rep. Scott Garrett convened the meeting to allow elected officials and first responders from towns along the freight rail lines to speak with representatives from CSX and the Federal Railroad Administration.

RNC 2016: 10 observations from the convention’s 1st day

U.S. taxpayers shelled out millions of dollars for eight Republican investigations into the deaths of four Americans in Benghazi, Libya, and every one concluded that then-U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton bore no direct responsibility for the attack. The Senate Intelligence Committee said initial intelligence reports did mention protests against an anti-Muslim video.

Fight Over Reform Bill Turns into Fight Over Capital Worldviews

Regulators' calculations were "were wrong when it came to subprime mortgages [and] they were wrong when they were talking about Greek debt," said Rep. Scott Garrett in support of banks hitting a non-risk-based leverage ratio. The debate over a Republican bill to overhaul the Dodd-Frank Act is increasingly focused on two widely different philosophies about capital regulation, which were both on display at a hearing Tuesday.

Bergen GOP committee to vote on party chairman

Elections to select a county political party chairman are typically tame and quiet affairs, usually serving as a vote of acclamation for the incumbent. But the contest to be decided Tuesday by 1,000 Republican committee members and other insiders in Bergen County has been anything but that, featuring everything from allegations of death threats and ethnic slurs to claims by each side that the other routinely engages in backroom deals.

New president? Sure. But House, casinos also on NJ ballot

Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton will capture most of the spotlight ahead of the November general election, but in New Jersey, voters will also pick their 12-member congressional delegation and whether to gamble on approving casino expansion. Tuesday's primary set the slate for the Nov. 8 election when the state's nearly 5.5 million registered voters will decide whether to keep their U.S. House delegation.

Garrett wins 5th District GOP nomination for Congress

U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett moved past two Republican primary challengers Tuesday to win his party's nomination to seek an eighth term representing the 5th District in northern and western New Jersey. Garrett of Wantage Township, Sussex County, this fall will face Democrat Josh Gottheimer of Wyckoff, Bergen County, a speechwriter for former President Bill Clinton and former Microsoft manager.

Democrats target North Jersey congressman over views on gay issues

After long targeting South Jersey, national Democrats are looking north this year as they try to chip away at Republicans' congressional majority. The party's national arm is focusing on unseating North Jersey Republican Rep. Scott Garrett, prioritizing a race in the New York suburbs rather than the Burlington and Ocean County-based Third District, which Democrats have spent years trying to capture.