Both political allies and opponents of Democrats have suggested the decision by the blue state governors was influenced by politics.
In New Jersey, which also held its gubernatorial election last year, Democrat Phil Murphy narrowly won against Republican challenger Jack Ciattarelli, who also called for an end to school mask requirements.
New York Democratic Representative Sean Patrick Maloney said,"we trust parents to know what's best for their children and their schools." "We are glad this conversation will happen at this level," she said."It doesn't mean the masks will go away, it just means it's going to be a local-level decision."in an email that"while the science is clear that wearing masks indoors helps reduce the transmission of COVID-19, opinions on mandatory masks in schools vary greatly from community to community and from school to school.