Election Day 2025 Live Updates Key Races Insight News

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Dec 12, 2025, 5:20 AM

election day 2025 live updates key races insight news

Lead: Former Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger defeated Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears on Nov. 4, 2025, becoming Virginia’s first woman governor in a race seen as a referendum on President Trump. The result flips the seat held by Republican Gov.

Glenn Youngkin, who could not run for consecutive terms. Across the same ballot, high turnout shaped the New York City mayoral contest and tight gubernatorial fights continued in New Jersey; California voters also weighed Proposition 50 on congressional maps. Early exit polling showed the economy top of mind and President Trump a factor for many voters. Virginia holds its gubernatorial election in the year after a presidential contest and by tradition it is often interpreted as a midterm-style reflection on the sitting White House. Under state law, incumbent Gov. Glenn Youngkin was ineligible to seek immediate reelection, leaving an open-seat contest between Democrat Abigail Spanberger and Republican Winsome Earle-Sears.

Spanberger campaigned as a moderate and emphasized affordability and federal workforce impacts; Earle-Sears campaigned on immigration and transgender policy concerns. New Jersey and New York City races drew national attention because of their size, timing and potential implications for 2026 midterms. In New Jersey, former state Rep. Jack Ciattarelli ran as the GOP challenger to Rep. Mikie Sherrill, both framing affordability as central. In New York City, a three-way contest featuring Democrat Zohran Mamdani, independent Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa followed a contentious primary and unprecedented crossover campaigning.

California’s Proposition 50 proposed temporarily altering congressional district lines—an aggressive response to redistricting moves in other states. Across these contests, national figures and issues, notably President Trump and federal policy decisions, shaped messaging and voter perceptions. Virginia: On Nov. 4, 2025, CBS News projected that Abigail Spanberger would win the governorship, a result that hands Democrats a pickup in a state with a large federal workforce that has felt the effects of recent... Spanberger positioned her campaign around economic issues affecting families and federal employees; Earle-Sears emphasized cultural and immigration topics. Trump campaigned for parts of the Republican ticket but notably did not formally endorse Earle-Sears by name.

Voters in races across the country backed Democrats, including in New York's mayoral race and contests for governor in New Jersey and Virginia, rejecting President Donald Trump's late and lightweight push for his preferred... Democrats secured another expected win in California, where voters approved a new congressional map that is designed to help their party win five more U.S. House seats in next year's midterm elections. READ MORE: How to track 2025 election results Though the candidates and local issues all played a role in the results, voter attitudes about the president and his agenda were central to their choices and offered the first clear review from voters... Top Democrats celebrated the results as a major victory over Trump.

The president meanwhile was quick to respond to the results on Tuesday night with a defensive social media post after results came. Citing pollsters, Trump said that "TRUMP WASN'T ON THE BALLOT," and the federal government shutdown "WERE THE TWO REASONS THAT REPUBLICANS LOST ELECTIONS TONIGHT." Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker speaks during a news conference to announce French quantum computing company Pasqal will establish their American headquarters in Chicago, on October 9, 2025, in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by OCTAVIO JONES / AFP) (Photo by OCTAVIO JONES/AFP via Getty Images) Gov.

JB Pritzker suggested Wednesday that Illinois Democrats could revisit redistricting if neighboring Indiana moves to redraw its congressional boundaries, according to the Chicago Tribune. “We’re watching what Indiana does,” Pritzker told reporters. “Donald Trump is trying to cheat, so we may have to react to that.” Speaking after an Election Night of Democrat wins in blue states and cities, Pritzker said the results showed voters rejecting Trump’s “authoritarian” leadership and economic policies. Indiana’s Republican Gov. Mike Braun has called a special session for Dec.

1 to consider a new map, a move Pritzker said could push Illinois to follow suit despite his opposition to partisan redistricting. Voters in races across the country backed Democrats, including in New York’s mayoral race and contests for governor in New Jersey and Virginia. Democrats secured another expected win in California, where voters approved a new congressional map that is designed to help their party win five more U.S. House seats in next year’s midterm elections. Here are the latest time-stamped updates from Election Day 2025 (ET): Here are the latest time-stamped updates from Election Day 2025 (ET):

Mamdani spoke directly to Trump as he celebrated his win in the New York City mayoral race Tuesday night, telling the Republican, “To get to any of us, you will have to get through... Welcome to Election Day 2025. Here is a complete list of states to watch, poll closing times, and live results as they come in this evening. Voters in several states will decide major races that could shape the national narrative heading into 2026. New York City is choosing a new mayor, a three-way battle between Democrat Zohran Mamdani, Republican Curtis Sliwa, and former Governor Andrew Cuomo running as an independent. In Virginia, control of the governor’s mansion is on the line as Abigail Spanberger faces Winsome Earle-Sears, while the lieutenant governor and attorney general races are also in play.

New Jersey is choosing its next governor in a tight race between Mikie Sherrill and Jack Ciattarelli. Pennsylvania voters are weighing in on key court seats that could influence future election challenges, and California is voting on a statewide ballot measure involving congressional districts. Live results begin as soon as the polls start closing, the earliest of which is in Virginia around 7 pm ET. All day, election results and information from Fox Live Now. Polls Open: 6 a.m. (ET)Polls Close: 7 p.m.

(ET)Key races to watch: Polls Open: 6 a.m. (ET)Polls Close: 8 p.m. (ET)Key races to watch: Americans headed to the polls today in a series of crucial off-year elections that could signal significant shifts in the nation's political landscape. While not a presidential election year, the outcomes in key states are being closely watched as potential indicators of voter sentiment heading into the next major election cycle.

Several high-stakes contests are unfolding across the country, with particular attention focused on gubernatorial and legislative battles that could reshape state policies. Voters are deciding on everything from local leadership to important ballot measures that will impact communities for years to come. The Garden State features some of the most closely watched races of the night. Political analysts are monitoring several competitive districts that could flip control in the state legislature. Both major parties have invested heavily in these contests, recognizing their importance for setting the political agenda in one of America's most densely populated states. Virginia continues its tradition as a key bellwether state with several critical races that could influence national political strategies.

The outcomes here are particularly significant given Virginia's history of predicting broader political trends. Voter turnout appears strong across the state, suggesting high engagement with the issues at stake. While New Jersey and Virginia are drawing the most national attention, important elections are occurring in multiple states across the country. From mayoral races to local ballot initiatives, communities are making decisions that will directly affect their daily lives and local governance. Voters cast ballots in the 2025 election on Tuesday, the first since President Donald Trump and Republicans won big in 2024. There are several key races to watch, including the battle over redistricting and the New York City mayoral race.

Viewing from the app? Click here to access live updates. A year after former Vice President Kamala Harris suffered an electoral beating by President Donald Trump, Democrats across the country – from Virginia to California – notched major victories in a sign of growing... In Virginia, a state with thousands of federal workers affected by the government shutdown and Department of Government Efficiency cuts, Abigail Spanberger soundly defeated Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome-Earle Sears, reports say.

In New Jersey, which last year saw hoards of voters move toward Trump, projections say Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill won against Republican businessman Jack Ciattarelli. Next door, in New York City, voters chose progressive Zohran Mamdani and his affordability platform over the more centrist former Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. And in California, voters overwhelmingly supported Gov. Gavin Newsom’s redistricting referendum allowing the state legislature to redo congressional maps and add up to five new Democratic-leaning seats ahead of the 2026 election.

Trump kept his distance from the races this year, never having stepped on the campaign trail for any of his party’s contenders, though he still loomed on voter’s minds. Democrats' sweeping victories come as a troubling sign for the president and his party.

Election Day 2025 Live Updates Key Races Insight News

People Also Search

Lead: Former Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger Defeated Republican Lt. Gov.

Glenn Youngkin, Who Could Not Run For Consecutive Terms. Across

Spanberger Campaigned As A Moderate And Emphasized Affordability And Federal

California’s Proposition 50 Proposed Temporarily Altering Congressional District Lines—an Aggressive

Voters In Races Across The Country Backed Democrats, Including In