Overview
- Zohran Mamdani, 34, won New York City’s mayoral race to become the city’s first Muslim mayor, defeating independent Andrew Cuomo by about 10 points and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
- Democrats captured governorships in Virginia and New Jersey, with Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill winning by double‑digit margins over Winsome Earle‑Sears and Jack Ciattarelli.
- California voters approved Proposition 50 to redraw legislative districts in a way seen as favorable to Democrats, and Republicans swiftly filed a federal lawsuit led by Assemblymember David Tangipa and the state GOP.
- President Trump attributed GOP losses to his absence from ballots and the now record‑length federal shutdown, then in a Miami speech warned Democrats would turn the U.S. into a Cuba or Venezuela and said Miami would be a refuge from New York under Mamdani.
- Republican leaders publicly tried to minimize the setbacks while eyeing 2026 risks, as analysts pointed to strong youth and urban turnout and shutdown‑related economic strain, particularly visible in Virginia.