Overview
- Zohran Mamdani won New York City mayor, Mikie Sherrill captured New Jersey’s governorship, and Abigail Spanberger won Virginia’s governor’s race, completing a high‑profile Democratic sweep.
- Trump posted on Truth Social that “TRUMP WASN’T ON THE BALLOT, AND SHUTDOWN” were the two reasons Republicans lost, citing pollsters.
- Analysts and GOP-aligned commentators pointed to the prolonged federal shutdown, turnout problems, candidate quality and Trump’s focus on foreign affairs as key factors, warning of trouble for 2026.
- California voters approved Proposition 50 to allow a new congressional map that could give Democrats a chance to gain up to five U.S. House seats in the 2026 midterms.
- Mamdani’s victory followed Trump’s late endorsement of Andrew Cuomo and prior threats to limit federal funds to New York City, while Sherrill’s win delivered Democrats a third straight New Jersey governorship and Spanberger became Virginia’s first woman governor.