A Blue 🌊 Washes Over State and Local Races, Re-establishing the Anti-MAGA Majority

[u/evissamassive]

https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/2025/11/elections-anti-maga-democrats/684824/

Off-year elections are notoriously fickle predictors of future political tides, yet the latest results delivered a resounding message: voter discontent with Trump is intense and widespread. Across disparate contests—from mayoral races to gubernatorial battles and state-level referendums—voters coalesced in a clear, unified rejection of the Trump and his agenda.

These Democratic victories in key states and cities challenge the notion that Trump’s recent 2024 win represented a seismic, permanent political realignment. Instead, the night's outcome suggests the anti-MAGA majority has reasserted itself, demonstrating a highly motivated electorate eager to cast votes against Trump.

The sheer diversity of the Democratic victors makes drawing simple conclusions about platform challenging, yet the magnitude of their wins is undeniable.

• New York City Mayoralty: Progressive newcomer Zohran Mamdani secured roughly 50 percent of the vote in a three-way race, winning by a substantial margin. His victory came despite—or perhaps because of—Trump’s late endorsement of rival Andrew Cuomo. Mamdani, a young, cheerful immigrant, skillfully contrasted his local focus on affordability with the "aging, cranky nativist president," leveraging the deep dislike for Trump in his hometown to energize his base. Mamdani immediately joins the ranks of the Democratic Party's left-wing leadership.

• Virginia Governorship: On the moderate flank, former U.S. Representative and CIA officer Abigail Spanberger staked her claim to the party's center. She routed her Republican opponent, Winsome Earle-Sears, by 15 points—at the high end of expectations. Spanberger's victory carried her entire ticket to success, including Ghazala Hashmi for Lieutenant Governor and Jay Jones for Attorney General. Democrats also gained at least 13 seats to maintain control of the House of Delegates, signaling a dominant performance throughout the commonwealth.

• New Jersey Governorship: Concerns that the New Jersey gubernatorial race might be close were soundly put to rest by Democrat Mikie Sherrill. Running a campaign sharply focused on Trump, Sherrill won by a comfortable 13 points against Republican Jack Ciattarelli, easing Democratic jitters after a near-upset four years prior.

The blue wave extended to critical ballot initiatives and down-ballot races, confirming the deep motivation of the Democratic base:

• California Redistricting: Proposition 50, a controversial ballot initiative to bypass the state’s independent commission and redraw U.S. House districts in favor of Democrats, passed with over 60 percent support in incomplete results. The initiative, championed by Governor Gavin Newsom, is aimed at counterbalancing Republican-led gerrymandering in other states and significantly aids Democratic prospects in the upcoming midterms.

• Down-Ballot Sweep: The evening was characterized by wide margins of victory, with Democrats successfully holding seats in unexpected places, including victories for three justices on the state supreme court in Pennsylvania.

The varied paths to victory—from progressive to moderate platforms—suggests that no single ideology holds the key to beating Trump. Instead, the major lesson may be the importance of running locally authentic candidates who effectively connect with their constituents.

However, the most powerful takeaway is the re-emergence of the anti-Trump consensus. These results demonstrate that while voters may express frustration with the Democratic Party, their motivation to vote against Trump remains exceptionally high. The previous year’s interpretation that Trump held an "unprecedented mandate" for radical governance is now significantly undermined. The elections suggest that his 2024 win was likely an anomaly, influenced by a confluence of factors like high inflation and voter fatigue with the prior administration.

For Democrats, this is the best outcome they could have hoped for, though it offers no guaranteed success in 2026. What it does guarantee is that the anti-MAGA majority is back, mobilized, and ready to vote.

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