This past election day, November 4, marked a sweeping wave of Democratic victories across the country, including numerous historic elections. Since the midterm elections are in 2026, and it is not a presidential election year, there were no Congressional elections. Instead elections occurred at state and local levels. Often overlooked, local elections are extremely important because they help decide what policies will be enacted in local communities.

Other than elections, three ballot measures were voted on in Maine and California. Maine’s constituents voted to veto an initiative to establish new voting restrictions including requiring photo identification for in-person voting and heightening rules surrounding absentee voting and usage of ballot drop box use. Maine’s constituents also approved a ballot measure that would establish a process for obtaining an Extreme Risk Protection Order, which would prohibit individuals from possessing firearms among other weapons if the individual received an “extreme protection order” against them for being believed to be dangerous. Attracting more national attention was California’s Proposition 50, a ballot measure to redistrict California’s Congressional district boundaries to make it easier for Democrats to flip 5 seats next election that are currently held by Republicans. This measure was waged in response to redistricting in Texas where the state essentially gained 5 house seats that are likely to swing red. Prop. 50 was approved by a substantial margin with around 65% of Californians voting to approve the measure and only about 35% in opposition—likely larger winning margins than the Democratic party originally expected. 

In terms of elections, the New York City mayoral race gained the most national recognition. Occurring mainly between independent candidate Andew Cuomo, and Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani, Democrats across the country closely watched the results. The race gained such significance because it likely symbolizes larger political attitudes across the country. With Andrew Cuomo widely regarded as a centrist candidate backed by many establishment Democrats, and Zohran Mamdani as a self proclaimed Democratic socialist, the election acted as a litmus test of sorts, to attempt to parse out what direction the Democratic party should turn in the future. Zohran Mamdani winning the election by a large percentage indicates New Yorker’s focus on the issue of the increasing current cost of living. Mamdani running on freezing rent, and making buses and childcare free to combat this cost of living crisis won him the support of a large democratic coalition and the election as a whole. 

Similarly in Virginia, Democrat Abigail Spanberger, beat Republican Winsome Earle-Sears, the current lieutenant governor. When she takes office, Spanberger will become Virginia’s first female governor, making political history for the state. She won alongside Democrat Mikie Sherrill who beat Republican Jack Ciaterrelli to become the next governor of New Jersey. Ciaterrelli, despite being endorsed by current President Trump, lost by a sizable fourteen percent margin. Both Democratic candidates ran on the platform of lowering the current cost of living, similar to Mamdani’s campaign in New York. Coupled with exit poll data that indicated the most important issue for voters was the economy and affordability, this is likely consistent with which issues will unite voters into winning coalitions for future elections. 

Another key takeaway from this election was the shift in voting patterns of Latino Americans. Previously, in last year’s presidential election, Latino support for President Trump increased by a large amount—a coalition of voters who previously had been a steadfast part of the Democratic voter base. In fact, from that demographic alone, President Trump saw a 14% increase in support in comparison to the 2020 election as indicated by exit polls. This was a monumental shift in voter behaviors as no  Republican presidential candidate has ever succeeded in securing as much support from Latino voters. Incidentally, this year’s elections depicted a different trend. Both democratic candidates for governor in Virginia and New Jersey won their races by around 30% among Latino voters. This is further indicative of the emphasis this demographic is placing on tackling the cost of living crisis with “no poll taken anywhere in the country in the past month [having] anything other than the economy as the top issue for Latinos.”

Although the Democratic party seemed to have relative success finding a winning coalition of voters when placing emphasis on the economy and lowering cost of living, Democratic candidates in races across the country had different approaches to their campaigns. Zohran Mamdani, mayor elect of New York ran as a Democratic Socialist pushing for very liberal policies and often lacking support from more centrist Democrats. This approach worked in New York, with Mamdani winning his race by a large margin, but other Democrats campaigned on more moderate policies and viewpoints. In New Jersey and Virginia both winning democratic candidates emphasized less liberal policies to appeal to more moderate voters, and had significant success as well.

This creates an inconsistency across Democratic coalitions in the country, and is one of the struggles facing the party as a whole today. The Democratic party’s approach to this divide within their party will determine their success in next year’s midterm elections, and years to come.