Democrats Rack up Key Wins to Buck Trump
These are 10 of the most important decisions voters made on November 4, 2025.
Thomas Birmingham, Luca GoldMansour, Atarah Israel and Arman Deendar
[Updated at 7:46 a.m. CST on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025]
Election Day was Tuesday and democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani is headed to Gracie Mansion, according to the Associated Press.
Mamdani’s historic campaign has captured the nation’s attention, especially its army of tens of thousands of volunteers who have been constantly moving throughout the city for some time talking to residents about the candidate, who was largely running on a campaign of affordability.
Meanwhile, there were many critical races across the country to watch, where the outcomes will also have significant impacts on the political landscape.
With the U.S. Supreme Court poised to decimate the Voting Rights Act and President Donald Trump’s administration and its sycophants hinting at a flagrantly unconstitutional bid for a third term, the races also provide the first real insight into where the public is headed under the thumb of Trump’s increasingly unpopular regime.
Mamdani’s victory is significant for many reasons, including that Trump endorsed his main rival, disgraced former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
In These Times put together a list of 10 races to watch on November 4, and we’ll continue to update the list as results come in, and we encourage readers to keep checking www.inthesetimes.com throughout the week for critical news and analysis on these races and other major political developments like the death of Dick Cheney.
You’ll hear from Alberto Toscano, Hamilton Nolan, Eman Abdelhadi, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, Senior Editor Miles Kampf-Lassin, Bhaskar Sunkara, Palestine Editor Nashwa Bawab, and many others. We’ll also have a special original comic from Matt Bors and illustrations by Molly Crabapple and Margaret Vail Palmquist.
From serious left challenges to incumbent mayors in Minneapolis and Seattle, to tight races against Trump-approved right-wingers in Virginia and New Jersey, to ballot measures in California, Texas and Colorado, here are In These Times’ top 10 races to watch:
1. New York City Mayoral Election: MAMDANI WINS
Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani remained the frontrunner in the NYC mayoral election as polls opened this morning. The democratic socialist candidate urged his supporters to resist complacency and join the campaign’s massive volunteer army to get out the vote. Mamdani’s efforts are facing an eleventh-hour challenge from President Donald Trump and Elon Musk who, attempting to consolidate anti-Mamdani forces, endorsed his chief rival, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
2. California: Proposition 50: PASSES
Also known as the Election Rigging Response Act, California Proposition 50 is a statewide ballot measure that will remap California’s congressional districts for the next three election cycles, potentially turning up to five U.S. House seats from Republican to Democrat. The Associated Press called the race at 10 p.m. on Tuesday, and as of Wednesday morning, it was 63.8% Yes and 36.2% No, with more than 70% of votes counted.
3. Minneapolis Mayoral Election: JACOB FREY WINS
With 15 candidates up for rank-choice voting in the Minneapolis mayoral election, an alliance emerged running an “anyone-but-him” strategy hoping to oust the two-term incumbent, Jacob Frey. The coalition included democratic socialist and clear challenger to Frey, Omar Fateh. As of late Tuesday night Frey and Fateh had received the most votes, according to the Associated Press.
4. New Jersey Governorship: MIKIE SHERRILL WINS
The tight gubernatorial race in New Jersey, which tends to lean blue, has Republican Jack Ciattarelli in spitting distance of moderate Democrat Mikie Sherrill, according to final polls.
5. Pennsylvania Supreme Court: DONOHUE, DOUGHERTY, WECHT WILL STAY
Three justices were on the ballot in Pennsylvania where the choice was simple: yes or no. And all three were greeted with yeses. Voters chose to retain justices Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty and David Wecht on the Supreme Court, where the judges will be set to serve 10 more years on the bench.
6. Virginia Governorship: SPANBERGER WINS
Democrat Abigail Spanberger has claimed Virginia’s governorship. The Trump administration’s scorched earth campaign against federal workers has had a pronounced impact on the state, especially in areas closest to Washington D.C. Spanberger will be the first female governor of the state.
7. Seattle Mayoral Election: STILL COUNTING VOTES
Incumbent Bruce Harrell was seen bundled up and canvassing through the Central District in the 24 hours prior to Tuesday’s election. His opponent Katie Wilson, however, is hardly a newcomer to putting boots on the ground. The co-founder of the Transit Riders Union defeated Harrell in the August primary, and has championed affordable housing and a leadership informed by her organizing days. For his part, Harrell has emphasized his decades-long experience in Seattle City Hall. As of early Wednesday morning, no winner had been called in the race, which the Associated Press noted at 12:10 a.m. on Wednesday morning will likely take “several days to determine a winner.”
8. Texas: Proposition 16: PASSED
An amendment to the state constitution was approved by voters that was billed as an attempt to clarify that only U.S. citizens can vote in elections. Proponents for Prop. 16 say it would safeguard against noncitizens voting, which is already a felony offense. Advocates against the amendment say it is redundant since citizenship is already a requirement to vote under state law. The proposition has been criticized by some for its potential to contribute to voter suppression and misinformation. But it passed, called by NBC News on Tuesday evening.
9. Detroit Mayoral Election: MARY SHEFFIELD WINS
After a decade, Detroiters can decide on a new mayor. Voters will choose between the current City Council President, Mary Sheffield, and Rev. Solomon Kinloch, Jr., the senior pastor of a 40,000-member megachurch in the area. Sheffield, the clear front-runner, has focused her campaign on addressing Detroit’s housing crisis. Her platform builds off her time in City Council where she pushed for eviction defense legislation and fixed water rates for low-income households.
10. Colorado: Proposition MM: PASSED
In Colorado, voters chose to approve Proposition MM, which would help provide free school lunches to all Colorado students. As of Wednesday morning, NPR had called the race and “YES” had 58.1% with 82% of votes counted.
Disclosure: As a 501©3 nonprofit, In These Times does not support or oppose any candidate for public office.
Thomas Birmingham is the Research Fellow at In These Times and an investigative reporter in New Haven, Connecticut. He has previously covered housing, tenant movements, and criminal justice for The Nation, The Appeal and the Louisville Courier-Journal.
Luca GoldMansour is a Lebanese American journalist from New York City. He has a master’s degree from the Craig Newmark School of Journalism at CUNY.
Atarah Israel is a senior at Northwestern studying Journalism, Black Studies and Creative Nonfiction. She is also editor of BlackBoard, the only campus magazine for undergraduate Black students.
Arman Deendar is a writer and fact-checker from Dallas, TX.
