Washington– One year after Donald Trump regained the White House and began a dramatic process Expanding executive powerThe Republican president features prominently in Tuesday’s state and local elections.
The victors will herald the results of those contests – the first general election of Trump’s second term – as either a major rejection or a resounding seal of approval for his agenda for his second term. This is especially true in high-level races Virginia and New Jersey governor, Mayor of New York City And a California proposal To redraw congressional district boundaries.
More than half of the states will hold contests on Tuesday. Here’s a look at some of them Major state and local races In the ballot:
In New Jersey, Democrat Mickey Sherrill and Republican Jack Schiattarelli are the favorites to succeed Term-limited Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy. Cheryl is a four-term American actress and former Navy helicopter pilot. Ciattarelli is a former Trump-backed state Assembly member. In 2021, Ciattarelli was about 3 percentage points away from ousting Murphy.
And in Virginia, Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earl Sears and former Democratic U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger are looking to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin. While Spanberger made some efforts to focus on it Topics other than Trump In serious speeches, the president remained a major topic of conversation throughout the election campaign, beginning in Comments made by Earl Sears About him in 2022 to some of his most polarizing policies, such as the so-called One big, beautiful bill Measures to cut taxes and spending are widespread Dismissal of federal employeesMany of them live in Northern Virginia.
Trump was scheduled to participate in telephone rallies for the candidates on Monday evening.
As the only gubernatorial race held in the year following a presidential election, these contests have long served as the first major test of voters’ feelings about which party controls the White House. In every gubernatorial race since 1973, one or both states have elected a governor from a different party than the incumbent president’s.
Participating in the race to lead the nation’s largest city are Democratic state legislator Zahran Mamdani, independent candidate and former Democratic governor Andrew Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
Mamdani Comfortable victory Cuomo’s victory in the June primary sparked excitement from the party More progressive suite and A state of panic within the ranks of the party institutions. Party leaders like Gov. Kathy Hochul, the Democratic leader in the U.S. House of Representatives Hakeem endorsed Jeffries in the end He described himself as a democratic socialist months after winning the nomination.
The winner will replace outgoing Mayor Eric Adams, who initially sought renomination as a Democrat. After losing the primary, Adams chose to run as an independent, however He dropped out of the race In September and eventually He endorsed Cuomo. In February, Trump’s Department of Justice The court asked To drop corruption charges against Adams because the case hindered Trump Migration goalsTrump later said he would like to see both Adams and Sliwa Out of the race In an attempt to defeat Mamdani.
California voters will decide on a statewide ballot measure that would enact a new congressional map that could flip up to five Republican-controlled U.S. House seats to Democratic control.
Proposition 50, With the support of Democratic Governor Gavin Newsomin response to the new Texas map drawn by Republicans in the state Released in August As part of Trump’s efforts To keep the US House of Representatives under Republican control in the 2026 midterm elections. The Texas plan, which could help Republicans flip five Democratic-controlled seats in the US House of Representatives, has drawn sharp criticism. The arms race escalates States to pass new maps outside the usual once-a-decade schedule.
control over Pennsylvania The Supreme Court will be at stake when voters vote yes or no Whether three judges will be retained The Democratic majority on the Supreme Court 5-2.
Partisan control of the court could have major implications for the 2028 presidential race, as the justices may be asked to rule on election disputes. As they did in 2020. Spending on Tuesday’s contests is on track Exceeding $15 million Republicans also campaigned to end the majority and Democrats responded.
If the three justices are removed, stalemate in the confirmation process to replace them could result in a 2-2 tie. An election will be held to fill any vacancies for a full 10-year term in 2027.
Virginia Attorney General: Republican incumbent Jason Miyares is seeking a second term against Democrat Jay Jones. I focused a lot of the fall campaign on Text messages Suggesting violence against political rivals sent by Jones in 2022.
Texas – 18: Sixteen candidates hope to fill out a file Vacant seat in Congress Which was previously held before The late Democratic US Representative Sylvester Turner.
State legislatures: control over Minnesota The Virginia Senate and House of Delegates are at stake, while Democrats in New Jersey are defending their majority in the General Assembly by 52-28.
Ballot measures: who Voters will decide statewide questions about voting and a “red flag” law aimed at preventing gun violence. The 17 ballot measures in Texas include constitutional amendments on parental rights and limiting voting to US citizens. Colorado and Washington It also has statewide measures on the ballot.
Mayors: DetroitPittsburgh, Jersey City and Buffalo will elect new mayors, while incumbents in… AtlantaMinneapolis and cincinnati Find another term.
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Follow AP’s coverage of the 2025 elections on https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2025/.