Democrats sweep 2025 elections: Results show wins in NYC, Virginia, New Jersey, California

Democrats swept closely watched races across the country in the first electoral test of President Donald Trump's second term.

Zohran Mamdani won the mayoral contest in New York City, Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill were elected governor in Virginia and New Jersey, respectively, and early results indicated that Prop. 50 − a redistricting measure designed to push back against Republicans' redrawing of maps in GOP-led states − has succeeded in California.

Here's a closer look at what was at stake in each election and maps showing the results:

California's Prop. 50 passes, allows congressional redistricting

Unofficial results on the evening of Nov. 4 showed Californians passed Prop. 50, a Democrat-led redistricting plan designed to offset Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s own remapping. 

Many states have explored the idea of redistricting, but few have established tangible plans. This is because redistricting typically happens at the start of every decade, and some states prohibit mid-decade changes. California and Texas have the most seats by far, and changes there could decide who controls the U.S. House of Representatives after midterm elections in 2026.

A USA TODAY analysis shows California could flip six seats from the GOP to Democrats. Here’s a closer look at how the margins − the difference between the percentage of people who voted for each party − would shift in each of California’s districts under the new maps.

Democrats win Virginia, New Jersey gubernatorial elections

Democrats took high-stakes governor's races in Virginia and New Jersey, which could set the stage for the 2026 midterm elections.

In Virginia, Democrat Abigail Spanberger won after consistently leading her Republican opponent, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, by about 10 points in polls. New Jersey Democrat Mikie Sherrill emerged as the victor after being locked in a dead heat with Republican Jack Ciattarelli in polling days before the race. 

Every four years, the two elections are viewed as barometers of the American electorate’s opinion of the political party in power, given that they are the first major elections after the president’s inauguration. This year is no exception. Though Trump’s name is not on the ballot, he has been a major player in both contests.

Ciattarelli, once a never-Trump Republican, leaned into the president’s endorsement. He told the USA TODAY Network that he speaks with Trump every couple of weeks.

Virginia and New Jersey governor races have predictable history

New Jersey and Virginia voters have a track record of electing a governor from the opposite party of the president. Here's a look at how those states have voted in the past:

Get the whole story: See why Virginia and New Jersey's elections matter this year

Did Virginia and New Jersey vote for Trump in 2024?

Although Virginia and New Jersey leaned Democratic in the 2024 presidential elections, Trump made inroads in both states. In New Jersey, he decreased his margin of defeat by 10% from his loss in 2020.

Zohran Mamdani wins the race for mayor in NYC

Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist, won the mayoral election in New York City on a progressive platform of fighting inequality, protecting immigrant rights and making housing more affordable. Many of those same issues impact voters across the country. New York mayors receive national attention because they run America’s biggest city.

Did Texas redistricting pass?

Yes, but not in this election. In August, Texas Republicans approved a new state congressional map intended to flip U.S. House seats up for grabs in the 2026 elections. In an 88-52 vote Aug. 20, Republican legislators moved forward with a rare mid-decade redistricting measure, which helps improve Republicans' odds of holding a narrow majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.