Executive Summary
- Democrats secured major victories in US elections, including gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey, and the New York City mayoral contest.
- Zohran Mamdani won the New York City mayoral race, becoming the city’s first South Asian, first Muslim, and youngest mayor in over a century.
- Virginia and New Jersey made history by electing their first female governors, Mikie Sherrill and Abigail Spanberger, respectively.
- President Donald Trump attributed Republican losses to his absence on the ballot and a “shutdown,” while a CNN poll shows his approval rating at a low 37% for his second term.
- These election outcomes are seen as an early gauge of President Trump’s standing and potential indicators for the 2026 midterm elections, where Democrats currently hold a narrow lead in voter preference.
Democrats secured significant victories in recent US elections, including gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey and the New York City mayoral contest, marking the first major electoral test since President Donald Trump’s return to the White House. These results, which saw Democrat Zohran Mamdani elected New York City Mayor, are being interpreted as potential indicators for the 2026 midterm elections and President Trump’s standing with voters.
Democrat Zohran Mamdani, 34, won the New York City Mayoral Race, defeating President Trump-backed candidate Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa. Mamdani is set to become the first South Asian and first Muslim mayor of New York City, as well as the youngest in over a century to hold the position.
In gubernatorial races, Mikie Sherrill was elected the 57th governor of New Jersey, defeating Republican Jack Ciattarelli, while Abigail Spanberger won the Virginia governor’s race, overcoming Republican Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears. These victories mean both Virginia and New Jersey will be led by their first female governors.
President Trump’s return to office in January provided a backdrop for these contests, which drew national attention as an early gauge of his support. Former President Barack Obama congratulated the Democratic candidates, noting that strong, forward-looking leadership can lead to wins.
Beyond the high-profile gubernatorial races, Democrats also saw success with Jay Jones projected to win the Virginia attorney general’s race and Virginia state Senator Ghazala Hashmi becoming the first Muslim American woman elected to statewide office in the US as Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor. Incumbent Mayor Michelle Wu, unopposed in Massachusetts, is expected to secure her second term.
President Donald Trump offered his perspective on the Republican losses, stating on Truth Social that pollsters attributed them to two main factors: “Trump wasn’t on the ballot, and shutdown.” Experts view these results as crucial clues about the political climate heading into next year’s elections, which will determine control of Congress for the remainder of President Trump’s presidency.
The Democratic Party’s strong performance in these key state and municipal elections, alongside President Trump’s dropping approval ratings according to a recent CNN poll, suggests a potential shift in the political landscape ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. A CNN/SSRS poll indicated Democrats hold a narrow lead over Republicans for the midterms, with President Trump’s approval at 37%, a low for his second term.
