Democrats Sweep The Night's Biggest Elections: From The Politics Desk

Welcome to a special-post predetermination version of From nan Politics Desk, a newsletter that brings you nan NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and study from nan White House, Capitol Hill and nan run trail.

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Democrats expanse nan first awesome elections of 2025

Democrats scored a bid of victories crossed nan state Tuesday connected nan first awesome Election Day of President Donald Trump’s 2nd term.

The NBC News Exit Poll recovered that voters successful Virginia, New Jersey, New York City and California expressed wide dissatisfaction pinch Trump. Most voters successful those elections were besides sour connected nan guidance of nan state arsenic they expressed worries astir financial issues and nan economy.

Even though voters mostly did not clasp affirmative views of either party, Democratic campaigns were capable to capitalize connected different areas of concern, giving nan statement a desperately needed boost 1 twelvemonth retired from nan midterms.

Here are nan astir notable results from nan night:

Virginia: Democrat Abigail Spanberger defeated Republican Winsome Earle-Sears to flip power of nan state’s governorship, mounting her up to go nan first female to lead nan state.

Democrats recovered occurrence crossed nan committee successful Virginia. Jay Jones won nan predetermination for Virginia lawyer general, overcoming a matter connection ungraded that threatened to derail his candidacy successful nan last agelong of nan race. State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi became nan first Muslim American female elected to statewide agency successful nan U.S. pinch her triumph successful nan lieutenant governor’s race. And nan statement expanded its mostly successful nan authorities House of Delegates.

New Jersey: Democrats won nan different governor’s title of nan evening, pinch Rep. Mikie Sherrill defeating Republican Jack Ciattarelli aft a title she worked to make a referendum connected Trump.

New York City: Democrat Zohran Mamdani won nan mayoral race, aft nan 34-year-old antiauthoritarian socialist energized progressives astir nan country. In his triumph reside aft vanquishing erstwhile Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Mamdani claimed a wide instruction and group himself up successful nonstop guidance to Trump, who made a precocious endorsement against him. “In this infinitesimal of governmental darkness, New York will beryllium nan light,” Mamdani said.

California: Voters approved a caller legislature map drawn by authorities Democrats, giving nan statement nan chance to summation up to 5 House seats adjacent twelvemonth and antagonistic Republican redistricting efforts successful different states.

Pennsylvania: Voters approved nan retention of 3 Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices, preserving Democrats’ 5-2 mostly connected nan battleground state’s precocious court.

The rest: Maine will soon go nan 22nd authorities to person an “extreme consequence protection” weapon law, besides known arsenic a “red emblem law” — portion of a slew of authorities ballot measures voters astir nan state considered, connected issues from raising taxes connected higher earners to parental authorities and voting rules.

The GOP’s view: No 1 thought Tuesday was going to beryllium Trump’s predetermination night, but location were moreover less metallic linings than galore Republicans had hoped, Matt Dixon, Henry J. Gomez, Jonathan Allen and Garrett Haake report. Still, Republicans were brushing speech nan off-year races arsenic aberrations that aren’t predictive of nan 2026 midterms.

That’s each From nan Politics Desk for now. Today’s newsletter was compiled by Adam Wollner.

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