Youngkin defeats McAuliffe in Virginia; NJ too close to call
Happy Hump Day, Daily Briefing readers! The GOP are celebrating after Republican Glenn Youngkin beat Democrat Terry McAuliffe in the race to be Virginia's governor. Meanwhile in New Jersey, Republican Jack Ciattarelli and incumbent Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy are neck-and-neck. And kids ages ages 5-11 could get Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine shots in their arms as soon as today.
It's Steve and Jane, with Wednesday's news.
🔴New this morning: 121 child deaths. Hundreds of injuries. But these recalled items are still on Facebook Marketplace. Here are 10 to watch out for.
🚔 A push to disband the Minneapolis police department failed for the second time since George Floyd's death sparked nationwide calls for police reform.
✈️ A Southwest pilot and flight attendant fought over masks. One was cited for alleged assault.
☕️Move over, pumpkin spice! Starbucks' holiday season drinks, treats and signature red cups return, along with a brand new menu item.
🎧 On today's 5 Things podcast, hear the latest from elections around the country. Plus, national political correspondent Phillip Bailey talks about what impact they’ll have on next year’s midterms. You can listen to the podcast every day on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or on your smart speaker.
Here's what's happening today:
Election Day fallout: Dems suffer major setback in Virginia governor's race
Polls have closed in an assemblage of off-year elections observers say could be clues about the themes and outcomes of the pivotal 2022 midterm races. At the top of the card was the race for Virginia governor. Early Wednesday, Republican Glenn Youngkin defeated Democrat Terry McAuliffe in a race that was the first major contest since President Joe Biden took office. The loss was a setback to Democrats one year ahead of the 2022 midterms that will decide control of Congress and impact President Joe Biden's ability to govern and pass legislation. New Jersey's gubernatorial race appears destined to be called on Wednesday or later this week as Republican Jack Ciattarelli clings to a slight lead over incumbent Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, as the race remains too close to call. One important caveat from Tuesday's results will be how several candidates of color across the nation were elected. Michelle Wu, 36, became the first woman and person of color elected to be Boston's mayor and Ed Gainey will become the first Black mayor of Pittsburgh.
Additional coverage of Election Day 2021:
🗳 5 Takeaways from 2021 elections: Race in education drives record turnout in Virginia.
🗳 Analysis from Susan Page: A crushing defeat in Virginia could signal more bad news for Democrats ahead.
🗳Historic firsts: From Boston to Cincinnati, people of color won local elections across the country.
🗳 New York City's second Black mayor: Former police captain Eric Adams defeated longshot Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.
🗳 USA TODAY Opinion column: Youngkin's win in Virginia shows that voters will reward former President Donald Trump's dangerous Republican Party.
🗳 7 things: This is what campaign '21 says about campaign '22 (including Biden, Trump and Black voters).
Senate to vote on advancing John Lewis voting rights act
The Senate will vote on advancing the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, which would replace part of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that the U.S. Supreme Court struck down in 2013. That year, the high court ruled that states no longer had to comply with Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act, which required some states and municipalities with a history of discriminatory voting laws to obtain federal "preclearance" before enacting changes to voting laws or practices. The legislation passed the House in August 219-212 along straight party lines. The vote Wednesday in the Senate comes just two weeks after Democratic leadership attempted to advance another piece of voting rights legislation that was blocked by Republicans with the filibuster.
🗳 'A new American fault line':How new election laws will make it harder for 55 million to vote
What else people are reading:
🚨A Washington state father was arrested on Friday as authorities say he killed his daughter's boyfriend after allegedly learning he sold her into a sex trafficking ring.
💀The Day of the Dead: Details of the Aztec holiday to remember lost loved ones, explained.
🎤 "The Voice": Ariana Grande called for a rule change after John Legend's 'painful' decision.
💔"Nothing bad happened": JoJo Siwa and girlfriend Kylie Prew split after nearly a year of dating.
Pfizer vaccine available for children ages 5-11
Children ages 5-11 may receive the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine Wednesday after the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention signed off on an expert panel's recommendation. Health providers can start vaccinating children in this age group "as soon as possible," the CDC said in a release. Earlier in the week, presidential advisor Jeffrey Zients said that the Biden administration has ordered enough vaccines to cover all 28 million American children in the 5 to 11 age group. The administration’s distribution program will be “running at full strength” the week of Nov. 8, he said. The vaccines will be available at 100 children's hospitals, temporary clinics in the community and at schools, as well as pharmacies and pediatricians' offices.
Atlanta Braves are the 2021 World Series champs!
Three home runs – a huge blast from Jorge Soler and big shots from Dansby Swanson and Freddie Freeman – backed Max Fried's six shutout innings as the Atlanta Braves routed the Houston Astros 7-0 at Houston's Minute Maid Park Tuesday night to win their first championship since 1995. Atlanta finished the regular season with just 88 wins and lost key players along the way such as Ronald Acuna and Charlie Morton. But as USA TODAY baseball columnist Bob Nightengale noted, "They were counted out by everyone, but the only the ones who actually counted, refused to believe it."
⚾ 2021 World Series MVP: Veteran outfielder Jorge Soler, whom the Braves acquired at the MLB trade deadline in July, clubbed his third go-ahead home run of the series and then was named the MVP.
⚾ "I'm going to give it to Brian": The Braves never gave up on manager Brian Snitker, in his 47th year with the organization, their players or their season – and now they're World Series champions.
⚾ "We'll be back": Another World Series appearance for Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker, 72, ends in heartbreak again.
⚾ "I'm totally fine": Atlanta Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos missed his team's World Series clincher after testing positive for COVID-19. He said he watched the game at home with his family.
📸 Check out our gallery of the best photos from the 2021 World Series.
Ahead of initial court appearance, Raiders release Henry Ruggs III
The Las Vegas Raiders released Henry Ruggs III just hours before the promising young wide receiver faced an initial court appearance on multiple felony charges after a fiery predawn vehicle crash Tuesday that left a woman dead and Ruggs and his female passenger injured. Ruggs, 22, and his passenger were hospitalized after the Chevrolet Corvette he was driving slammed at high speed into the rear of a Toyota Rav4 in Las Vegas. The Toyota burst into flames and the driver and her dog died, police said. The woman was not immediately identified. Ruggs faces felony charges of driving under the influence of alcohol resulting in death and reckless driving, court records show.
700-year-old law may loom large in Supreme Court gun case
The Supreme Court is expected to debate a 700-year-old English law – and the influence it had on the framing of the Constitution – when it hears oral arguments Wednesday in a closely watched guns case. At issue is whether New York can require residents to have a good reason to obtain a handgun license, a question with ramifications for gun laws nationwide. To find an answer, the justices are expected to look closely at the "history and tradition" of the right to bear arms. While the court in recent years has affirmed the right to possess guns at home for self-defense, it left unanswered questions about carrying those weapons into public places.
The Daily Briefing is free, but several stories we link to in this edition are subscriber-only. Please support our journalism and become a USA TODAY digital subscriber today.
Contributing: The Associated Press