Voters in New Jersey and Virginia headed to the polls on Tuesday to elect their next governors, while New York City and California also held closely watched elections that could signal how Americans feel about President Donald Trump’s turbulent first months of his second term.
In New York City, Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, 34, faced former Governor Andrew Cuomo, 67, who is running as a centrist independent after resigning from office four years ago amid scandal. The contest has highlighted the ideological and generational divide within the Democratic Party as it struggles to rebuild its identity in opposition to Trump.
California voters are deciding on Proposition 50, a redistricting measure that would allow Democrats to redraw the state’s congressional map. The outcome could shape control of the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2026 midterms.
Polls close first in Virginia at 7 p.m. ET, followed by New Jersey, New York, and California throughout the evening. Former President Barack Obama campaigned heavily in New Jersey and Virginia, urging voters to elect Democrats to “counter Trump’s lawlessness.”
Many voters cited Trump’s policies — including his mass deportation efforts and broad tariffs on foreign goods — as key issues influencing their choices. More than 3 million people voted early in Virginia, New York, and New Jersey, surpassing previous records.
In New Jersey, Democrat Mikie Sherrill, a congresswoman and former Navy pilot, holds a narrow lead over Republican Jack Ciattarelli. In Virginia, former U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat, leads comfortably against Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears.
In New York, Mamdani has maintained a double-digit advantage over Cuomo, with Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa trailing far behind. Mamdani’s platform includes rent freezes and free city buses — policies that appeal to younger, progressive voters but have drawn criticism from moderates. Trump endorsed Cuomo on Monday, warning he would “cut federal funds” to New York City if Mamdani wins, though the president has no legal authority to do so.
California’s Proposition 50 is expected to pass, giving Democrats the power to shift five Republican-held congressional seats, mirroring GOP-led redistricting moves in Texas.
Trump’s influence looms large over these races, though he is not on the ballot. For Republicans, the elections are a test of whether Trump’s 2024 coalition remains loyal without him directly running. For Democrats, the results could clarify whether moderation or progressive populism is the more effective path forward.
Polling shows Trump remains widely unpopular, with 57% of Americans disapproving of his job performance. Still, Democrats have yet to capitalize: voters are evenly split on whether they prefer Democrats or Republicans in next year’s midterms.
Republican strategist Douglas Heye said, “There’s nothing that’s going to happen in Virginia or New Jersey that will tell us much about a congressional race in Missouri or a Senate race in Maine — but it will give us a snapshot of the mood.”
That mood, for now, remains one of frustration — with both Trump’s polarizing leadership and a divided Democratic Party struggling to find its footing.
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