Open Thread: The Morning After Election Day 2025
[NB: check the byline, thanks. /~Rayne]
With the election yesterday of Millennial Zohran Mamdani as New York City’s mayor, generational change in Democratic Party politics has shifted more firmly away from Boomers.
(source)
With the youngest Boomers in their mid-60s, it’s time — not to mention other reasons like a lifetime of baggage impeding effective governance.
This is an open thread with an emphasis on state and local elections. More details about elections across the country will be published here as updates throughout the day. In the mean time, discuss election results in your state and municipality here; what are the implications of the elections’ results, and what blowback might we expect? What effects may these elections have on the 2026 mid-term elections?
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Thank you.
This is one of the coolest things from yesterday: Dems broke a Supermajority in Mississippi.
YES! SO stoked about this!
Rumbling groundswell of blue tsunami to flush the stains off the United States.
I am looking forward to when noble people who the artless Trump Administration fired out of malice get restoration of respect they earned through efforts to dig out and present the truth. Marcy can’t be fired.
In 2025, liar-fighters are dismissed and criminals are freed; untruths fall out of mouths into the minds of sycophants and plotters, and into the pens of regularly-scolded-by-judges-and-laughed-out-of-court lawyers.
Looking forward to hearing more from Jim Smith.
The real tragedy of the U.S. right now is the tolerance of lying. Not enough slander and libel suits being filed, not enough firing of people who lie.
reply to Troutwaxer 10:49 am pdt:
Princeton University Press recently put out a 20th Anniversary edition of Frankfurt’s “On Bullshit”. Alas, the only new content is a short postscript, but the core distinction remains: liars at least admit the truth matters, bullshitters don’t.
The press page for the book links 3 podcasts, including bullshit in politics, and bullshit in AI. https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691276786/on-bullshit
In the bullshit in politics cast, Michael Lynch distinguishes a 3rd category: baldface lies not even attempting to be convincing.
Borrowing somewhat liberally from the paywalled Charles P Pierce @ Esquire:
Worked as a pollworker in yesterday’s elections.
Now locally, there was pretty much nothing on the ballot — a nonpartisan City Council election. Two open seats, only one of which had a candidate, so the other was filled via writein. That meant a lot of extra work for us pollworkers to close things out, but it was overall a slow day.
If you have any worries at all about the mechanics of elections, I *strongly* recommend you try working the polls. It is very affirming to see the process in action, and to work together with other people in your community to make everything function fairly. It’s a 15 hour day, but I always come away energized from seeing local democracy in action.
Signed up to be a poll worker this year after volunteering as a poll watcher for years. Besides being mostly bored, I too was very impressed by the efforts of the workers to ensure everyone got a chance to vote. It IS encouraging!
Thank you for being a poll worker.
We held our three Supreme Court seats in Pennsylvania. The SC has been a bulwark for Democratic principles in PA, with mixed results. If they will now allow Philadelphia to pass sensible gun regulation, preserve abortion rights, and protect open and fair elections, please, I will be ecstatic.
It was 61/39 in favor of retention- not close, a lot of spending for naught on this one.
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In suburban Minnesota, just school board elections and some local initiatives on the ballot. Excellent turnout and we kept the one Trumper candidate off the school board! Minneapolis mayoral election still being counted but looks like Jacob Frey may have held on against Omar Fateh, a far left candidate. Frey, of course, was mayor during the George Floyd riots and was thought to be in jeopardy. People here are fired up and ready for more No Kings rallies and the beginning of the end of the Trump era!
Virginia; blue
In Virginia, an interesting finding. With about a third of the votes counted, they showed governors race result’s for some red counties that went heavily for Trump. The republican candidate, winsome-searles, got almost as many votes as trump. Spanberger got about 3% more votes than Harris did. To me, that means that more voters were ok voting for a white female than a brown one. Interesting!
You neglected to mention turnout. Maybe that played a role?
Yes, that’s part of the point. Better turnout because more voters were excited about spanberger, or at least not turned off by her. Voter turnout was poor in the 2024 election I think because some people stayed home rather than vote for the brown woman. Just my opinion.
I think that might be a little simplistic. The problem in 2024 might have been more ‘woman’ than ‘brown,’ because Hilary lost the same way Kamala did: up in the polls, but down in the actual voting. (Not that being brown isn’t a factor, we all know that prejudice also plays a part.) But since two women were running the difference here might be about race, but not in exactly the way you’re suggesting: After everything that’s happened in the last year, what reasonable Black person would vote for a Black Trump supporter rather than a White Democrat? Was some part of that three percent Black people changing sides?
But I do see a bit of good news in this. People voted for the face-eating leopard, but after a year of getting their faces gnawed on, maybe decided to vote for the not-leopard party, and that might also play into the numbers. So maybe a combination of prejudiced White voters preferring the Democrat, people with facial wounds changing sides, and Black voters rejecting a Black Trumpist?
I guess you haven’t been following what’s been going on in Virginia. This had nothing to do with preferring a white woman to a Black one. It was a huge Democratic sweep. Spanberger won by 13 points. The Democratic ticket was (since I guess identity matters to you ): white woman for governor, Asian – American Muslim woman for lieutenant governor, and Black man for attorney general ( who won by 4 points despite the scandal of his appalling text messages – a lot of us swallowed our disgust and voted for him because it was so important not to have a Trump-loving AG). Winsome Earle-Sears (not “ winsome-searles”) ran a poor campaign – she barely campaigned at all, even avoiding traditional Republican venues like business groups. Her big issue was anti – transgender; she downplayed the massive layoffs in the federal government (which is a huge issue here, affecting tens of thousands of Virginians), by saying “Everyone loses a job sometime.”
The Democrats also picked up 12 seats in the House of Delegates, cementing what had been a very narrow majority. Spanberger ran a tight, excellent campaign, which culminated in a joint appearance with Barack Obama in Norfolk. She won all the cities in Virginia, all of northern VA (of course, since they have been hardest hit by Trump cuts), the Richmond area, the Norfolk/Newport News/Hampton Roads area, and my own Albemarle County (where Charlottesville is – Charlottesville went over 80% for Spanberger). The Republican strongholds are in less populous southwestern and central VA (except Albemarle) and rural areas generally.
This was a. HUGE repudiation of Trump and Republican politics and a bright ray of hope for Virginians hit hard by Trump’s politics. celebrate!
Georgia, I can’t improve on your excellent summary of our state’s return to blue. I just want to add that Abigail Spanberger has excellent credentials for the job she is to undertake.
She was a CIA agent for 8 years, and her duties included working here and overseas on terror threats and nuclear proliferation.
She decided to run for the US Congress because, among other reasons, the Republican Rep, (a Republican from a very red area in Virginia) voted against the American Health Care Act, and she felt she had to step up.
She was elected to the US Congress, bringing all the above knowledge and experience with her. She also had great concern for those who were facing bankruptcy due to medical bills. She won a narrow victory, and had won 2 more times when she decided to run for governor in the 2025 race, and so did not run for a 4th term.
I won’t go into all of her accomplishments or the many ways she was able to work with others, but really, I agree with you that this was not a situation where the vote question was “Do I want a white or a black female?”
She is highly competent and I am proud to have given her my enthusiastic vote.
“Steps on to soap-box”… Correlation is not causation.
“Steps off of soap-box”…
Maine voted down efforts to restrict early voting and for a “red flag law” that will make it easier to take guns from mentally ill folks. 60/40 votes.
Final results:
Absentee voting shutdown loses 64/36
Gun restrictions for mental illness wins 63/37
That’s approaching 2/1 drubbings!
In our town those were the only items on the ballot. Shortest voting experience of my life.
Trump Is an Albatross
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/opinion/trump-mamdani-spanberger-sherrill-democrats.html Jamelle Bouie Nov. 5, 2025, 5:02 a.m. ET
GIFT Link here:
https://bsky.app/profile/jamellebouie.net/post/3m4v4nnsyy22c
November 5, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Part of me wonders how the justices will view last night’s election results when deciding todays tarrif case. Does Clarence really want to expand executive power when the voters seem to be pushing back against it?
If the Court doesn’t rein him in, there’s a real possibility of a trifecta in 2028 and with the current momentum, I could see moves toward court expansion, DC and Puerto Rico statehood, and other progressive priorities. Would the justices really want to risk empowering the president to continue his reckless streak, almost guaranteeing a blue wave and potential changes to the Court’s structure?
At some point, self-preservation might kick in. They probably don’t want to lose the comfortable setup they enjoy now. They may not get the fancy RV anymore, just a used version from one of those 1-800-RV rental places as their “gifts.”
You Winsome you lose some.
(Groan! Sorry but somebody had to say it.)
In Montgomery County PA as I cast my ballot I asked the worker “Is this a Dominion machine?” and he said it was. I said “Good!” and he said “Oh, you’re one of the few people who like them.” Sigh.
i almost feel sorry for Winsome, who might’ve been so naive as to have thought she had our donald in her corner.
lying perv — everything he touches dies.
The only cloud for me last night is that my candidate for VA House of Delegates (D) lost after an early lead. County voters were solid red. City mostly blue. The Commonwealth’s Attorney race went to the R incumbent but she has not been noticeably partisan.
Not even close: Mikie Sherrill dominates governor’s race on fantastic night for N.J. Dems https://newjerseyglobe.com/governor/not-even-close-mikie-sherrill-dominates-governors-race-on-fantastic-night-for-n-j-dems/ Joey Fox, November 05 2025 2:41 am
And, Murphy [2018-2026] was the first two term Democratic Governor
since Brandan Byrne [1974-1982].
Brendan [not Brandon] Byrne. uggg
Election trivia:
https://bsky.app/profile/newsguy.bsky.social/post/3m4typudbg32o
November 4, 2025 at 9:26 PM
I couldn’t do my usual poll work in Detroit (work got in the way) but my husband went. He said steady turnout and first woman mayor for Detroit.
I’m very pleased about last night.
Neither Schumer, Booker, or Jeffries endorsed Mamdani. These guys better move left and stat, or face being primaried.
I’m done with corporate Democrat AIPAC-loving centrists.
Jeffries, at least, gave Mamdani a very tepid endorsement a couple of weeks ago.
Texted this to our son in Brooklyn last night:
Excellent news! Congratulations.
Now the hard work starts.
Shame on Cuomo for being an ass and Schumer for being a cowardly weasel.
Looks like a great showing for Dems across the board.
Mamdani’s acceptance speech was awesome – well worth a listen.
The speech was excellent.
Dems should make a note of it.
Local and local-adjacent results from Seattle:
Like everywhere else, it was a bad night for Republicans. Our Republican City Attorney got booted to the curb, and our very-moderate-but-still-a-Dem City Councilmember was likewise tossed. Republicans lost badly in special legislative elections in the suburbs. That included a couple who were Never-Trumpers and were hoping to stage a comeback for the Republican Party. It’s hard to see a way out of the political wilderness for Rs in this state, at least until the national party changes.
The only fly in the ointment was that our more progressive choice for mayor (Katie Wilson) is trailing by 7 in Election Night returns. There’s still hope–liberal voters in Seattle tend to vote later and so the later vote counts skew leftward. Wilson increased her lead in the primary by 8 points from the first ballot drop to the final results, so it’s definitely possible she’ll win this time. Wilson’s opponent is an all-around dick who spent the entire campaign dissing her in various personal ways. He also benefited from ~$2M in outside spending, I think largely because those donors saw the other races as lost causes after the primary.
Next vote drop today 4 PM (local time?). Past history suggests these should skew left, as you pointed out. Fingers crossed.
As an open thread, I’ll just say that, regarding the SCt’s hearing on Trump’s tariffs, SG John Sauer seems to confuse a rapid delivery, combative demeanor, and a voice that makes Bob Kennedy’s sound melifluous, with persuasive legal arguments. He has the demeanor of a street corner bully.
As if Sauer’s personal charms will be enough to get around Article I, Section 8:
This one’s for Ginevra:
https://bsky.app/profile/taniel.bsky.social/post/3m4vc5pojak2o
November 5, 2025 at 9:47 AM
We elected a Democratic mayor in Hamden, CT (New Haven county) as well. New Haven re-elected their D mayor.
Branford, CT also flip from R to D for First Selectman.
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In CT 29 town flipped from a Republican Mayor to a Democratic Mayor. Only one flipped the other way.
CT has 169 cities and town with no unincorporated sections of the State. Flipping 29 is a true landslide election.
More good news: Colorado votes to tax the rich to feed the kids.
https://bsky.app/profile/apnews.com/post/3m4u4hkqh6t2f
November 4, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Marcy, this morning:
https://bsky.app/profile/emptywheel.bsky.social/post/3m4v725u6zc23
November 5, 2025 at 8:51 AM
Olufemi O. Taiwo last night:
https://bsky.app/profile/olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social/post/3m4u2b2uixs2j
November 4, 2025 at 9:53 PM
State charges, oh please.
Via Heather Cox Richardson, for those who haven’t seen it:
“Tonight, legal scholar John Pfaff wrote: ‘Every race. It’s basically been every race. Governors. Mayors. Long-held [Republican] dog-catchers. School boards. Water boards. Flipped a dungeon master in a rural Iowa D&D club. State senators. State reps. A janitor in Duluth. State justices. Three [Republican] Uber drivers. Just everything.'”
You know how hard it is to change an entrenched DM? Unheard of!
Have you noticed that Trump only wins elections when he’s NOT governing?
At a civic / good government level I was bummed that we had to resort to Prop 50, but I had no qualms supporting it as a tactical move. Gotta fight fire with fire.
Agree, it hurt to bubble in that Yes box but as Gov Newsom said, Don’t poke the bear. I did hear that there is a lawsuit from the California GOP as of Wednesday morning.
I think Prop 50 was the only thing up for approval that was purely to “stick it to Trump” and his future designs on the office, country and world. And I said ‘f-ck yeah, count me the f-ck in!!’ But when I saw on my ballot that 50 was the only thing on it I thought ‘holy sh-t, California is going for it big time.’ As a proud native Californian I’ve never been prouder of my state (and governor). ‘F-ck yeah!!’
From Democracy Docket:
GOP Immediately Sues to Block California’s Voter-Approved Congressional Map https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/gop-immediately-sues-to-block-californias-voter-approved-congressional-map/ Jen Rice November 5, 2025
There’s a link to the lawsuit in the first paragraph.
It’s the wrong solution for the problem, which is the voters in those districts. LaMalfa, McClintock, and Kiley should be voted out based on their performance, without having to gerrymander the state.
Prop 50 was the height of democracy in action. The people of a state large enough to make a difference were asked to set aside their long fought for redistricting panels to fight for equal representation in the country and the people agreed. People in TX weren’t asked. Nor in any other redistricted red state.
Good job California.
It’ a straight-up gerrymander, not unlike those in red states. And we voted for the nonpartisan commission to AVOID this kind of crap, which we’d had before. The few Rs elected to congress from California are, in fact, representing their districts, however poorly they’re doing it.
(I’ve been voting, in California, nearly as long as Newsom has been alive.)
I’m also a CA voter, and I note that unlike the red states who finagled redistricting within their already gerrymandered legislatures, CA has authorized it by the same mechanism that created the redistricting commission in the first place: by initiative statute. This is not unusual to modify initiatives with another initiative (i.e. see how Prop 13 has been modified to make it more sane or the odious Prop 187 was rescinded).
With the passage of Prop. 50, I am being reassigned from Tom McClintock’s congressional district to Doris Matsui’s district – they needed to add red territory to her district to offset the urban voters that were reassigned to turn Kevin Kiley’s district blue. I could not be happier, though it’s disappointing that my county as a whole voted more solidly against 50 than it did for Trump in ‘24.
It was a pretty clean sweep of the GOP, which will set up choices for them for 2026. Will they continue the redistricting gambit with what appears to be a real risk of losing seats because their demographic margins were reduced? Or will they go with the suppression gambit to prevent the ‘wrong people’ from voting? I think we’ll see more frantic and under-the-radar efforts for the latter option.
Or, Convict-1 may declare yet another fact free but convenient ’emergency’ and call off the election. Never mind that elections have been held during wars since the beginning, including in 1862 and 1864 with a real-live insurrection in progress. The SCOTUS Six will have a hard time ignoring that fact, but IIRC Shrub (well, Fourth Branch Cheney…) tried to call off 2004 for that reason until he was shamed out of it.
I think even SCCOTUS will have a hard time ignoring that states are in charge of elections, not the federal government, and have been since the first elections in colonial times.
I would normally agree, but remember the SCOTUS Six prevented CO from kicking Convict-1 off the ballot for his J6 antics because it was about federal offices (IIRC). The majority therefore has its template to overrule any state control issue.
Another possibility is present, where the GOP challenges every D win and throws everything to the House, assuming of course that Johnson allows the House back in session. He may not if the 2026 elections wipe out the GOP majority to prevent swearing in the next Congress. The constitutionality of that action is dubious, but I’m not aware of an explicit prohibition.
I also think the nation will not tolerate election cancellation or seating shenanigans. I don’t know what form the protests will take, but I expect it will be peaceful on our side, like how Gandhi removed the Viceroy of India.
If Dems take the majority in Congress and Johnson tries to prevent them from meeting, well… the new Congress meets *anyway* but possibly not on site, Jefferies (or whoever else) is elected Speaker, and the Speaker orders Johnson evicted if necessary. And then it just matters who the Capitol Police listen to, and I don’t think it’s Johnson in that scenario.
The redistricting gambit is interesting. If you try to maximize the number of seats that your party will likely win (based on prior election results) by creating a large number of somewhat competitive districts (but where your side has an edge based on voting characteristics), you run the risk that a large wave in favor of the other side might wipe out that edge and flip more seats to the other side of the aisle than would have happened if you had not engaged in redistricting.
Good headline from Josh Marshall:
DC Conventional Wisdom Goes Down to Defeat in State after State
People Vote. People Spoke. People Power.
Maybe Spanberger’s name moves into the mix for 2028?
Possible, but let’s see how things go in VA.
I live in California. Six Republicans Representatives (Young Kim, Kevin Kiley, Doug LaMalfa, Darrell Issa, David Valadao and Ken Calvert ) will probably lose their seats in 2026 now that Prop 50 has passed. They are now free agents who have no hope of getting elected again until after the 2030 cycle. The same will be true for some Democratic Representatives in GOP states. Given their prospects are not tied to their parties anymore, how will they vote in the short term left to them in the House? When trump started the gerrymander rat race, I doubt he thought about the consequences.
I’m a New Yorker whose happiness at the election returns is tempered by a couple of things: First, my disappointment at Mamdani’s victory speech, which I thought was unnecessarily bellicose and snubbed a large part of his constituency. Second, the NYC ballot initiatives 2,3 and 4, which take decision-making authority on land use issues away from City Council and local boards, were the result of a full-court press by Adams and the real estate lobby. They are bad news for neighborhoods across the city.
I’m sorry, but I forgot what I called myself the last time I posted here.
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Synopsis of results, fyi:
“NYC voters faced 6 ballot questions this election. They only said ‘no’ to one” – 11/5/25
https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/politics/nyc-ballot-proposal-results-yes-no-housing-city-map/6414513/
If nothing else, we now have a good estimate of the incorrigible MAGAs: 35-40 percent of the electorate. That’s how many voted for the political troglodyte candidates and propositions (like ME’s voter restriction question).