The Democratic Party emerged as the big winner on Tuesday, sweeping the most pivotal elections across the country. Here is a look at what happened on Election Day in America.

Zohran Mamdani Becomes New York City Mayor-Elect

The Democrats took home key victories in New Jersey, New York City, Virginia, and California on Tuesday night, sending a signal of what is to come heading into the crucial 2026 midterms. The night belonged to self-declared Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, winning the race to serve as New York City mayor beginning in 57 days.

The 34-year-old ran a campaign that focused on issues of the working class, appealing to Americans worried about the economy, immigration, and healthcare. Mamdani came out of nowhere in recent months, eventually beating former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The victory marked a big step forward for the progressive wing of the party as Democrats remain divided over how to take on President Donald Trump and his administration heading into next year's midterms.

Mamdani delivered a rousing victory speech at his campaign headquarters in Brooklyn. Regardless of how New York City voters feel about their mayor-elect, there is no doubt that his win made history in the Big Apple. Mamdani will become the city's first Muslim mayor, as well as the first South Asian to hold this office.

After suffering a defeat against Mamdani in the June primaries, Cuomo reclassified himself as an independent candidate to take on Mamdani in the general election. President Trump begrudingly threw his support behind Cuomo in the race.

Big Wins for Democrats in Governorship Races

The first sign that it was going to be a good night for Democrats came in Virginia, where Abigail Spanberger beat out Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears on the ballot. Spanberger is a former CIA officer and U.S. congressional representative. Exit polling in Virginia demonstrated the impact of the government shutdown on the electorate. Thousands of federal workers call Virginia home, fueling their discontent with the political landscape and wanting change. For example, a CNN exit poll reported that Spanberger won 61% of the vote of those who have a federal worker or contractor in their household, compared to 52% of support from those who do not.

Spanberger's win flips control of the state to the Democrats, following GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin's upset four years ago. Spanberger won resoundingly, far outperforming recent Democratic candidates in various offices throughout the state. Spanberger made history as the first female governor-elect in the state of Virginia. In addition, lieutenant governor-elect Ghazala Hashmi will become the nation's first Muslim woman ever elected in a state election.

Just up the road, Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill beat Republican Jack Ciattarelli for the governorship in New Jersey. The win will solidify control of the state for the Democrats just one year after the electorate showed signs that it was drifting toward Trump. Like Spanberger, Sherrill will also make history as the first female Democratic leader in the state's history. Sherrill will take over for term-limited Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy.

Sherrill ran a campaign that was vocal in its opposition to Trump and his administration's agenda, frequently connecting her opponent to the president. She also ran on more moderate policies, specifically focused on how to bring down the cost of living in Jersey.

Other Key Decisions

While the races in New Jersey, New York City, and Virginia grabbed all of the headlines this election cycle, there were a number of important decisions made when Americans headed to the polls on Tuesday. Democrat Corey O’Connor will take his helm as the next mayor of Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, Democratic incumbent Aftab Pureval was tapped for a second term as mayor of Cincinnati, fending off the half-brother of Vice President JD Vance.

Democrats also scored a vital win in Pennsylvania by defending their majority on the state's Supreme Court. The GOP had launched a valiant effort to change the balance of the highest court in the Keystone State leading into the next presidential election. This is important, as Pennsylvania is expected to be a battleground state once again.

On the other side of the country, California voters approved Gov. Gavin Newsom’s plan to redraw the Golden State's congressional maps. The Prop 50 measure will give Democrats the authority to replace congressional lines to make five of the state's seats in the House of Representatives more favorable to their party. Newsom's plan was in direct retaliation to a similar measure in Texas that favored the GOP.

Tuesday's elections were viewed by political experts as the first electoral test of Trump's second term in office. The president responded to the results in a social media post, blaming the Republican losses on the ongoing government shutdown.  

Looking for stories that inform and engage? From breaking headlines to fresh perspectives, WaveNewsToday has more to explore. Ride the wave of what’s next.