By Sarah Naffa/New York Times
New York, November 5 – Democrats dominated the first major Election Day since President Donald Trump returned to the White House. An AP Voter Poll finds that the economy was prioritized above immigration and crime at the ballot box; and the government shutdown becomes the longest on record. Also, yodelers cry out for global recognition.
Democrats dominated the first major Election Day since President Donald Trump returned to the White House. And while a debate about the future of the Democratic Party may have only just begun, there are signs that the economy — specifically, Trump’s inability to deliver the economic turnaround he promised last fall — may be a real problem for Trump’s GOP heading into next year’s higher-stakes midterm elections. Read more.
Why this matters:
A self-described democratic socialist cruised to victory in New York City. Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old state legislator who backs radical changes to address economic inequality, will serve as the next mayor of the nation’s largest city. Moderate Democrats on Tuesday won governor’s races in Virginia and New Jersey, the only states electing new chief executives this year. And in California, Gov. Gavin Newsom, frequently mentioned as a 2028 presidential hopeful, led a triumphant charge to redraw congressional maps to give Democrats as many as five more House seats in upcoming elections.
Voters rejected candidates and causes aligned with Trump’s Republican Party from Virginia and Pennsylvania to Maine and New Jersey. It was, in fact, difficult to point to any significant victory for Trump’s party.
Trump was largely absent from the campaign trail, but GOP candidates closely aligned themselves with the president, betting that his big win last year could provide a path to victory this time. They were wrong.
Democrat Mikie Sherrill elected governor of New Jersey, defeating opponent who aligned with Trump
Abigail Spanberger elected Virginia governor in a historic first that boosts Democrats ahead of 2026
California voters approve new US House map to boost Democrats in 2026
Pennsylvania reelects Supreme Court justices, extending a Democratic majority on its highest court
Maine voters approve red flag gun law after mass shooting that killed 18
Maine voters reject new GOP-backed voter ID requirement while Texans approve citizenship proposal
Democrat Jay Jones wins race to be Virginia attorney general despite texts endorsing violence
City Council President Mary Sheffield wins election to become Detroit’s first female mayor
Former Gov. Jim McGreevey and James Solomon advance to runoff in race for Jersey City mayor
Politics
Voters prioritize the economy above immigration and crime, AP Voter Poll finds
The results of the expansive survey of more than 17,000 voters in New Jersey, Virginia, California and New York City suggested the public was troubled by an economy that seems trapped by higher prices and fewer job opportunities. Read more.
What to know:
A year after President Donald Trump was brought back to the White House on the promise that he could tame inflation and unleash growth, economic worries were still at the top of voters’ minds. Despite a rising stock market, inflation remains elevated, and hiring has slowed sharply. While Trump has tried to highlight his efforts to deport immigrants in the country illegally and send federal officers and National Guard troops into cities to fight crime, few voters saw these issues as the top concern for the places they live.
Voters mostly said their own finances were stable, but the poll results suggested that many feel they cannot get ahead in the current economy. About 6 in 10 voters in New Jersey, Virginia and New York City said their family’s finances were “holding steady,” but relatively few felt they were “getting ahead,” and about one-quarter said they were “falling behind.”
The polling found a high level of discontent about America’s direction as a country in several states, a sign that few voters have felt reassured so far by Trump’s return to the White House. About half of California voters described themselves as “angry” about the direction of the country, with another 2 in 10 saying they were “dissatisfied.” About 6 in 10 voters in Virginia and New Jersey said they are “angry” or “dissatisfied” with the way things are going in the country today. Just one-third said they are “enthusiastic” or “satisfied.”
Why this matters:
President Donald Trump has refused to negotiate with Democrats over their demands to salvage expiring health insurance subsidies until they agree to reopen the government. But skeptical Democrats question whether the Republican president will keep his word, particularly after the administration restricted SNAP food aid, despite court orders to ensure funds are available to prevent hunger.
With Trump largely on the sidelines, talks have intensified among a loose coalition of centrist senators trying to negotiate an end to the stalemate. Expectations are high that Tuesday’s election results could help break the logjam.The contests were widely seen as a gauge of voter sentiment over Trump’s second term in the White House.
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