​Winter of discontent: On Democrats, their win in U.S. elections Politics & News

Democrats have swept the first major election in the U.S. during the second term of President Donald Trump, indicating a degree of frustration with the ongoing federal government shutdown but also signalling a broader barometric downturn in the approval ratings of his administration’s policies. In a historic first, Zohran Mamdani, a Uganda-born, Muslim Democratic Socialist New York State Representative, scored a decisive victory over former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, garnering over 1 million votes — 50.4% of the total polled — to secure the post of Mayor of New York. Similarly, Democrats Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill won gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey, respectively, making them the first female Governor and Democratic female Governor of their States. Additionally, Indian American Democrat Ghazala Hashmi is projected to become Virginia’s next Lieutenant Governor and is on track to become the first Muslim woman elected statewide. In California, voters approved Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom’s campaign to redraw the State’s congressional map in a manner that would help the party secure five additional seats in the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2026 midterm elections. Mr. Trump has blamed the Republican setback on the fact that he was not on the ballots and on the government shutdown, which he has repeatedly faulted Democrats for. However, what is now officially the longest federal government closure raises questions about his ability to bring lawmakers together to strike a deal in Congress for the betterment of the American people.

While each of these results offers a snapshot of voter preferences within limited geographies, it also serves as a broader referendum on the Trump administration’s policies, especially regarding questions of the economy, jobs and cost of living. Mr. Mamdani ran on a platform focused on issues close to the heart of the ordinary American — affordable housing, broader offerings for childcare, greater support for immigrant communities, and free public transport. Mr. Trump responded to his campaign by vowing to slash federal funding if Mr. Mamdani prevailed as Mayor. After his victory, Mr. Mamdani hit out at the involvement of Mr. Trump’s family in the federal government. Indeed, Mr. Trump’s approval rating has dropped to its second-term low, with voters suggesting that affordability was their main concern. The question is whether he will now double down on the MAGA agenda, for example by accelerating immigration raids and deportations despite resistance by States, or by pressing on with the global tariff war despite costs faced by U.S. importers. Whichever path he chooses, the Democrats have put the White House on notice, and 2026 will be a further indicator of voter mood in this context.