INDEPENDENT - Inside Washington -Wednesday, November 5, 2025 - One 'big, beautiful' blue wave

 

Wednesday, November 5, 2025 One 'big, beautiful' blue wave Donald Trump's agenda just faced its first test (or, the first of his second presidency) at the ballot box.   And Democrats won. Bigly.   In New York, the most-watched contest of the night, democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani cleanly defeated the disgraced former governor, Andrew Cuomo. As the votes camed in, the 34-year-old appeared on course to win with more than 50 percent of the electorate backing him.   But it was elsewhere around the country where Democrats were up against the MAGA agenda for real — and the results were a landslide.   Candidates for governor won easily in both New Jersey and Virginia. Mikie Sherill and Abigail Spanberger, both moderate Democrats facing Republican challengers, scored commanding victories.   In Virginia, the controversy over Jay Jones's text messages failed to torpedo his campaign, too. Jason Miyares, the incumbent Republican attorney general, lost re-election.   And in Georgia, Democrats flipped two seats in local elections that many are hoping signifies greater rebounds to come next year.   In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom waited anxiously Tuesday evening for the results of his bid to launch a redistricting push, which voters are set to decide via ballot measure. Newsom, probably eyeing the presidency, is hoping to make a splash by helping his party seize back the advantage in the midterm elections.   Across the country, the message is clear: Democrats aren't just enthusiastic about voting, they're downright furious about the current state of things.   Come 2026, that anger could mean big, big things for Washington.   But what will it mean tomorrow, when shutdown negotiations continue between Republicans and a newly-energized Democratic minority?   Follow The Independent's election night coverage here. By John Bowden NewsWorldAmericasUS politics Election 2025 live updates: Trump ducks blame as Democratic sweep sees Mamdani beat Cuomo in NYC mayoral race Two million New Yorkers voted in this year’s election, the first time since 1969, according to election officials Kelly Rissman , Rachel Dobkin Wednesday 05 November 2025 04:00 GMT 116 Comments Video Player Placeholder Close Abigail Spanberger thanks women who 'forged her path' to first female Governor of Virginia in victory speech Inside Washington Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Email* Email SIGN UP President Donald Trump has ducked blame as a Democratic election sweep sees Zohran Mamdani beat former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in New York City’s mayoral race. “’TRUMP WASN’T ON THE BALLOT, AND SHUTDOWN, WERE THE TWO REASONS THAT REPUBLICANS LOST ELECTIONS TONIGHT,’ according to Pollsters,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Tuesday night. Polls in New York City have closed with an impressive two million votes. It’s the first time voter turnout has been so high since 1969, according to the New York City Board of Elections. Also on Tuesday night, Virginia elected its first female governor after former Democratic congresswoman Abigail Spanberger was named the projected winner. Spanberger beat Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, whom President Donald Trump never endorsed by name. In New Jersey, Democratic Representative Mikie Sherrill won the gubernatorial race over former Republican state legislator Jack Ciattarelli. Voters will also decide on a ballot measure in California to redraw its congressional district maps. President Donald Trump has baselessly claimed voting in California was "rigged." California Governor Gavin Newsom dismissed Trump’s claims as “the ramblings of an old man that knows he’s about to LOSE.” Key Points Mamdani announced winner of NYC mayor's race When do polls close? Trump threatens ‘criminal review’ of voting if Newsom’s redistricting measure wins in California Why some names appear multiple times on NYC ballots as Mamdani and Cuomo face off Spanberger is named projected winner in Virginia governor race Voter turnout in New York is smashing records 4 minutes ago Watch: Sliwa wishes Mamdani luck after election victory Republican Curtis Sliwa has wished Zohran Mamdani luck after the democratic socialist beat him in New York City’s mayoral election. Rachel Dobkin5 November 2025 04:00 20 minutes ago Sherrill slams Trump in acceptance speech: 'Governors have never mattered more' Democrat Mikie Sherrill, the projected winner of New Jersey’s gubernatorial race, has slammed President Donald Trump in her acceptance speech. Sherrill said the president is “ripping away” health care and going after the food assistance program SNAP, per the Associated Press. “Governors have never mattered more,” Sherrill said. “And in this state, I am determined to build prosperity for all of us.” Rachel Dobkin5 November 2025 03:43 33 minutes ago Governor Hochul says she has spoken with Mamdani after election victory New York Governor Kathy Hochul has said she has spoken with Zohran Mamdani after he won New York City’s mayoral election. Hochul, who endorsed Mamdani, wrote on X Tuesday night, “Congratulations to him and to every New Yorker who made their voice heard in one of the city’s highest-turnout elections on record.” Rachel Dobkin5 November 2025 03:30 39 minutes ago Newly elected New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill reminds state that it will never be 'ruled by kings' in victory speech Newly elected New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill reminds state that it will never be 'ruled by kings' in victory speech Rachel Dobkin5 November 2025 03:25 43 minutes ago Jay Jones to be next Virginia attorney general Democratic candidate Jay Jones has won the race for Virginia Attorney General, despite his campaign being recently rocked by scandal. It comes after text exchanges between Jones and fellow delegate Carrie Coyner in 2022, in which he said that in a hypothetical scenario in which he had a gun and two bullets in a room with Adolf Hitler, Cambodian dictator Pol Pot, and Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert, he would choose to shoot Gilbert twice. He also referred to Gilbert’s children as “little fascists.” The resurfaced messages sparked outrage from senior Republicans, including JD Vance and Speaker Mike Johnson, who called for him to drop out of the race. Mike Bedigan5 November 2025 03:20 48 minutes ago Trump rages following Democrats' sweeping victories at the polls President Donald Trump has raged on social media after Republicans lost to Democrats in New York City’s mayoral race and gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia. “’TRUMP WASN’T ON THE BALLOT, AND SHUTDOWN, WERE THE TWO REASONS THAT REPUBLICANS LOST ELECTIONS TONIGHT,’ according to Pollsters,” Trump wrote on Truth Social Tuesday night. Rachel Dobkin5 November 2025 03:15 54 minutes ago Big news out of Pennsylvania Voters are projected to have retained all three Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices on the ballot, maintaining a Democratic majority on the state’s high court through 2030. Democrats were bracing for major challenges to the state’s congressional map, voting rights, abortion rights, and a potential 2020-esque vote-counting nightmare in the 2028 race. “Tonight, Pennsylvanians sent a clear message to Republicans who are trying to take over the judiciary to keep themselves in power: you can’t escape accountability from the voters,” said Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee president Heather Williams. “From protecting Pennsylvanians’ voices at the ballot box to securing their freedoms and opportunities, we are confident these justices will continue to stand up for working families throughout the rest of their terms,” she added. Alex Woodward5 November 2025 03:10 56 minutes ago What races to watch this Election Day There are several high-profile races to look out for this Election Day. New York City’s mayoral race Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani beat former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent, and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa. Virginia’s gubernatorial race Former Democratic congresswoman Abigail Spanberger is the projected winner over Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, a Republican, in the governor’s race. New Jersey’s gubernatorial race Democratic Representative Mikie Sherrill won the governship over former Republican state legislator Jack Ciattarelli. California’s ballot measure Californians will be voting on whether to approve new congressional maps as Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom pushes for redistricting in response to Texas’ own redistricting efforts in favor of Republicans. Polls will close at 8 p.m. PT. Voters who are in line when the polls close will be allowed to cast a ballot. Election results could be released by the end of the night, MSNBC reports. Rachel Dobkin5 November 2025 03:07 1 hour ago Full story: Zohran Mamdani defeats Andrew Cuomo for New York mayor as Democrats count victories in major tests against Trump Zohran Mamdani, a prominent democratic socialist and state lawmaker, is projected to win election for New York City’s next mayor, delivering a seismic blow to the city’s deep-rooted power structures with all eyes on the future of a fractured Democratic Party charting its future against Donald Trump. Mamdani, 34, will enter office as the first Muslim mayor in the city’s history and one of its youngest, now set to run one of the largest and most diverse cities in the United States. The race was called by the Associated Press with roughly 75 percent of ballots counted. His campaign, relentlessly focused on a growing affordability crisis, has been forced to contend with New York City’s future under Trump, who has threatened to pull critical federal funding from a city of more than 8 million people while falsely suggesting the Uganda-born mayor-elect is in the country illegally. But Mamdani’s victory — among the first elections within the first year of Trump’s second presidency — is likely to send a resounding message nationally for the future of his party after an immense defeat during last year’s presidential elections. Read more from Alex Woodward: Zohran Mamdani defeats Andrew Cuomo for New York City mayor Historic victory delivers profound message to Democratic Party as it reckons with a future under Trump Rachel Dobkin5 November 2025 03:00