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Articles by Tom Howell Jr.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy greets supporters at the end of an election night party in Asbury Park, N.J., early Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

Phil Murphy edges out GOP challenger in nail-biter N.J. race

Phil Murphy held on to win a second term as governor of New Jersey Wednesday, shaking off President Biden's sinking approval numbers and late momentum from Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli in an election that was far closer than Democrats had expected and hurt their down-ballot candidates.

November 3, 2021
President Joe Biden arrives to speak about the newly approved COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11 from the South Court Auditorium on the White House complex in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021. U.S. health officials on Tuesday gave the final sign-off to Pfizer's kid-size COVID-19 shot, a milestone that opens a major expansion of the nation's vaccination campaign to children as young as 5. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Biden touts child COVID-19 vaccines after dismal election night

President Biden said Wednesday that COVID-19 vaccines for school-aged kids will be widely available across the U.S. by next week, latching onto the "giant step forward" in the pandemic fight in the wake of a bruising Election Day for Democrats.

November 3, 2021
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy greets supporters at the end of an election night party in Asbury Park, N.J., early Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

N.J. Democrat Murphy confident of victory, but result up in the air

Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli on Wednesday hailed a "historic" election night for the GOP in New Jersey and said he wants to see all "legal votes" counted as Gov. Phil Murphy and fellow Democrats held their breath in a contest that turned from a cakewalk for the incumbent to a dead heat.

November 3, 2021
Syringes loaded with adult doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine lie ready for use in Jackson, Miss., on Sept. 21, 2021. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

CDC signs off on COVID-19 vaccine for ages 5 to 11

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signed off Tuesday on giving a COVID-19 vaccine to kids ages 5 to 11, clearing the way for the pediatric vaccination drive to kick off within days.

November 2, 2021
Incumbent Gov. Phil Murphy, D-N.J., left, and Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli laugh on stage during a gubernatorial debate at New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021, in Newark, N.J. (Amy Newman/The Record via AP) ** FILE **

Gov. Phil Murphy, Jack Ciattarelli make closing arguments in N.J.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy told voters Tuesday they must reelect him to preserve a battery of progressive reforms, arguing the state "cannot afford to go back" to old policies as GOP challenger Jack Ciattarelli claimed momentum in the final hours of the race.

November 2, 2021
This image provided by U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service shows the website for HealthCare.gov. (U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service via AP) ** FILE **

Biden uses start of Obamacare sign-ups to prod Congress

President Biden used the start of the Obamacare enrollment period Monday to promote the "Build Back Better" agenda that's languishing on Capitol Hill, saying big federal subsidies that Democrats approved earlier this year herded people into the 2010 program and should be extended to reel in more.

November 1, 2021
This October 2021, photo provided by Pfizer shows kid-size doses of its COVID-19 vaccine in Puurs, Belgium. The U.S. moved a step closer to expanding vaccinations for millions more children as a panel of government advisers on Tuesday, Oct. 26, endorsed kid-size doses of Pfizer's shots for 5- to 11-year-olds. (Pfizer via AP, File)

FDA authorizes Pfizer vaccine for ages 5-11

The Food and Drug Administration on Friday authorized the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use in children ages 5 to 11, a major step in making the shots available to school-aged kids by early November.

October 29, 2021
Former President Barack Obama speaks at an early vote rally at Weequahic Park, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)

Obama throws lifeline to Biden’s imperiled agenda

President Biden's frantic bid to pass his "Build Back Better" agenda got a boost from his old boss, Barack Obama, who hailed the sweeping package Thursday as a "giant leap forward" that builds on initiatives he championed during his two terms.

October 28, 2021