NEW YORK---
Former U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger defeated Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears to become Virginia's first female governor, while Democratic Representative Mikie Sherrill beat Trump-backed Jack Ciattarelli in New Jersey's gubernatorial election. In New York City, self-proclaimed democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani secured victory in the closely watched mayoral race.
The victories provide Democrats with momentum heading into the 2026 midterm elections and represent what political analysts describe as a referendum on President Donald Trump's economic policies and education agenda.
In her victory speech Tuesday night in Richmond, Spanberger told supporters that Virginia chose "pragmatism over partisanship" and promised to "focus relentlessly" on "lowering costs, keeping our communities safe and strengthening our economy for every Virginian"
Spanberger's education platform places significant emphasis on higher education affordability and support for historically Black colleges and universities. Her plan calls for making college more affordable and accessible for Virginia students, directing the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia to monitor efficiency efforts, and ensuring institutions meet their responsibility to provide opportunity for Pell-eligible and first-generation students
The governor-elect's higher education agenda also includes continued support for Virginia's G3 and Fast Forward workforce programs, streamlining state financial aid by combining the Virginia Guaranteed Assistance Program and Commonwealth Award grants, and maintaining VTAG scholarships for students at private Virginia colleges
"Virginia has the best community colleges, public and private four-year universities, and higher education centers in the country," Spanberger stated during her campaign, according to her education plan. She emphasized the critical role these institutions play in Virginia's economy as major employers and drivers of business investment.
The Virginia Democrat's victory comes as the state faces significant challenges in education recovery. A recent Education Recovery Scorecard report from Harvard University's Center for Education Policy Research and Stanford University's Educational Opportunity Project ranked Virginia 51st in the nation for math recovery between 2019 and 2024 and 41st in reading recovery
In New Jersey, Sherrill's victory ensures continued Democratic control of a state that has shown signs of shifting rightward in recent years. In her victory speech, Sherrill invoked New Jersey's state motto of "liberty and prosperity," stating that "liberty alone is not enough if the government makes it impossible for you to feed your family, to get a good education or to get a good job" .
Sherrill's election delivers a sharp rebuke to Republicans who hoped to uproot the state's school funding formula, expand the charter school sector, and launch a private school voucher program. Throughout her campaign, the congresswoman pledged to invest in tutoring, student mental health, and equity in schools
Sherrill has criticized the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education, calling it a "huge issue," and pledged to "claw back" federal education funding for the state. She has also called for updating New Jersey's school funding formula to ensure greater equity among districts.
In New York City, Mamdani's historic victory as the city's youngest mayor in more than a century and first Muslim mayor brings a progressive vision for public higher education. The 34-year-old democratic socialist has campaigned on dramatic reforms for the City University of New York system, which serves 240,000 students
Mamdani has advocated for restoring free tuition at CUNY through what supporters call the REPAIR Act, which would require amending the New York State Constitution. His platform emphasizes addressing affordability challenges that have made CUNY increasingly inaccessible to working-class New Yorkers.
The mayor-elect has also proposed a $12 million plan to recruit 1,000 teachers annually by offering tuition assistance to those who commit to teaching in city schools for three years, addressing both K-12 and higher education workforce needs.
However, Mamdani faces significant challenges in implementing his higher education agenda. The mayor has limited direct power over CUNY funding, which comes from both city and state budgets, and would need cooperation from Governor Kathy Hochul and the State Legislature.
Exit polls found that in all four major contests—the governors' races in Virginia and New Jersey, the New York mayor's race and California's Proposition 50 battle—voters said the economy was the most important issue, and they sided with Democrats overwhelmingly
The Democratic victories come at a time when outgoing Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin suggested the government shutdown had a "major impact" on voting in his state, highlighting the influence of federal policies on state and local races.
Education advocates say the results signal strong public support for protecting and expanding access to public higher education, particularly for underrepresented students, amid uncertainty about federal education funding and policies under the Trump administration.
“Voters showed up in record numbers to send a message that they want leaders who will tackle the kitchen-table issues they face every day—from education to soaring housing and healthcare costs to the price of groceries, child care and college," said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, the union that represents 1.8 million educators, nurses and healthcare workers and federal, state, and local government officials.
She said the results are "a victory in our fight for opportunity, good public schools, safe neighborhoods and a life that working people can afford. Americans want and deserve leaders who work on behalf of their constituents, not themselves. The people, and democracy, won."
