Copyright NBC10 Boston
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey on Wednesday called Democratic wins across the country in this week's elections "a resounding rejection of Donald Trump," while the president suggested that he learned a lot but wasn't sure if the results were "good for anybody." New Jersey voters elected four-term congresswoman and Democrat Mikie Sherrill, who ran against Trump-endorsed Republican Jack Ciattarelli, as governor. In Virginia, Democrat Abigail Spanberger was chosen by voters and will serve as the state's first female governor. "The results yesterday, across the board — it's a referendum on Donald Trump. People are not happy with how he's handling the economy. They're not happy about the fact that under his presidency, prices continue to go up," Healey told reporters in Back Bay after an unrelated event. "People struggle with affordability all around this country, and he hasn't delivered on what he promised to and that's what last night was about." Healey added that she's "Really excited, especially as a governor and as somebody who supported Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill, I'm really excited to see them elected in Virginia and New Jersey, and I look forward to working with them." California voters passed a ballot initiative Tuesday backed by Democrats and Gov. Gavin Newsom, labeled as a response against Congressional redistricting done in Texas by Republicans and Trump. New York City voters elected Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old assemblyman who identifies as a democratic socialist, as mayor. "After last night's results, the decision facing all Americans could not be more clear. We have a choice between communism and common sense," Trump told a crowd Wednesday in Miami at the American Business Forum. "If you want to see what Congressional Democrats wish to do to America just look at the result of yesterday's election in New York, where their party installed a communist as the mayor of the largest city in the nation," Trump said. He has often referred to Mamdani as a "communist." Asked by "Boston Public Radio" host Margery Eagan about the differences in Democrat candidates who won across the country, and if there is "a battle here between both sides, for the soul of the Democratic party," Healey replied, "There's no battle." "Those are pundits and others who are self interested in creating the specter of some battle. Look, the Democratic Party — it's a big tent," Healey said, dubbing affordability as a "throughline" issue in Tuesday's elections. Healey also offered her view of the election results for Republicans while looking ahead to the 2026 elections that come at the midpoint of Trump's second term. "It's pretty clear what's happening," Healey said. "Your boss, your leader in chief, is taking you all down, taking you all down, and you got midterms next year. Read the room. This isn't working for people." Voters cast their ballots this week in the midst of the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history. Congressional Democrats and Republicans have been in a stalemate for 36 days, unable to pass a spending resolution and leaving federal programs running out of funds and federal workers furloughed and unpaid. "Last night I think, if you read the pollsters — the shutdown was a big factor for Republicans," Trump told Senate Republicans at a breakfast Wednesday. "They say that I wasn't on the ballot was the biggest factor." "Exactly one year ago we had that big beautiful victory," Trump said. "Last night, it was not expected to be a victory. It was very Democrat areas. I don't think it was good for Republicans — I don't think it was good, I'm not sure it was good for anybody. But we had an interesting evening and we learned a lot."
