The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani
November 4, 2025 - In a night of sweeping victories, Democrats claimed governorships in Virginia and New Jersey, secured redistricting authority in California, and elected a progressive mayor in New York City.
Virginia: Spanberger Makes History
In Virginia, Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA officer and U.S. Representative, became the state's first female governor after defeating Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears. Spanberger's campaign emphasized pragmatic governance, economic stability, and protecting federal workers-many of whom have faced layoffs and furloughs under President Donald Trump's second-term budget cuts.
Spanberger's victory flipped the statehouse back to Democratic control and was buoyed by strong turnout in suburban counties like Loudoun and Henrico. Her message of bipartisan cooperation and defense of reproductive rights resonated with voters, especially as Virginia prepares to vote on a constitutional amendment protecting abortion access.
New Jersey: Sherrill Wins on Affordability
In New Jersey, Democratic U.S. Representative Mikie Sherrill defeated Republican businessman Jack Ciattarelli in a race dominated by concerns over affordability and infrastructure investment. Sherrill, a former Navy pilot, ran as a moderate focused on clawing back federal resources and preparing the state for major upcoming events like the FIFA World Cup and the nation's 250th anniversary.
Exit polls showed that 56.2% of voters supported Sherrill, with many citing opposition to Trump's economic policies and federal overreach as key motivators. Sherrill's coalition, anchored in Essex, Hudson, and Bergen Counties, kept the governor's mansion under Democratic stewardship and signaled a rejection of Trump-aligned governance.
California: Newsom Gains Redistricting Power
In California, voters approved Proposition 50, a ballot measure that authorizes Governor Gavin Newsom and the state legislature to redraw congressional districts ahead of the 2026 midterms. The measure is expected to eliminate up to five Republican-held districts greatly increasing Democrats chances of retaking control of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2026.
The move comes in response to President Trump's push for Republican governors to reconfigure districts in their favor. California's mid-decade redistricting effort is a rare departure from the traditional post-census process and reflects growing partisan tensions over control of the U.S. House, currently split 219-213 in favor of Republicans.
Supporters of Prop 50 cited opposition to Trump's influence as a driving factor, with 51% of California voters saying their vote was cast to oppose the president. The measure is expected to bolster Democratic chances in next year's congressional races and reshape the state's political map.
New York City: Mamdani Ushers in Progressive Era
Perhaps the most symbolic victory of the night came in New York City, where Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old state assemblyman and self-described democratic socialist, defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent. Mamdani's grassroots campaign focused on reducing the cost of living, taxing corporations and the wealthy, and "Trump-proofing" the city.
Mamdani's win marks a generational and ideological shift in urban politics. His campaign leaned heavily on neighborhood organizing in Queens and Brooklyn, mobilizing younger and first-time voters. In his victory speech, Mamdani quoted an American socialist from a century ago Eugene Debs and declared, "Let tonight be the final time I utter [Cuomo's] name, as we turn the page on a politics that abandons the many and answers only to the few".
Despite scrutiny over his past remarks on Israel and policing, Mamdani's message resonated with a city grappling with affordability and public safety concerns. His election signals a major leftward current move within the Democratic base and sets the stage for crippling socialist tax hikes and far left social engineering in the nation's financial capital.
A Referendum on Trump
Across all four races, exit polls revealed a common thread: voter dissatisfaction with President Trump's second-term agenda. In Virginia and New Jersey, roughly 40% of voters said they cast their ballots to oppose Trump, while only 13–16% said they voted to support him. In California, opposition to Trump was cited by 51% of voters, and in New York City, Mamdani's campaign successfully framed Cuomo as too friendly with the president.
The results suggest that Democrats are regaining momentum after their 2024 defeat and are poised to challenge Republican dominance in Congress next year.
Republican political commentator former State Representative Perry O. Hooper Jr. warned about reading too much into Tuesday's election results as California, Virginia, New York, and New Jersey are all blue states that voted for Kamala Harris in 2024.
"Absolutely no surprise," Hooper told the Gazette. "Two left wing democrats were elected in two blue states and a Socialist Democrat (Communist ) was elected Mayor in NYC. It is obvious that Mamdani, a Communist, will be the leader of the Democrat Party. That will be a major problem and that's an understatement."
Alabama's Republican and Democratic primaries are both on May 19, 2025.
(Brandon Moseley contributed to this report.)
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