As polls closed 21:00 EST for the New York City mayoral election, a fiery contest came to an end. The race inspired voter participation not seen in half a century, with early turnout data surpassing 2 million, as reported by the New York Times.
Within five minutes of polls closing, Decision Desk HQ called Zohran Mamdani as the next mayor of New York City.
At around 21:30 EST, the Associated Press also called Mamdani. He will be the youngest mayor in more than half a century, as well as the first Muslim and South Asian to hold the position.
Mamdani performed well according to Decision Desk HQ polling, and led in every county except Richmond. Later into the night, Mamdani was polling at 50.6%, Cuomo at 41.7% and Sliwa at 7.1%. Sliwa, interestingly, underperformed compared to previous polls predicting he would reach around 14%. Similarly, incumbent mayor Eric Adams, underperformed votes for write-in candidates.
Overall, the election saw the highest turnout in decades. Before polls closed, the city’s Board of Elections announced that more than 2 million people participated in voting – the most in a New York City mayoral election since 1969.
David Hogg, President of Leaders We Deserve, posted in response to the result:
“Zohran Mamdani’s election is a historic win that marks a new chapter for a younger, bolder, and immensely more compelling Democratic movement.”
In his victory speech, Mamdani expressed gratitude for to the people of New York City, keeping an energetic and uplifting tone.
“The future is in our hands,” said Mamdani, “Thank you for the opportunity to prove myself worthy of your trust.”
“Tonight we have spoken in a clear voice – hope is alive.”
Just south of New York, statewide elections were being held in Virginia. Before 21:00 EST, Democrat Abigail Spanberger was called as the next governor of the state, winning 55.8% against Republican opponent Winsome Earle-Sears, who accumulated 44.2%. Spanberger, who will be the first female leader of the state, said in her victory speech:
“My goal and my intent is to serve all Virginians.”
Along with Spanberger is Democrat Ghazala Hashmi, who was elected lieutenant governor, winning 54.2% of the vote against Republican John Reid. A third election will see Democrat Jay Jones become the next Attorney General, in a 51.4% win against Republican Jason Miyares.
At the other side of the United States, in California, polls closed 22:00 EST. On the ballot in California is Proposition 50 (Prop 50) – Congressional Redistricting Amendment. The amendment, if passed, would authorise changes to congressional district maps. These changes would be temporary and set to expire in 2030.
The ballot measure comes in response to the partisan redistricting law passed in Texas during the summer. Normally, redistricting only occurs after the US census every ten years – but a call from President Trump to create more Republican-leaning districts led Texas Republicans to ram through a redistricting law in June of this year. Similar redistricting efforts have been proposed by Republicans in other red states.
Republicans currently control the House by a slim majority of 219-213 (one of the smallest in US history), but the party could potentially gain five more seats in Texas because of the redistricting. California Democrats put forward Prop 50 with aims to “level the playing field,” and could wipe out as many as five Republican seats within the state.
The Associated Press announced Prop 50 had passed within three minutes of polls closing, a result much expected due to previous polling. In polls conducted by the Emerson College, Prop 50 was consistently over 50 percent. By 23:00 EST the ballot measure successfully passed by 64.6%.
California Governor Gavin Newsom addressed press following the result: “What a night for the Democratic Party,”
“We’re proud of the work the people of the state of California did tonight, to send a powerful message.”
In New Jersey, Democrat Mikie Sherrill succeeded in the gubernatorial race, accumulating 56.2% of the vote. Sherrill won in a competitive contest against Trump-backed and Republican opponent Jack Ciattarelli, who had previously run for governor twice.
Shortly after the announcement, she said in her victory speech:
“I know that not everybody voted for me,” she said, “But I’m working for everybody.”
