The Republican Party took a huge loss on Election Day, while the Democratic Party gained momentum across the nation ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Following their significant losses in the 2024 presidential election, Democrats were jubilant when election results came in for their candidates in Virginia, New Jersey, and New York City late Tuesday. On the other hand, Republicans admitted defeat in the most high-stakes races this year.
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Republicans try to learn lessons from 2025 election
Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy reflected on the loss in a short video, advising his fellow Republicans to focus on lowering costs for Americans’ utility bills and groceries, among other areas. Also, President Donald Trump claimed Republicans lost because he wasn’t on the ballot this year.
“‘TRUMP WASN’T ON THE BALLOT, AND SHUTDOWN, WERE THE TWO REASONS THAT REPUBLICANS LOST ELECTIONS TONIGHT,’ according to Pollsters,” he wrote on Truth Social.
The case for Trump not being on the ballot could have contributed to Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears’s (R-VA) double-digit loss to Democratic nominee Abigail Spanberger in Virginia’s gubernatorial race. Earle-Sears, who distanced herself from the Make America Great Again movement before Trump’s victory last year, did not receive the president’s explicit endorsement prior to Election Day.
Chris LaCivita, a former Republican National Committee executive and Trump ally, took a veiled shot at Earle-Sears following her swift defeat.
“A Bad candidate and Bad campaign have consequences – the Virginia Governors race is example number 1,” he posted on X.
Trump will be hosting Senate Republicans at a breakfast at the White House on Wednesday morning, where he’s sure to speak about what went wrong Tuesday night.
Virginia trends blue in most counties
Democrats also won the state’s races for lieutenant governor and attorney general and increased their majority in the House of Delegates to 56, up from 51.
In Virginia, most counties shifted to the left from last year’s general election.
In districts that Earle-Sears won by massive margins, there was still a shift toward Democrats. In Craig County, which Earle-Sears won by 59 points, voters trended toward Democrats 5.9 points more than last year. In Bristol County, which Earle-Sears won by 30 points, the trend toward Democrats was 9.2 points.
Good results for the party not in control of the White House aren’t uncommon in off-year elections, particularly since Republicans also control both chambers of Congress.
Turnout varied by state, with NYC seeing huge numbers
Turnout varied depending on the election, but New York City saw its highest turnout in 50 years with more than 2 million voters heading to the polls.
Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani won the mayoral race by single digits against independent candidate Andrew Cuomo, while Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa fell behind at a distant third. Sliwa was working against Trump’s endorsement for Cuomo, among other factors.
In Virginia, turnout dipped. This is not unusual after general elections, where since 2012, 70% of Virginia voters have turned out. Virginia Beach reported a 49% turnout rate in 2025, though official statewide numbers will be released later.
Downballot races give Democrats even more hope
In the less-watched races, Republicans also suffered. The Mississippi Senate lost its GOP supermajority for the first time in 13 years. Previously, Republicans held control of the chamber with 36 seats — now they are down to 34. Special elections were held in seven districts Tuesday.
Republicans remain in control of both state chambers, as well as the governor’s mansion.
However, breaking the supermajority is a win for Democrats who have been challenging the state maps since 2022. The special elections were called for because of redistricting ordered by courts due to racial disparities in congressional maps.
Further, Democrats Alicia Johnson and Peter Hubbard won two seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission, ousting incumbents Tim Echols and Fitz Johnson. The elections could be a bellwether for the 2026 midterm elections.
Election-related proposals see mixed results
Also on the ballot this year were election-related proposals. The outcome of those elections varied depending on whether the state leaned Democrat or Republican. In Maine, widely considered a blue state, a measure mandating voters provide photo ID before voting failed. Whereas in Texas, a Republican stronghold, a ballot measure implementing a citizenship requirement to vote was approved.
California saw its redistricting ballot measure succeed among voters statewide. The proposal now gives California Democrats the ability to counter Republican efforts to redraw state congressional maps by next year’s elections.
The win is seen as a boost for Gov. Gavin Newsom’s chances in the 2028 Democratic primary for president.
Post-election shutdown discussion
As results poured in from the 2025 elections Tuesday, the government shutdown became the longest in U.S. history, at 35 days.
It remains to be seen whether the Democratic Party’s election results convince its lawmakers in the Senate, namely Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), to compromise on the GOP stopgap funding bill or ride out their victory this week in an effort to pressure Republicans to cave.
There have been reports that some Democrats are getting wary of the effects of the shutdown, namely, pauses to SNAP benefits and shortages for air traffic controllers and security agents at airports.
TRUMP BLAMES REPUBLICANS’ 2025 LOSSES ON HIM NOT BEING ON BALLOT
But on Wednesday morning, Schumer once again blamed Trump’s refusal to agree on Democrats’ demands to extend healthcare subsidies for the shutdown.
“Nice to see he woke up enough after his Gatsby party to realize that the government is still shutdown because of the Republicans and healthcare is still spiking because of the Republicans,” the top Senate Democrat wrote on X following race calls for Democrats in various elections.