Democrats notched decisive wins in New Jersey and Virginia on Nov. 4, capturing both governorships and posting down-ballot gains — results widely read as a rebuke of President Donald Trump during a record-long federal shutdown.
Democrats swept marquee off-year contests across New Jersey and Virginia on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, winning the governor’s races in both states and notching broader gains that party strategists say could shape the 2026 midterms.
In New Jersey, Democrat Mikie Sherrill defeated Republican Jack Ciattarelli to become the state’s next governor, according to The Associated Press and other outlets. Sherrill, a former Navy helicopter pilot and four-term congresswoman, will succeed term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy. Multiple news organizations also reported Democrats expanding their edge in the state Assembly. (AP; New Jersey Monitor.)
In Virginia, Democrat Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA officer and U.S. representative, defeated Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle‑Sears to become the commonwealth’s first female governor, the Associated Press reported. Democrats also swept the other statewide offices — Ghazala Hashmi won the lieutenant governorship and Jay Jones captured the attorney general’s race — and expanded their majority in the House of Delegates, according to the Washington Post, Virginia Mercury and local public media. (AP; Washington Post; Virginia Mercury; VPM.)
Major outlets framed the night as a setback for Trump. The Washington Post’s Hannah Knowles highlighted five takeaways underscoring Democratic momentum in New Jersey and Virginia. The Wall Street Journal’s Aaron Zitner and Anthony DeBarros wrote that Democrats dented Trump’s coalition with three high-profile victories. In opinion coverage, New York Times columnist Jamelle Bouie argued, in a piece headlined “Make No Mistake, Trump Is an Albatross,” that Trump’s presence is weighing down Republicans; editors at National Review likewise called it “a big Democratic night.” (Washington Post; WSJ; NYT Opinion; National Review.)
The results landed amid a grinding federal shutdown. As of Wednesday, Nov. 6, the government had been closed for 37 days — the longest on record — and Trump publicly pressed Senate Republicans to end the impasse by eliminating the filibuster, a step GOP leaders have rejected. Reporting from Reuters, AP and PBS (carrying AP) details Trump’s push and Republican resistance. (Reuters; AP; PBS/AP.)
NPR’s Up First described bipartisan discussions about a short-term funding measure into December — paired with votes on a small set of appropriations bills — while noting that the central dispute over expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies remains unresolved. Following the election results, NPR also reported that Trump acknowledged the shutdown had hurt Republicans. (NPR/Up First via WFSU; KNKX/NPR.)
Political analysis continued across media. Slate’s Political Gabfest discussed how the decisive results buoy Democrats heading into future fights. A CNN/SSRS poll, republished by WRAL, found Democrats more enthusiastic about the midterms while Trump’s approval slid to 37%, a second‑term low in CNN polling. (Slate; WRAL/CNN.)
Bottom line: Democrats swept the two governor’s races on the ballot and, in Virginia, captured every statewide office while enlarging their legislative majority. Those outcomes — reported consistently by AP and other major outlets — came as voters assessed Trump’s leadership during a prolonged shutdown, providing Democrats with fresh momentum going into 2026.
