It is not a presidential election year, nor is it a midterm cycle. However, political experts will be watching the results of Tuesday's election closely, believing it will offer a signal of what to expect in the 2026 midterms. Is President Donald Trump keeping his grip on the political landscape of the country? Or are Democrats improving their standing heading into next year's pivotal elections? Here is a look at some of the most critical races and issues to watch on Tuesday as the results start rolling in.

New York City Mayoral Race

There is little question that the New York City mayoral race has captured the attention of voters all over the country, let alone in the Big Apple itself.  Democratic primary winner, Zohran Mamdani, is going up against independent candidate and former Gov. Andrew Cuomo. As if that pairing was not compelling enough, Republican candidate Curtis Silwa is siphoning away support from the two frontrunners.

Mandani is a Democratic socialist who has skyrocketed in the polls on the backs of young voters and progressives. He was able to easily defeat Cuomo in the Democratic primary, forcing him to become an independent in an attempt to revive his political career after he was forced to step down as New York's governor amidst a sexual harassment scandal.

Democratic Party leaders will be watching this race to find strategies to win back the American voting public. House Minority Speaker Hakeem Jeffries offered his endorsement to Mamdani in late October. Other key leaders in the party have yet to fully embrace Mamdani. While former President Barack Obama has not endorsed a specific candidate in this race, he did reach out to him over the weekend to offer advice.

Two Key Governor Races

Two important governorships are up for grabs on Tuesday. Right across the Hudson River from New York City, New Jersey voters will be heading to the polls to choose who will take over for the term-limited Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy. Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli is taking on Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill. While the Garden State typically leans blue, increasing taxes and utility costs have pushed many voters to the more fiscally conservative Ciattarelli.

Sherrill is running a campaign that connects her opponent to Trump. Ciattarelli was endorsed by the president earlier in the campaign. Democrats are rightfully concerned that Trump was able to chip away at the state's electorate during the 2024 presidential election, potentially signaling that Republicans are gaining ground.

Just outside the nation's capital, Virginians will also elect their new governor this week. Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin took home the governorship four years ago, scoring a major upset for the GOP. Youngkin's lieutenant governor, Winsome Earle-Sears, is on a mission to replace her boss by leaning on a campaign that focuses on transgender policies in the state's public schools.  

Recent polls do not look promising for the lieutenant governor. Former Rep. Abigail Spanberger has a decisive lead in this race, winning the support of leaders such as Obama. Helping Spanberger in her cause is the fact that Virginia is home to thousands of federal workers feeling the pain of the Trump administration's downsizing of the federal government, as well as the ongoing shutdown.

Even if Spanberger wins, a closer-than-anticipated race could signal that Trump's controversial stances over the last few months may not be a significant driver of upcoming elections.

Redistricting Battle in California

In addition to these key races, some issues could provide a glimpse into how the midterms will shake out next year. California’s redistricting battle gives voters the choice to approve the Democratic plan to favor a gerrymandered map that would allow the party to win back five seats currently controlled by the GOP. Proposition 50 is in direct response to a similar piece of legislation approved recently in Texas, giving Republicans better odds to win five more seats to represent the Lone Star State in Washington, D.C.

The fate of Proposition 50 could have major implications on next year's midterms, specifically if the Democrats are in a better position to take back this chamber of Congress. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has not been shy about saying the proposition is intended to neutralize the gains made in Texas. Newsom is also being floated as a potential presidential candidate in 2028, making the success of this issue crucial to his political standing.

Other key measures to keep tabs on include a special election in the Houston-area 18th Congressional District in Texas, as well as the outcome of a state Supreme Court election in Pennsylvania. While these elections seem largely irrelevant on the national stage, the results could have important implications nationally by 2026.

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