Today, a large number of elections are taking place across the United States at various levels, with the primary focus on the mayoral race in New York City and gubernatorial elections in the states of New Jersey and Virginia.
In New York, citizens will elect a new mayor following the withdrawal of incumbent Eric Adams from the reelection race. The Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani is considered the favorite to win, facing independent candidate Andrew Cuomo, former governor of New York, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.
Beyond New York, significant attention is on the gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia.
In New Jersey, the Democratic Party faces concerns about potentially losing one of its traditional strongholds, given that only one of the last six governors has been Republican and that Kamala Harris defeated Donald Trump in the state during the 2024 presidential election.
Current Governor Phil Murphy was ineligible for reelection, so voters will choose between Democratic candidate Mikie Sherrill and her Republican opponent Jack Ciattarelli. According to polls, Sherrill maintains a slight lead, but the margin is very narrow, leaving the race open until the very last vote.
Meanwhile, in Virginia, the gubernatorial race pits Republican Winsome Earle-Sears against Democrat Abigail Spanberger, as current Governor Glenn Youngkin, who enjoys high popularity, was ineligible to run again.
Although Kamala Harris won Virginia in the last presidential election, the state is not considered a “safe” Democratic seat. Spanberger holds a lead in most polls, but precedents from previous years—such as Youngkin’s surprise victory—have led analysts to approach polling data with caution.
American political analysts emphasize that these elections represent an important electoral test for Donald Trump’s agenda.
Republican candidates Ciattarelli and Earle-Sears have received full support from the former president and belong to his “MAGA” (Make America Great Again) faction, which includes several of the most populist figures of the Republican right wing.
However, since Virginia and New Jersey traditionally vote Democratic, any Republican losses cannot be attributed solely to Trump’s influence. Nevertheless, his political agenda is facing its first real test in these elections.
In addition to these major contests, a range of other local mayoral elections is taking place across the U.S., along with a special election for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in Texas, which is expected to be a safe win for the Democratic Party.
