Tuesday night time was a far cry from the shell-shocked scenes in Democrats’ election headquarters a 12 months in the past this November.
In three key races, for Virginia governor, New Jersey governor and New York Metropolis mayor, the celebration’s nominees drew in large numbers of the citizens by attacking President Donald Trump and providing plans to sort out what exit polls confirmed was voters’ high concern: affordability.
The Democratic wins come as Trump and Republicans have seen sinking approval rankings 10 months into his second time period.
Voters fill out their ballots at a polling station within the Hillsboro Previous Stone College on November 4, 2025 in Hillsboro, Virginia.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Pictures
Listed here are a few of the key takeaways from Tuesday’s election — one 12 months to the 2026 midterms:
Democrats flip the tide
The nationwide highlight was on Abigail Spanberger in Virginia, Mikie Sherrill, in New Jersey and Zohran Mamdani in New York Metropolis as the primary true exams for the Democrats after the celebration’s punishing defeat within the 2024 nationwide election.
Tuesday’s outcomes confirmed the celebration is on the offensive, with all three candidates projected to attain sizable wins over their opponents.
“We despatched a message to the entire world that in 2025, Virginia selected pragmatism over partisanship. We selected our commonwealth over chaos,” Spanbrger mentioned.
It is the financial system, once more
Preliminary exit ballot knowledge compiled by ABC Information within the three races confirmed that almost all of Individuals had been involved about the price of residing.
Practically half of Virginia voters mentioned that the financial system was crucial subject going through the commonwealth.
Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate, former Rep. Abigail Spanberger delivers remarks at her election night time watch celebration, November 4, 2025 in Richmond, Virginia.
Alex Wong/Getty Pictures
In New Jersey, six in 10 voters mentioned that the financial system within the state was doing “not so good” or “poor,” whereas about 4 in 10 mentioned it was “glorious” or “good.”
Greater than half of voters in New York Metropolis mentioned the price of residing was crucial subject they confronted.
New York Metropolis Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks throughout an election night time occasion, in Brooklyn, New York Metropolis, November 4, 2025.
Angela Weiss/AFP through Getty Pictures
Spanberger, Sherrill and Mamdani all campaigned with affordability as the principle focus.
Though every candidate has totally different proposals to decrease prices — with Mamdani being probably the most vocal with elevating the tax charge on the wealthiest to pay for companies corresponding to little one care — voters in large numbers had been drawn to their messages.
Voters are usually not proud of the state of the nation
Simply as with final 12 months’s elections, the place almost each Democratic led state shifted pink, voters appeared to need change from the established order.
Rep. Mikie Sherrill, Democratic gubernatorial candidate for New Jersey, speaks on stage at her election night time rally in East Brunswick, New Jersey, November 4, 2025.
Mike Segar/Reuters
A big majority of voters who mentioned they had been indignant supported Sherrill, saying they had been sad with how issues had been occurring within the nation. New Jersey has by no means elected a governor from the identical celebration in three cycles in a row.
Document turnout helps propel Mamdani
Greater than 2 million voters turned out Tuesday in New York Metropolis, the primary time a mayoral election crossed that threshold since 1969.
Mamdani collected over 1.03 million votes as of 10 p.m. Tuesday, which is bigger than the inhabitants of 5 states, based on U.S. Census figures.
The New York turnout mirrored the elevated turnout seen throughout an off-year election.
Historic wins for Muslim candidates
Mamdani and Virginia Lt. Gov.-elect Ghazala Hashmi each made historical past as the primary Muslim Individuals elected to their respective workplaces.
New York Metropolis Mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani celebrates throughout an election night time occasion in Brooklyn, New York Metropolis, November 4, 2025.
Angela Weiss/AFP through Getty Pictures
Each had confronted anti-Islamic assaults from their opponents and critics from across the nation.
Wins sends message to Trump
Trump acquired not directly concerned within the three races, particularly New York Metropolis, as he tried to take care of and develop the GOP’s affect following his win.
The president was significantly tied to the New Jersey race as Republican Jack Ciattarelli vocally embraced and welcomed Trump’s assist, regardless of the president’s low approval rankings.
Sherrill took a number of alternatives to criticize Trump whereas trying to tie the president and Ciattarelli tightly collectively. Mamdani and Spanberger additionally tied their opponents to Trump’s affect.
Mamdani additionally addressed Trump straight throughout his victory speech.
“I’ve 4 phrases for you, flip the quantity up,” he mayor-elect mentioned to a roar of supporters’ cheers.
The president reacted angrily to the wins on social media, arguing that the continued authorities shutdown and the truth that he was not on the poll as the explanations Republicans misplaced.
