Democrats Sweep First Major Elections Of Second Trump Term

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Dec 27, 2025, 9:12 PM

democrats sweep first major elections of second trump term

Welcome to a special-post election edition of From the Politics Desk, a newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign... Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here. Democrats scored a series of victories across the country Tuesday on the first major Election Day of President Donald Trump’s second term. The NBC News Exit Poll found that voters in Virginia, New Jersey, New York City and California expressed broad dissatisfaction with Trump. Most voters in those elections were also sour on the direction of the country as they expressed worries about financial issues and the economy. Even though voters generally did not hold positive views of either party, Democratic campaigns were able to capitalize on other areas of concern, giving the party a desperately needed boost one year out from...

Mamdani’s victory comes as Democrats posted big wins across the country on Election Day. In California, voters approved a new congressional map that could help Democrats pick up five additional seats in Congress, in a move to counter Texas’s redistricting effort to gain five House seats. In New Jersey, Democratic Congressmember Mikie Sherrill won the governor’s race. In Virginia, Democrats reclaimed full control of the state’s executive branch as Abigail Spanberger flipped the governorship, becoming the state’s first female governor, and voters also chose Ghazala Hashmi to be Virginia’s lieutenant governor-elect,... Meanwhile, Democrat Jay Jones defeated Virginia’s incumbent Republican attorney general. In Pennsylvania, Democrats retained control of the state’s Supreme Court after three Democratic justices won their races.

In Minneapolis, Democratic Mayor Jacob Frey led democratic socialist challenger Omar Fateh, but neither got more than half the vote, so the race moved to a second round of ranked-choice voting. We’ll have more on last night’s election results after the headlines. Zohran Mamdani speaks after winning the 2025 New York City Mayoral race. (Photo/PTI) VIDEO | USA: “Donald Trump, I know you are watching, so I have four words for you; turn the volume up”, says Democrat Zohran Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) during his victory speech after winning New York... (Source: AFP)#DonaldTrump (Full video available on… pic.twitter.com/COVf6w8XWS

Congratulations to all the Democratic candidates who won tonight. It’s a reminder that when we come together around strong, forward-looking leaders who care about the issues that matter, we can win. We’ve still got plenty of work to do, but the future looks a little bit brighter. Don't miss the most important news and views of the day. Get them on our Telegram channel First Published: Nov 05 2025 | 11:36 AM IST

Democrats scored major victories in the first significant elections since President Donald Trump returned to office, securing wins in three high-profile contests on Tuesday. The results delivered fresh momentum for the party ahead of the 2026 midterms and elevated a new slate of Democratic leaders. In New York City, 34-year-old Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist, won the mayoral race, making history as the first Muslim mayor of the nation’s largest city. His win capped a rapid rise from state lawmaker to national figure, fueled by a grassroots campaign focused on affordability and progressive policies. Meanwhile, in Virginia and New Jersey, moderate Democrats Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill secured decisive victories in their respective governor races. Spanberger defeated Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears in Virginia, while Sherrill topped Republican Jack Ciattarelli in New Jersey.

Both candidates emphasized economic issues and tied their Republican opponents to Trump’s turbulent tenure. The contests served as an early barometer of political sentiment during Trump’s second term, marking the first major electoral test since his return to the White House nine months ago. Voter turnout surged in New York City to the highest levels since 1969, while policy tensions—including immigration, tariffs, and a federal government shutdown—factored into the campaigns. California voters also approved a redistricting measure expected to benefit Democrats, adding another boost ahead of congressional races. NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think about?

What would you want to learn more about? In the first major elections since President Trump's return to office, Democrats celebrated election wins from coast to coast. New York City's next mayor will be democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, and two moderate Democrats will be the governors of New Jersey and Virginia. The elections made history in many ways, and were very much a referendum of Trump and his policies. Liz Landers reports. News alternative: Check out recent segments from the NewsHour, and choose the story you’re most interested in watching.

You can make a Google doc copy of discussion questions that work for any of the stories here. Media literacy: What race would you like to know more about that was mentioned in this segment? What votes took place in your own community? If you don't know, how could you find out? As described in this segment, California voters approved a ballot measure to redistrict California, providing an advantage to Democratic Congressional candidates in 2026 and beyond. Redrawing Congressional maps for political advantage, known as gerrymandering, has also been a focus of Republican-controlled state governments this year, including Texas.

Read the article What’s next in the national redistricting fight after California approved a new U.S. House map, then discuss as a class— Democrats swept a trio of races on Tuesday in the first major elections since Donald Trump regained the presidency, elevating a new generation of leaders and giving the beleaguered party a shot of momentum... In New York City, Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist, won the mayoral race, capping a meteoric and unlikely rise from an anonymous state lawmaker to one of the country’s most visible Democratic figures. And in Virginia and New Jersey, moderate Democrats Abigail Spanberger, 46, and Mikie Sherrill, 53, won their elections for governor with commanding leads, respectively. “If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him.

And if there is any way to terrify a despot, it is by dismantling the very conditions that allowed him to accumulate power,” Mamdani told a raucous crowd of supporters. “So Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: turn the volume up.” Tuesday’s contests offered a barometer of how Americans are responding to Trump’s tumultuous nine months in office. The races also served as a test of differing Democratic campaign playbooks ahead of 2026, with the party locked out of power in Washington and still trying to forge a path out of the... That said, the midterm election is a year away, an eternity in the Trump era, and opinion polls show the Democratic brand remains broadly unpopular, even as Trump’s own approval rating has declined. The most closely watched contests on Tuesday also unfolded in Democratic-leaning regions that did not support Trump in last year’s presidential election.

Democrats Sweep First Major Elections Of Second Trump Term

People Also Search

Welcome To A Special-post Election Edition Of From The Politics

Mamdani’s Victory Comes As Democrats Posted Big Wins Across The

In Minneapolis, Democratic Mayor Jacob Frey Led Democratic Socialist Challenger

Congratulations To All The Democratic Candidates Who Won Tonight. It’s

Democrats Scored Major Victories In The First Significant Elections Since