Democrats won key races across the country on Tuesday, including the New York City mayoral election where socialist Zohran Mamdani triumphed. Governors' races in New Jersey and Virginia also went to Democrats Mikie Sherrill and Abigail Spanberger, respectively, amid voter concerns over economic affordability. These results signal a rejection of President Trump's policies and set high expectations for the 2026 midterms.
The 2025 off-year elections delivered a strong showing for Democrats, with victories in multiple states highlighting voter frustration with economic issues under President Donald Trump. In New York City, Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist and Muslim immigrant, was elected mayor after campaigning on promises to freeze rents for two million residents, provide universal childcare, and open government-owned grocery stores. His win, which overcame attacks labeling him a "Marxist" and "communist" from figures like House Speaker Mike Johnson and Rep. Elise Stefanik, drew over a million votes and support from about a third of Jewish voters despite accusations of antisemitism related to his Israel views.
Nationwide, Democrats flipped at least 13 seats in Virginia's House of Delegates, gaining a trifecta to redraw congressional maps. In New Jersey, Mikie Sherrill won the governorship by 13 points, securing the largest Assembly majority for Democrats in 52 years. Abigail Spanberger flipped Virginia's governorship with a large margin, boosting Democratic seats in the House of Delegates from 51 to 64. In Georgia, Democrats won two seats on the Public Service Commission for the first time since 2007. California voters passed Proposition 50 by nearly two-to-one, allowing mid-decade redistricting to counter GOP advantages.
Exit polls showed the economy as the top issue, with voters rewarding Democrats addressing affordability. Republican strategist Brendan Buck called it a "wake-up call," noting Trump's low approval and policies like tariffs and immigration crackdowns alienated groups such as Latinos. NPR's Sarah McCammon reported divisions within Democrats on whether moderate figures like Sherrill and Spanberger or progressives like Mamdani represent the party's future, but emphasized the need for a "big tent" to fight authoritarianism.
These results, 17 days after nationwide No Kings protests, rejected Trumpism's chaos and cruelty, per The Nation's Sasha Abramsky. Republicans, facing historical midterm losses for the president's party, must recalibrate on economic messaging ahead of 2026, where Democrats need few House flips to regain control.
