In New York, Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa was defeated in the mayoral race, while Democratic contenders secured decisive victories in two states long seen as bellwethers ahead of national polls. The results marked a clear resurgence for the Democrats and raised questions about Trump’s political momentum heading into the 2026 midterm elections.
In Virginia, Democrat Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA officer and three-term Congress member, made history as the state’s first female governor, winning with 57.5% of the vote — the highest share ever recorded for a Democrat in a gubernatorial race. New Jersey followed suit, with Mikie Sherrill capturing 56.2%, also becoming the first woman in the state to surpass 50% of the vote in a governor’s race. The contest, which saw campaign spending exceed ₹1,660 crore, became the most expensive gubernatorial election in U.S. history.
The results shift the national balance to 24 Democratic and 26 Republican governors, tightening the political landscape ahead of next year’s congressional midterms. Analysts say the outcome could complicate Trump’s efforts to consolidate party control amid mounting domestic and foreign challenges, including the prolonged federal shutdown, the Ukraine and Gaza crises, and ongoing trade tensions.
Democrats hailed the victories as a public rebuke of Trump’s leadership style. With less than nine months before the midterms, the Republican Party faces an uphill battle to retain its congressional majority, as voter sentiment appears to be shifting toward the opposition.
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