Jens Asbjørn Bøgen
It’s safe to say that Tuesday’s election did not go the way Trump wanted.
2025 may not be an election year, but Tuesday still saw millions of Americans head to the voting stations.
New Jersey and Virginia both elected a governor, New York chose a new mayor, and California voted on redistricting the congressional map — potentially giving the state an additional five seats in the House of Representatives.
The results:
- Democrat Abigail Spanberger is the new governor of Virginia
- Democrat Mikie Sherrill is the new governor of New Jersey
- Democrat and self-declared socialist Zohran Mamdani is the new mayor of New York
- The redistricting of California’s congressional map was approved
Four elections, four major blows to Donald Trump — and the result in California, in particular, could prove a real headache for the President.
The midterms are coming
California voters’ decision to back a contentious ballot measure allowing Democrats to temporarily bypass the state’s independent redistricting commission could reshape the state’s political landscape ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The move gives Democrats a partial reprieve from the national disadvantage they face after Republican-led states — including Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina — approved new congressional maps favoring the GOP.
Texas alone could gain up to five additional Republican-held seats under its newly drawn districts.
Could tip the balance of power in the House
California currently sends 43 Democrats and nine Republicans to the U.S. House.
Analysts say the new maps could allow Democrats to gain up to five additional seats by redrawing boundaries in districts held by GOP representatives.
Republicans currently hold a majority in the House with 219 representatives to the Democrats’ 213.
Citing The Brookings Institution, BBC reports that since 1938, the party of the sitting president has lost seats in the House in 20 of the 22 midterm elections.
Election Rigging Response Act
California Gov. Gavin Newsom spearheaded the campaign for Proposition 50, accusing Trump and Republican leaders of “rigging” the upcoming elections through mid-decade redistricting.
Democrats titled the measure the Election Rigging Response Act, reflecting their argument that it was a direct counter to GOP tactics in other states.
It’s not over yet
The changes are expected to face legal scrutiny and political challenges, but they mark a significant moment in the national redistricting fight.
While the outcome could strengthen Democrats’ position in 2026, most of the targeted Republican incumbents have a record of surviving tough contests — and midterm dynamics often favor the party out of power.
Sources: NBC News, AP, Reuters
This article is made and published by Jens Asbjørn Bogen, who may have used AI in the preparation
