Democrats swept up seats and offices in several major elections across the US on Tuesday, in a warning to Republicans about the popularity of their policies.
While votes were still being counted on Wednesday, Zohran Mamdani has been forecast to win New York City’s mayoral race, Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill won the races for governor in Virginia and New Jersey, and California voted to approve a redistricting push from the Democrats.
Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic leader in the House of Representatives, boasted in a post on X on Wednesday that Republicans were "wiped out".
The White House, meanwhile, posted a campaign-style video celebrating the anniversary of President Donald Trump's return to power, writing: "The golden age of America is here to stay."
It was a night of firsts. Mr Mamdani will be New York's first Muslim and first Indian-American mayor, Detroit elected Mary Sheffield as its first woman mayor, and Virginia voted in both Ms Spanberger as the first woman governor and Ghazala Hashmi as the first Muslim and Indian-American lieutenant governor.
Mr Trump said it had been an instructive night for Republicans. "Last night, it was, you know, not expected to be a victory," he said. "But I don't think it was good for Republicans. I'm not sure it was good for anybody. But we had an interesting evening and we learnt a lot."
He said he believed the government shutdown was a major issue for voters.
The government was shut down 36 days ago, in the longest such closure in US history, after Congress failed to pass a budget. While Republicans control both houses, they need 60 votes to pass a budget.
The Democrats are pushing for the spending bill to include an extension of tax credits, to make health insurance more affordable for millions of Americans, and a reversal of cuts to Medicaid.
Republicans have blamed Democrats for holding the government hostage. "I think if you read the pollsters, the shutdown was a big factor, negative for the Republicans, and that was a big factor," Mr Trump added. "And they say that I wasn't on the ballot was the biggest factor."
Democrats in the big elections largely focused their attacks on the Trump administration's policies, particularly the direction of the economy. Mr Trump returned to office last November after campaigning on improving the economy and lowering the cost of living, which appears to have remained at the forefront of voters' minds.
According to NBC and CNN exit polls, most voters expressed dissatisfaction with the way things are going in the country generally, with financial issues and the economy. But most said they were not happy with either the Republican or Democratic parties.
Off-year voting, which takes place outside of traditional general elections, is not usually a bellwether for popular opinion, and New Jersey, Virginia and New York City lean Democrat. Even though the wins gave a boost to the Democrats, the party has a long road ahead to the 2026 midterm elections.
'Common sense or communist'
Over the course of the election, Mr Trump and many conservative pundits accused Mr Mamdani of being a Marxist, in addition to veiled – and not so veiled – Islamophobic comments.
During an event in Miami, Florida, Mr Trump had harsh words for Mr Mamdani, calling him a communist.
"The decision facing all Americans could not be more clear. We have a choice between communism and common sense," he said. "And as long as I'm in the White House, the United States is not going communist in any way, shape or form."
Jonathan Wachtel, a former US official, told The National that "Republicans are working to paint Mr Mamdani as the face of the Democratic Party, with the goal being using his socialist identity and far-left platform to rally their base and target moderate Democrats".
"The Republicans want voters to believe that Democrats are out of touch with mainstream voters," he said.
But Mr Trump, a former New Yorker, on Wednesday appeared willing to open the lines of communication
"We want New York to be successful," he said, adding that he might offer federal assistance to Mr Mamdani. "We'll help him, a little bit maybe."
Mr Mamdani said that the "White House hasn't reached out to congratulate me". But he would "be interested in having a conversation with President Trump on the ways in which we can work together to serve New Yorkers".
