Cook Political Report shifts New Jersey, Virginia House seats toward Democrats

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair James Risch (R-Idaho) objected to a request by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) to commemorate slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi during Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to Washington, calling it 'inappropriate.' Khashoggi, a Virginia resident, was murdered in 2018, and Kaine's request aimed to honor his legacy amid ongoing discussions about human rights and accountability.

An inmate at a prison in southwestern Virginia is accused of killing a prison guard and injuring two others in an attack earlier this week. The incident has raised serious concerns about safety and security within correctional facilities.

Keith Michael Lisa from New Jersey has been charged following a statewide manhunt for allegedly vandalizing U.S. Attorney Alina Habba's office in Newark. Reports indicate that he used a baseball bat to ransack the office, leading to significant damage. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of legal professionals and the potential implications for law enforcement in handling such threats.

Nearly a dozen Democrats are set to compete for Mikie Sherrill's House seat in New Jersey following her resignation. Among the candidates is former Congressman Tom Malinowski, highlighting a crowded primary race as a special election approaches. This development indicates a significant political shift in the region, as various Democratic figures seek to fill the vacancy left by Sherrill, who has been a prominent representative.

A Virginia family reached a settlement with the Nysmith School for Gifted Children after alleging that the school allowed antisemitic bullying of their 11-year-old daughter. The parents claimed that when they raised concerns about the bullying, the school expelled their daughter along with her two siblings. This incident highlights significant issues regarding school policies on bullying and the protection of students from discrimination.

Eliyahu ‘Eli’ Weinstein, a New Jersey man previously pardoned by Donald Trump in 2021, has been sentenced to 37 years in federal prison for defrauding investors out of $35 million. The ruling was made by US District Judge Michael Shipp in Trenton, who also ordered Weinstein to pay $44,294,803 in restitution immediately. Weinstein, 51, from Lakewood, was known as Mike Konig and had his earlier sentence commuted by Trump, but now faces significant legal consequences for his fraudulent activities.

A New Jersey man, Eliyahu Weinstein, whose prison sentence was commuted by President Donald Trump in 2021, has been sentenced to 37 years in federal prison for a new fraud conviction. Weinstein was found guilty of defrauding investors out of $35 million. The ruling was made by US District Judge Michael Shipp in Trenton, marking a significant turn in Weinstein's legal troubles after receiving a pardon just four years prior.

David Williams, a political newcomer and former State Department expert, has announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate in Virginia, aiming to challenge incumbent Democratic Senator Mark Warner in the 2026 election. Williams has positioned himself by invoking far-left radicals to portray the Democratic Party as extreme, signaling a strategy to appeal to conservative voters in a state that has leaned Democratic in recent years.