2025 elections live updates: Latest on races in Virginia, New Jersey, and New York
By Washington Examiner Staff
Updated 8:00 am, November 5, 2025
Here's what we're covering
Democrats swept the first major elections since President Trump took office for his second term.
Virginia elected its first female governor in Democrat Abigail Spanberger. She bested her opponent Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears by 15%. Voters in the commonwealth elected other Democrats down the ballot, including Ghazala Hashmi for lieutenant governor and Jay Jones for attorney general.
Statewide, Democrats won a larger majority in the Virginia House of Delegates, to 56-44.
New York City decisively voted for Democrat Zohran Mamdani for mayor, over former Gov. Andrew Cuomo — who ran as an independent — and Republican Curtis Silwa.
President Donald Trump acknowledged Republicans’s losses last night in a post where he blamed it on the fact he wasn’t on the ballot.
12 hours ago
Here’s the betting odds on tonight’s races as results start to come in
With polls beginning to close, it’s worth taking a look at what the betting odds for tonight’s elections are.
For the Virginia races, the top of the ticket is a blowout on Polymarket. Democratic candidate Abigail Spanberger had a 99% chance of winning when polls closed, according to the prediction market. Meanwhile, the tight attorney general race on Polymarket gives Democrat Jay Jones a 63% chance of winning to Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares’s 39% chance.
In New Jersey, where Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) has faced a stiffer-than-expected challenge from Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli in the traditionally deep-blue state, gambling markets confidently back Sherrill with a 90% chance of victory.
Betting markets are even more confident in Zohran Mamdani’s odds of winning in New York City’s mayoral race, with him having a 95% chance. Andrew Cuomo has a 5% chance, and Curtis Sliwa has less than a 1% of victory.
California is having its own election this year as well, with Proposition 50 being a key piece in Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s redistricting agenda. If passed, California would have a new map for its congressional districts, and Republicans could lose five seats in the House of Representatives. The proposed map has a 99% chance of passing, according to Polymarket.
Betting markets have proven reliable in the past, most notably in last year’s presidential election. In recent years, betting markets have been looked to as fillers for traditional polling, which has failed to predict the last several election cycles accurately.
28 minutes ago
Schumer congratulates Mamdani on his ‘well-earned’ victory
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) congratulated Mamdani on his decisive win in the NYC mayoral election Tuesday night, after withholding an endorsement of him.
“His campaign relentlessly focused on the cost-of-living crisis, that Donald Trump has only made worse, and on finding ways to help working families, seniors, and young people build a life of dignity and economic security in New York City,” Schumer wrote.
The Democratic leader said he’s worked “collaboratively” with Mamdani in the past and looks forward to “building on that partnership.”
Party leadership was torn on embracing the Democratic Socialist or keeping him at arms length, with Schumer choosing the latter. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries endorsed Mamdani at the last minute.
40 minutes ago
Jacob Frey, Omar Fateh advance to ranked choice voting in Minneapolis mayoral election
Neither leading candidate received over 50% of the vote in the Minneapolis mayoral election, so the election will go to a ranked choice system to decide the winner.
Incumbent Mayor Jacob Frey received 41.7% of the vote, while challenger Omah Fateh received 31.6%. Fateh attracted national attention during the race, being compared to New York City Mayor-elect Zorhran Mamdani.
47 minutes ago
Mary Sheffield elected Detroit’s first female mayor
A poll worker who worked 12 hours at the Galilee Church poll location in Virginia beach said he predicted this was a record turn out and he had never seen so many people on election day for a non-presidential year. However, early statistics show that may not have been the case.
Virginia elections generally see a dip in voter turnout for non-presidential year elections. Since 2012, Presidential elections have seen more than 70% of registered Virginians turn out to vote.
While for the year after, with the Governor’s election, there is a substantial dip. Though trending upward, with 2013 at 43.0%, 2017 at 47.6%, and 2021 having 54.9% voter turnout.
While the state totals will not be released by the Virginia Department of Elections until after the election is certified, Virginia Beach is reporting only a 49% turnout rate.
7 hours ago
Miyares is mum on political future in concession speech
VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia – While the Attorney General Jason Miyares (R-VA) didn’t give a clue about his future during his concession speech, many supporters the Washington Examiner spoke to said ‘governor’ sounds like a good fit.
“As I’ve said before, the least of these deserve the best from us,” Miyares said as he took the stage with his wife and two daughters. “Folks, I do not know what my next chapter will be…”
“Governor!” someone shouted from the crowd to cheers. With a smile, Miyares continued, “but my chapter is not over. And Virginians, Republicans, we are down. But we’re not out.”
“[Miyares] gave a really great, encouraging speech,” said Allison, after the concession speech. “I know that no matter what he chooses to do, it will be wonderful.”
While Democrats swept in the Virginia election. Miyares said the controversy surrounding Jones leaked text messages may make it hard to unite the state.
“As a hallmark of our democracy, I wish Jones the best in this new job,” Miyares said. “I know, given the circumstances of the last six weeks, many of my supporters will find that difficult. But the reason I wish Jay the best is because we, the people of Virginia, need it. We need an attorney general who focuses every day on keeping us safe. And it’s my sincere hope that Jay does that.”
8 hours ago
Trump blames Republicans’ 2025 losses on him not being on ballot
A year after one of their biggest electoral triumphs in recent history, the Republican Party was dealt a sizeable blow on Tuesday, losing the New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial races. Though the races were seen as a long shot for Republicans, the president squarely blamed the losses on his lack of participation in them.
“’TRUMP WASN’T ON THE BALLOT, AND SHUTDOWN, WERE THE TWO REASONS THAT REPUBLICANS LOST ELECTIONS TONIGHT,’ according to Pollsters,” he said in a post on Truth Social.
9 hours ago
Democrats widen majority in Virginia state House to maintain control
Virginia state Democrats have maintained control of the state House, widening their narrow majority and ensuring continued unified control of state government heading into the 2026 midterms.
Democrats, who held a 51-seat majority in Virginia’s state House, have secured at least 56 seats in Tuesday’s elections, according to the Associated Press as of 11:30 p.m. The results solidify Virginia’s status as a Democratic stronghold in the south and allow the party to press forward with two proposed constitutional amendments protecting abortion access and marriage equality.
Virginia has leaned increasingly Democratic in recent years; Vice President Kamala Harris won by 5 points against now-President Donald Trump, while Joe Biden won the state by 10 points in 2020. Yet Glenn Youngkin’s 2021 gubernatorial victory showed the commonwealth remains a genuine battleground.
Rep. Elise Stefanik (D-NY) issued a statement late Tuesday night after Zohran Mamdani won the mayoral election of New York City. Stefanik blasted New York Governor Kathy Hochul (D).
“Under Kathy Hochul’s weak catastrophic leadership, New York City has now fallen to a pro-Hamas, Defund the Police, Tax Hiking, Antisemite Jihadist Communist,” Stefanik said. “And instead of standing up for hardworking New York families, Kathy Hochul proved once again that she is truly the Worst Governor in America with her desperate endorsement of Commie Mamdani.”
“Kathy Hochul is now owned lock, stock, and barrel by the radical Far Left Socialist takeover of the New York Democrat Party under her abysmal watch,” Stefanik added. “The only way to save our great state and provide a check on this insanity is to elect a Republican Governor in 2026. Democrats, Republicans, and Independents will unify and vote to fire Kathy Hochul to Save New York next year once and for all.”
9 hours ago
California’s Proposition 50 passes, delivering major political win for Newsom
The Associated Press determined the ballot measure passed at 11 p.m., when polls closed in California. The passage of Proposition 50 marks a major political victory for Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA), the frontrunner for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination.
Newsom framed the Proposition 50 fight as one between California and President Donald Trump. It has allowed him to expand his national profile and draw donations from more than 107,000 individual donors.
9 hours ago
Polls now closed in California after vote on Proposition 50
Polling stations are now closed in California as of 11 p.m. EST.
California voters are deciding whether to support Proposition 50, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s key legislation in his redistricting agenda. If the new map under Prop 50 is passed, House Republicans could lose five seats in California.
Newsom’s redistricting effort began in response to Texas Republicans’ mid-decade redistricting, which positions the GOP to net five more House seats.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) speaks at Zohran Mamdani's election night watch party in New York City on Nov. 4th, 2025. (Ross O'Keefe, Washington Examiner)
Mamdani’s watch party has buzzed ever since the Associated Press called the candidate’s race in his favor.
Supporters danced, jumped, and screamed in patches all over a crowded floor at the Brooklyn Paramount theater. Several supporters are wearing Democratic Socialists of America shirts along with Mamdani gear.
As Cuomo conceded the race, Mamdani supporters jeered and waved goodbye to the former governor. Mamdani often said on the campaign trail that he wanted to send “Cuomo back to the suburbs.”
Jamie Beran, CEO of Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, said she was “really excited” to see Mamdani win.
She believes the 34-year-old socialist, who was accused of being too slow to condemn the “globalize the intifada” phrase linked to antisemitism, will take care of Jewish people in New York City.
“I think that he’s going to protect Jewish people. I think that he has been really deeply adjusted and getting to know the Jewish community, and so I have a lot of faith in him continuing to show up for the Jewish community,” she said.
The mayor-elect is expected to speak soon.
10 hours ago
Jones narrowly defeats Miyares in Virginia attorney general race
Democrat Jay Jones narrowly defeated Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares (R) Tuesday night, becoming the Old Dominion’s first African American attorney general.
The Associated Press called the race at 10:05 p.m. with 87% of votes counted, three hours after polls closed at 7:00 p.m. Jones won even after it was revealed he sent violent text messages in 2022, suggesting former Republican House Speaker Todd Gilbert receive two bullets in the head.
Jones appeared at former Rep. Abigail Spanberger’s (D-VA) watch party on Tuesday night, where he thanked Virginians for electing him the commonwealth’s first black attorney general. He did not reference the text messaging scandal in his speech. Spanberger won the state’s gubernatorial race against Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle Sears (R) earlier in the night.
Winsome Earle-Sears concedes. (Graeme Jennings, Washington Examiner)
LEESBURG, VIRGINIA — Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears conceded the Virginia governor’s race Tuesday night in Leesburg, urging Democrat Abigail Spanberger to “represent all Virginians” after a hard-fought campaign.
“I have just called Abigail, and she did not answer, and she doesn’t have to answer,” Earle-Sears said. “I left her a voicemail and asked her to please consider all of us Virginians, that she will represent all of us, and not just some of us. If she is successful, Virginia will be successful.”
The 61-year-old Republican had pledged to extend Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s economic agenda while leaning into the same cultural flashpoints that helped define his 2021 rise, from opposition to transgender student policies to attacks on diversity programs and calls for school choice.
“I think I learn more in a loss than I ever do in a victory,” she said. “It’s either going to tear you apart or it’s going to build you. Well, I don’t tear apart.”
Winsome Earle-Sears conceded the Virginia governor’s race Tuesday night in Leesburg. (Graeme Jennings, Washington Examiner)
Earle-Sears reflected on her journey as an immigrant, Marine, and the first Black woman elected statewide in Virginia, saying she was grateful for the opportunity to serve. “I’m really not even supposed to be here,” she said. “I’m an immigrant from another country, and yet you all have given me the opportunity to do this. This is such an amazing thing for me.”
She closed by urging supporters to stay united in prayer and purpose. “We must pray for Abigail. We must pray for our state. And we must pray for our country,” she said. “Don’t give up. We must never give up.”
