The story of the 2025 off-year elections can be told in two words: “Democrats win.”
But simply saying that they won in race after race doesn’t come close to portraying the magnitude of the victories of November 4, 2025.
- In races Democrats were expected to win, they did – but the margins were larger than expected. (And in some cases, way larger.)
- And in races where Republicans either had an incumbent in place, or otherwise had a good shot at winning, Democrat after Democrat took the seat.
The other notable feature of last night was the turnout. Off-year elections are normally low-turnout, low enthusiasm affairs.
Not this year. In election after election, turnout was higher than expected, sometimes reaching mid-term or even presidential levels.
- In New York, more than 2 million voted in the mayor’s race, the most in a mayoral race since 1969.
- In California, some people waited in line up to three hours to cast their ballot.
- In Virginia, some areas saw turnout as high as the 2024 presidential election.
One writer summed it up this way:
We all knew Mamdani was going to win New York’s mayoral race. But 15 points in Virginia? 13 points in New Jersey? 60% margins for retention of Democratic Supreme Court Justices in PA, despite millions in crap ads funded by Republican dark money? Virginia amping its House of Delegates to Dems with 13 plus margins? Maine dumping an anti-Democratic voter bill? California’s Prop 50 isn’t called yet (oh wait, it is), but the hits keep coming. I have a good feeling about how that one will end up.
This is beyond a shellacking. It’s a total repudiation, in an extremely polarized environment. This kind of thing just doesn’t happen.
Voters are not happy with Trump, or the Republican Party. They have spoken tonight. If this vote were nationwide, the GOP would be groveling in the dustbin of history right now.
Amen.
Key race results
New York City Mayor
A young, energetic Democratic Socialist defeated a former political power player by running on economic issues and mobilizing young voters.
- Zohran Mandami (Dem Socialist) – 50%
- Andrew Cuomo (Ind) – 41%
- Curtis Sliwa (R) – 7%
Virginia Governor
Virginians elected their first woman governor, Abigail Spanberger, flipping the seat from Republican to Democratic. Spanberger, a former congresswoman and CIA case officer, ran primarily on economic issues.
- Abigail Spanberger (D) – 58%
- Winsome Earle-Sears (R) – 42%
New Jersey Governor
U.S. Rep Mikie Sherrill was elected as New Jersey’s governor, which gives Democrats three straight gubernatorial election wins in New Jersey, the first time in six decades that either major party has achieved a three-peat.
- Mikie Sherrill (D) – 56%
- Jack Ciattarelli (R) – 43%
Virginia House of Delegates
Democrats held a 51-49 majority in the Virginia lower chamber, but increased that to 61-31, flipping at least 10 seats with 8 races still to be called.
California Redistricting Proposal
Voters approved the new map 64% to 36%. From CNN: “California voters approved Proposition 50 which replaces the state’s current congressional map, which was drawn by an independent commission, with one that was drawn by Democrats. The new map aims to help Democrats flip five GOP seats and is just the latest in an unprecedented series of new politically motivated maps from both parties ahead of the 2026 midterms.”
Maine Ballot Initiatives
Maine voters had two ballot initiatives to vote on.
- Question 1: Require voter ID and restrict early voting – No, 64% to 36%
- Question 2: Prohibit gun possession for people that courts rule a threat (Red Flag law) – Yes, 63% to 37%
Colorado Funding of School Meals and SNAP
Voters approved the ballot measure 58% to 42%. From CNN: “Colorado voters approved a measure to increase taxes on high-income families and use the money to fund universal free breakfast and lunch for K-12 students. The measure builds on a universal free meals program that voters approved in 2022, but that hasn’t been fully funded. After President Donald Trump's spending bill cut funding for SNAP, Democratic legislators in Colorado amended the measure to allow any excess funds to be used to support food assistance.”
Other Races of Note
- In Pennsylvania, voters retained three Democratic justices on the state Supreme Court, giving them new 10-year terms.
- Democrat Jay Jones defeated incumbent Republican Jason Miyares 53% to 47% for Virginia Attorney General, overcoming violent text messages from 2022 that were recently revealed.
- In Georgia, Democrats flipped two seats on the state’s Public Service Commission.
- In Mississippi, enough seats flipped to break the Republicans’ super-majority in the state senate.
- And in exit poll after exit poll, voters expressed strong disapproval of President Trump’s performance, especially on the economy.
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