What to know today
- ELECTION DAY: Elections took place across the country Tuesday, including in several closely watched races that could shed light on the impacts of President Donald Trump's second term on the electorate.
- NYC MAYOR: Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani — a 34-year-old democratic socialist whose meteoric rise captivated the country — beat out former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to become New York's next mayor, NBC News projects.
- GOVERNOR RACES: NBC News projects that Democrat Abigail Spanberger defeated Republican Winsome Earle-Sears to become Virginia's first female governor. In New Jersey, Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill beat Trump-backed Jack Ciattarelli in the governor's election, NBC News projects.
- CALIFORNIA REDISTRICTING: Voters approved a ballot measure to redraw the congressional map to favor Democrats, NBC News projects. The referendum, known as Prop 50, came in response to similar efforts in Republican-led states.
Gavin Newsom: Trump poked the bear and 'this bear roared'
California Gov. Gavin Newsom framed the result of today's ballot measure on redistricting as a rebuke of Trump.
"In a 90-day sprint, people from all over the United States of America contributed their voices and their support for this initiative," the Democratic governor told reporters. "We stood tall and we stood firm in response to Donald Trump's recklessness, and tonight, after poking the bear, this bear roared with an unprecedented turnout in a special election with an extraordinary result."
Newsom blamed Trump for starting a multi-state fight on redistricting after the president urged Texas GOP leaders over the summer to redraw congressional lines in an attempt to gain five more House seats for Republicans in next year's midterm elections.
"Donald Trump's efforts to rig the midterm election continue to this day," Newsom said.
"You're seeing him take action all across this country, not just in Texas," Newsom said, pointing to redistricting efforts underway by state GOP leaders in Missouri, Indiana and Florida.
"They're not screwing around," he added.
Newsom called himself "proud" of California voters, but added that he is "mindful and sober of the moment we are living in."
"Donald Trump does not believe in fair and free elections, period and full stop," he said before calling on Democratic leaders in other states to "meet this moment."
Mamdani addresses Trump during victory speech: 'Turn the volume up'
Mamdani directly challenged Trump during his victory speech, telling him to "turn the volume up" as a crowd of his supporters cheered loudly.
In his victory speech, Mamdani invoked Trump, telling supporters, “If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him.”
"If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him," he said. He added, “This is not only how we stop Trump, it’s how we stop the next one.”
During the campaign, Trump had repeatedly threatened to cut off federal funding for the city if Mamdani won.
Then, Mamdani spoke directly to the president, telling him, “So Donald Trump — since I know you’re watching — I have four words for you: turn the volume up.”
“So hear me, President Trump, when I say this: to get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us,” Mamdani added later.
Mamdani says Islamophobia and antisemitism have no place in New York
In his victory speech, Mamdani said that Islamophobia and antisemitism have no place in New York anymore.
“We will build a city hall that stands steadfast alongside Jewish New Yorkers and does not waver in the fight against the scourge of antisemitism. Where the more than 1 million Muslims know that they belong, not just in the five boroughs of this city, but in the halls of power,” Mamdani said.
“No more will New York be a city where you can traffic in Islamophobia and win an election,” Mamdani added.
Shortly before the election, Mamdani denounced “racist, baseless” attacks in an emotional speech about Islamophobia in New York.
Mamdani: NYC has 'delivered a mandate for change'
New York City mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani gave a rousing victory speech tonight, telling New York City that, "tonight you have delivered a mandate for change, a mandate for a new kind of politics, a mandate for a city we can afford and a mandate for a government that delivers exactly that."
He thanked his supporters and reflected on his campaign, saying, “over the last 12 months, you have dared to reach for something greater. Tonight against all odds, we have grasped it. The future is in our hands."
Mamdani also referenced his opponent, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, whom he beat in the primary in June and again tonight.
"My friends, we have toppled a political dynasty," the mayor-elect said. "I wish Andrew Cuomo only the best in private life, but let tonight be the final time I utter his name as we turn the page on a politics that abandons the many and answers only to the few.”
He went on to thank "the next generation of New Yorkers," saying that they, "refused to accept that the promise of a better future was a relic of the past.”
“We will fight for you because we are you," Mamdani added.
The mayor-elect went on to thank his campaign team, saying that they "believed when no one else did."
"You can sleep now," he joked, before thanking his parents and wife.
Speaking again to those who voted for him, the mayor-elect invoked the hope of his campaign, saying, "Tonight we have spoken in a clear voice: Hope is alive."
"We won because New Yorkers allowed themselves to hope that the impossible could be made possible," Mamdani added.
Decidedly different scenes at Mamdani and Cuomo HQs after Mamdani projected winner
The line to get into Mamdani’s election party stretched down Flatbush Ave., just outside the Brooklyn Paramount, where the celebration was already underway.
Jeremy Cohen, 41, volunteered on the campaign and said it had been a whirlwind.
“I think there were signs from early on that this could explode,” he said as he waited in line to get in. With sporadic chants of “Zohran! Zohran!” the entrance itself had taken on a party atmosphere with crowds of people alongside lines of cameras.
Schumer congratulates Mamdani on 'well-earned' victory
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who never endorsed Mamdani and would not say whom he voted for when he was asked earlier today, congratulated Mamdani in a statement tonight.
"I congratulate Mayor-elect Mamdani on his well-earned and historic victory tonight. His campaign was relentlessly focused on the cost-of-living crisis, that Donald Trump has only made worse, and on finding ways to help working families, seniors, and young people build a life of dignity and economic security in New York City," Schumer said.
Schumer added that he has "worked collaboratively" in the past with Mamdani, who has been a state assemblyman since 2021.
"I look forward to building on that partnership to keep New York City strong, fair, more affordable, and thriving," Schumer said.
Obama: 'The future looks a little bit brighter'
Former President Barack Obama congratulated Democratic candidates who won today, saying “the future looks a little bit brighter.”
“It’s a reminder that when we come together around strong, forward-looking leaders who care about the issues that matter, we can win,” Obama wrote on X.
“We’ve still got plenty of work to do, but the future looks a little bit brighter,” added Obama, who campaigned for some of the candidates leading up to Election Day.
Some voters say Ciattarelli’s links to Trump worked against him in the race for governor
California voters approve Democrats' redistricting ballot measure, NBC News projects
Voters in California today approved a ballot measure — Prop 50 — that will allow state leaders to redraw congressional district lines in a partisan fashion, which could lead to a guarantee for Democrats to gain five House seats in next year's midterm elections, NBC News projects.
The ballot measure was put to voters after Texas Republican leaders redrew congressional district lines on a partisan basis this year, seeking to guarantee House Republicans five additional seats after next year's midterms.
AOC says calling Democrats 'socialists' doesn't 'resonate' as a threat
Speaking to NBC News' Sam Brock from Mamdani's campaign headquarters, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., said calling Democratic candidates "socialists" is not as threatening to voters "as time goes on."
"I’m 36 years old. My first election was for Barack Obama when I was 18 years old, and I've heard Democrats be called socialists our entire voting lives," Ocasio-Cortez said. "I think that as time goes on, this is not a threat that is really resonating with the majority and large pluralities of the electorate and that this kind of name-calling doesn’t really have the weight that results do have."
Critics of Mamdani, who is a democratic socialist, have derisively labeled him a communist.
