Election Takeaways: The Stakes for Democrats
The Democratic Party was in dire straits after the 2024 election cycle, infusing this week’s off-cycle races with unusual urgency. We’ll break down four key contests that offer a window into voter sentiment as Democrats look to 2026 and a potential path back to the House majority.
In New Jersey, we’re watching whether gubernatorial candidate Mikie Sherrill can outperform Kamala Harris’s narrow 2024 margin. In Virginia, Democrat Abigail Spanberger is favored, but her winning margin, and the possibility of a Republican attorney general, could shape her governing power. In California, the outcome of Prop 50, Gov. Gavin Newsom’s redistricting proposal, will test Democrats’ appetite for taking on Trump. And in New York City, a likely win by Zohran Mamdani could embolden the party’s left flank and raise new questions for establishment Democrats.
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Thursday, November 6, at 1pm ET for a Pro subscriber briefing where our panel will analyze what these results reveal about the Democratic Party’s standing heading into 2026 and what signals they send for the battles to come.
