Democrats claimed victory in a trio of high-stakes elections that largely focused on economic anxiety and affordability issues. 

New Jersey Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill defeated Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli in the New Jersey governor’s race, while former Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger defeated Republican challenger Winsome Earle-Sears in the Virginia gubernatorial race. In the Empire State, Socialist New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani claimed victory over former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who ran as an independent, and Republican Curtis Sliwa. 

The three sweeps come as Republicans worked to make inroads in the historically liberal or left-leaning jurisdictions, including campaigning on lowering taxes.

In all three elections, the economy and affordability were top concerns, according to polling data, with the liberal candidates leaning into blaming the White House for economic anxiety. 

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In New Jersey, voters reported that the state’s notoriously high taxes and the economy were their top issues heading into the polling stations, according to Fox News Voter Poll data. In Virginia, half of voters reported that the economy was their top issue, more than double the number who reported healthcare as their top concern, according to Fox polling data. 

In New York City, affordability was by far voters’ top concern, according to Fox News Voter Poll data, with Mamdani notching a significant win over his challengers. Mamdani ran on policies such as city-run groceries to lower food costs, eliminating bus fares, implementing rent freezes on rent-stabilized units and other affordable housing proposals.

Voters responded by voting for Democrats following President Donald Trump’s decisive win over former Vice President Kamala Harris just more than a year ago in a federal election that also focused on the economy amid spiraling inflation woes. 

Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate, former Rep. Abigail Spanberger celebrates as she takes the stage during her election night rally at the Greater Richmond Convention Center Nov. 4, 2025. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Trump and other conservatives have railed against Mamdani as a «communist» who threatens New York City’s massive economy and a symbol of American capitalism, while left-wing supporters have championed he will ease the cost burden on residents facing sky-high rent, taxes and food costs. 

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«Zohran Mamdani, a 100% Communist Lunatic, has just won the Dem Primary, and is on his way to becoming Mayor,» Trump wrote on Truth Social in June. «We’ve had Radical Lefties before, but this is getting a little ridiculous. He looks TERRIBLE, his voice is grating, he’s not very smart.»

The trio of high-profile Democrats who won their elections campaigned in part against Trump administration policies and affordability woes. 

Rep. Mikie Sherrill, Democratic gubernatorial candidate for New Jersey, checks-in to cast her ballot at a polling location inside Hillside Elementary School in Montclair, New Jersey, Nov. 4, 2025.  (John Lamparski/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

«Donald Trump needs to answer directly to Virginians on why he is actively cutting Virginia jobs and hurting the Virginia economy,» Spanberger said in October. «The Trump Administration has taken a sledgehammer approach to governing that has hurt Virginia’s workers, businesses, and economy.»  

Sherrill pitched the current economy as a «catastrophe,» including claiming Trump’s tariffs would be disastrous. 

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«Donald Trump just implemented the biggest tax increase in my lifetime — an economic catastrophe for New Jersey families,» Sherrill said in April as Trump announced increased tariffs on foreign nations. «This will raise costs to the tune of almost $4,000 per year, and many companies have already announced layoffs. No wonder the Wall Street Journal called it the ‘dumbest trade war in history.’» 

New Jersey, a historically deep blue state, was viewed as the most likely to potentially flip red after the 2024 federal election showed Trump made inroads with Garden State voters, including flipping five counties to the GOP. 

President Donald Trump speaks before signing an executive order barring transgender female athletes from competing in women’s or girls’ sporting events, in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Washington.  (Alex Brandon/The Associated Press)

Following Spanberger’s win Tuesday, she celebrated that she will reinvigorate the Old Dominion State’s economy. 

«Virginia chose pragmatism over partisanship,» Spanberger said. «We chose our commonwealth over chaos.» 

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«You all chose leadership that will focus relentlessly on what matters most — lowering costs, keeping our communities safe and strengthening our economy for every Virginian,» she said.

Trump responded to the Democrat wins Tuesday with a quote from pollsters that the ongoing government shutdown was partially due to the Republican losses. 

«‘TRUMP WASN’T ON THE BALLOT, AND SHUTDOWN, WERE THE TWO REASONS THAT REPUBLICANS LOST ELECTIONS TONIGHT,’ according to Pollsters,» Trump posted on Truth Social. 

Nueva York eligió a Zohran Mamdani como su alcalde, este martes. Con el 88% escrutado, el legislador de 34 años obtenía el 50,3% de los votos, seguido por Cuomo (41,6%) y Sliwa (7%).

Es una victoria para el ala progresista del Partido Demócrata. Ahora, Mamdani debe navegar las interminables demandas de la ciudad más grande de Estados Unidos y cumplir con promesas de campaña ambiciosas.

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Zohran Mamdani: un insólito adversario de Trump en Nueva York

Joven, sin gran experiencia política, inmigrante africano, musulmán, declarado “socialista” y marcadamente pro-palestino. Zohran Mamdani, el inesperado ganador de la interna del Partido Demócrata y ahora electo alcalde, revolucionó el tablero político de Nueva York, una de las ciudades más progresistas de los Estados Unidos.

Mamdani es la antítesis de todo lo que representa hoy Donald Trump. Pero sus posturas radicales, con las que capturó la atención del voto joven y migrante, comienzan a asustar al ala moderada o más inclinada a la derecha del partido.

Sus propuestas políticas parecen sacadas del manual de la izquierda latinoamericana: congelamiento de alquileres, transporte y jardines maternales gratuitos, dignidad para los trabajadores y una serie de ideas de elevado perfil social, como la creación de supermercados populares administrados por la alcaldía, que llevaron al presidente a calificarlo de «lunático comunista 100%“.

Una verdad política implacable sostiene que el ganador de la interna demócrata neoyorquina tiene asegurado su acceso a la alcaldía. Los demócratas suelen derrotar con facilidad a los republicanos en esta ciudad cosmopolita y que le dio la espalda a Trump en las últimas elecciones presidenciales. La diferencia suele ser de 6 a 1 a favor de los demócratas sobre sus rivales republicanos.

A simple vista, Mamdani partía como favorito para las elecciones locales. Pero había una luz roja encendida que titila en su camino. Su vehemente posicionamiento a la izquierda y con un respaldo firme a la causa palestina, generó una enorme desconfianza en el propio electorado demócrata inclinado hacia la derecha del partido. Se estima que en la ciudad viven unos 960.000 miembros de la comunidad judía, el 12% de la población neoyorquina que mira con absoluto estupor la adhesión de Mamdani a la campaña “Free Palestine”.

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¿Por qué un radical de izquierda ganó la interna demócrata?

Mamdani ganó las internas, y ahora la alcaldía, porque supo llegar a los jóvenes con sus propuestas para abaratar los carísimos alquileres que se cobran en la ciudad. Además, captó la atención de las comunidades latinas, con populares videos en español en redes sociales en los que él mismo se presentó como migrante en momentos en que decenas de miles de hispanos son deportados a sus países de origen.

Pero también les habló a los votantes en urdú, el idioma que hablan la mayoría de los migrantes indios y paquistaníes, sin descuidar la campaña en inglés dirigida a las clases medias a la que le cuesta cada vez más quedarse a vivir en la ciudad por los elevados costos de los alquileres. A los ricos solo les prometió que le cobraría más impuestos. En síntesis, supo forjar una nueva coalición política multirracial.

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“Mamdani parecía estar en todas partes”, resumió la columnista del Washington Post, Karen Tumulty. En un artículo de opinión publicado en junio, escribió que el joven dirigente de origen ugandés “identificó correctamente” los problemas que hacen cada vez más inaccesible vivir en esta ciudad, más allá de que “sus políticas pueden no ser la solución» a la crisis.

“Lo más importante que los demócratas del establishment deberían aprender de Mamdani es la lección que ofrece al abordar lo que probablemente sea el mayor problema del partido: reconectarse con los votantes más jóvenes”, indicó Tumulty.

Para la analista política, “entrar en pánico por un candidato que se autodenomina socialista no es la solución. En cambio, los demócratas deberían analizar detenidamente su propia imagen y comprender por qué, en lugar de mirar hacia el futuro, siguen presentando figuras imperfectas e inaceptables de un pasado no tan glorioso”, afirmó.

Pero el fenómeno Mamdani parece ser solo local. En general, Nueva York suele tener un ecosistema político propio. Sus alcaldes nunca llegan a tener una gran proyección nacional, como les sucedió por ejemplo a Rudy Giuliani, Mike Bloomberg o Bill de Blasio.

U.S. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth on Tuesday lauded South Korea’s plans to boost its military spending and take on a larger role in defending itself from North Korea’s aggression.

The U.S. has wanted South Korea to increase its conventional defense capabilities so that Washington can center its attention on China.

Hegseth spoke to reporters after annual security talks with South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back in Seoul, where he said he was «greatly encouraged» by Seoul’s commitment to raising defense spending and making greater investments in its own military capabilities.

He said the two allies agreed that the investments would boost South Korea’s ability to lead its conventional deterrence against its northern foe.

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South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, in a speech to parliament Tuesday, asked lawmakers to approve an 8.2% increase in defense spending next year. The president said the increase in spending would help modernize the military’s weapons systems and reduce its reliance on the U.S.

Hegseth noted defense cooperation on repairing and maintaining U.S. warships in South Korea, stressing that the activities harness South Korea’s shipbuilding capabilities and «ensure our most lethal capabilities remain ready to respond to any crisis.»

«We face, as we both acknowledge, a dangerous security environment, but our alliance is stronger than ever,» Hegseth said.

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U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, second from left, and South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back, center, visit the Observation Post Ouellette near the border village of Panmunjom, South Korea, Monday, Nov. 3, 2025. (AP)

Hegseth said the South Korea-U.S. alliance is primarily meant to respond to potential North Korean aggression, but other regional threats must also be addressed.

«There’s no doubt flexibility for regional contingencies is something we would take a look at, but we are focused on standing by our allies here and ensuring the threat of the [Democratic People’s Republic of Korea] is not a threat to the Republic of Korea and certainly continue to extend nuclear deterrence as we have before,» he said.

In recent years, the U.S. and South Korea have discussed how to integrate U.S. nuclear weapons and South Korean conventional weapons.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, left, shakes hands with South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back for a photo at the 57th Security Consultative Meeting at the Defense Ministry in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025. (AP)

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South Korea has no nuclear weapons, and Ahn denied speculation that it could eventually seek its own nuclear weapons program or that it is pushing for redeployment of U.S. tactical weapon weapons that were removed from South Korea in the 1990s.

Earlier Tuesday, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the country detected North Korea test-firing around 10 rounds of artillery toward its western waters on Monday, shortly before Hegseth arrived at an inter-Korean border village with Ahn to begin his two-day visit to South Korea.

Hegseth visited the Demilitarized Zone on the border with North Korea earlier in the week.