Craig Callaway, the lead operative working against the referendum, acknowledged that the “yes” forces will receive their biggest boosts of support in wards one and six – two of the highest performing wards to this point of the rolling VBM (vote-by-mail) election with a deadline tomorrow. But the Democratic Party minder said he doesn’t even think his rivals will win Ward Six; in fact he sees them getting buried there.

The backers of the “no” vote on Tuesday’s referendum question in Atlantic City this afternoon expressed considerable confidence in the face of an effort to change the city’s form of government.

“I feel great,” Mayor Marty Small told InsiderNJ. “This is money power versus people power. The cast of characters on the other side had no real human connection to the city. Once people found out what this was about, they rejected it. We believe we’re going to be victorious whole, and there will be a lot of people with egg on their faces now.

Continuing frustration over missing vote-by-mail ballots and a fight for messenger ballots characterized the late afternoon stretch in Belleville in a dogfight May 12th election between incumbent Ward One Councilwoman Marie Strumolo-Burke and challenger Carmine Mattia.

Take a look at Insider NJ’s guide to the local (and broader) meaning of the municipal elections, and take a look at the political implications for mayors in key towns with elections.

Singer: “It seems like the governor wants to squeeze every last bit of joy from people’s lives.”

Pamela Thomas-Fields, candidate for mayor of Atlantic City in the Democratic Primary, supports Amy Kennedy for Congress in the 2nd District.

As he works to line up GOP support for his bill creating a $500 billion fund for states and local governments, U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) said he expects to have two to three more senators that have just about committed.

NJ Citizen Action endorsed Sean Spiller for Mayor and Lori Price Abrams for Third Ward Council in the upcoming Montclair Municipal Elections

Governor Murphy was interviewed by CNBC’s Closing Bell Tuesday and was asked if he would consider actions such as those discussed in New York, a “shelter in place” option which would require people to stay at home.  He was further asked how such could be enforced.

“On the one hand, I will say everything is on the table,” Murphy replied.  “We’re trying like heck to get out ahead of this. That’s certainly an option if we don’t think we’re succeeding in flattening the curve.  We think what we’ve done gives us a very good shot of doing that but we reserve the right to reconsider all our steps.  I called up the National Guard yesterday which gives us another pool of folks who are qualified to help us with everything from food distribution to testing to policing and enforcing.  So we will continue monitoring this literally day to day and we will do what it takes to crack the back of this.”

Seeking re-election in CD5, Rep. Gottheimer is being endorsed by the NJEA, with an announcement this morning at an event in Glen Rock.