Copyright Salt Lake City Deseret News
Democrats notched some major electoral wins on Tuesday in a handful of blue states, not only handing them power but also injecting some much-needed enthusiasm that the party has been lacking since President Donald Trump won last November. To recap: Democrats won the governors’ races in Virginia and New Jersey, the mayoral race in New York City, and passed an initiative to alter the congressional map in California to give them an advantage in 2026. It was a sweeping win for Democrats across the board — and it’s getting them thinking about what worked (and perhaps what didn’t) as they hope to flip control of Congress next year. Their takeaway so far? Trump is dragging Republicans. “I think it is fair to say that last night’s election from coast to coast was a sweeping indictment and condemnation of Trumpism,” Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., told reporters on Wednesday. “And one of the reasons for that is people understand that right now, their health care premiums under the Affordable Care Act are going to double, and in my state, in some cases, triple and quadruple. People understand that 15 million people will be thrown off of Medicaid.” The results of that condemnation were clear in Virginia, home to thousands of federal workers impacted by the administration’s job cuts and the government shutdown. All but five of the state’s 95 counties shifted to the left compared to how they voted in 2024, propelling Democrats to win the governor, attorney general and lieutenant governor races — and to grow the party’s majority in the House of Delegates from 51 to 64 seats. Several Democratic senators told me they think Tuesday’s elections have made clear what they need to hammer Republicans on: the economy. “The American public wants people to solve problems, to address the prices, the grocery store, clothing, all of the above, and meet them where they are,” Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev., said on Wednesday. “Republicans who are in control in this administration are not doing any of that.” That message, Masto said, would appeal to a wide range of voter demographics, including those that were crucial to Trump’s win last year. Exit polls from Tuesday proved that voters consistently said the economy and affordability were top concerns. House Democrats are also feeling bullish, pointing to this week’s wins as evidence they are in prime position to flip the lower chamber out of GOP control next year. “Democrats have all of the momentum in the world,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said on Wednesday. “Republicans woke up this morning and realized that they are no longer in a 2024 electoral environment.” Some Democrats even saw Tuesday as a referendum on Trump’s agenda. California Gov. Gavin Newsom celebrated historic voter turnout for one ballot item, Proposition 50, which combatted the GOP efforts to pick up House seats in next year’s election. The turnout, Newsom argued, was a message to Trump following months of protests to the administration’s actions. Exit polls show Californians were angry with Trump over immigration and the National Guard, backing up the governor’s point. Still, the moment may send mixed messages to Democratic leaders about where the party should head before the midterms. A Democratic socialist won in New York, but in Virginia and New Jersey, centrist Democrats took home the election victory. It leaves questions about which campaign messages Democrats will adopt for themselves next year. What are Republicans thinking about the off-year elections? Long story short: Hold your horses. “There were no surprises on Tuesday night. You had blue states and blue cities that voted blue to the alarm of no one, to the surprise of no one,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said. “It just so happened that New York and New Jersey and Virginia were the states that were in the national spotlight on Tuesday. If the tables had been turned … we would have an entirely different narrative that you all would be writing about.” Trump weighed in during a Wednesday morning breakfast with Senate Republicans, both admitting that the results weren’t great for the GOP but also brushing aside real concerns. “I don’t think it was good for Republicans,” he said. “I don’t think it’s good.” He also added that the government shutdown likely added to the party’s losses — and the fact that he wasn’t on the ballot. But regardless of how you interpret the results of Tuesday’s races, it sets the stage for how parties will approach the midterm cycle — which officially begins now. Stories Driving the Week Grand exit: Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi won’t run for reelection next year, bringing an end to a decadeslong career where she made history as the first woman to lead the House of Representatives and served as one of the most powerful voices in the Democratic Party. Filibuster frenzy: Some Senate Republicans who once rejected any future in which the filibuster was toppled are now embracing the prospect after President Donald Trump warned it was the only way to advance their agenda without Democratic obstruction. Ground stop: Salt Lake City International Airport is among the 40 major airports forecasting a 10% reduction in flights, according to NBC News and The Associated Press. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the cuts on Wednesday as the latest impact from the shutdown. Deseret News launches ‘Deseret Voices’ podcast The Deseret News is starting a podcast! The show will post weekly video and audio episodes bringing depth, nuance and respect to conversations about today’s most complex topics and current events. Each episode features an interview led by one of the hosts with high-profile newsmakers, politicians, advocates and experts with extensive backgrounds in the issues that are dominating our societal, political and cultural conversations. Meet your hosts: McKay Coppins and Jane Clayson Johnson. Jane has spent more than three decades reporting at the highest levels of American journalism. Her award-winning work has taken her around the globe, as an anchor and correspondent at CBS News, ABC News, and at WBUR in Boston, where she has earned a reputation for depth, empathy and clarity. Jane is the bestselling author of two books and a sought-after public speaker. McKay is a staff writer at The Atlantic, where he focuses on national politics, religion and American life. He is also the author of the book “Romney: A Reckoning” and “The Wilderness,” and has received multiple awards for his journalism. Episodes will be released every Thursday and you can find them on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, the Deseret News YouTube channel and at Deseret.com/podcasts. Video clips of interviews will be posted on the Deseret News social media channels including YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and X. Quick Hits From the Hill: Trump warns Republicans their shutdown strategy cost them on election night. … Will Congress’ new backup plan end the shutdown? … Off-year elections coincide with longest shutdown record. From the White House: Trump celebrates capitalism following democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani’s win in NYC. … Record number of Trump Cabinet members now living on military bases. … 3 takeaways from Trump’s ’60 Minutes’ interview. From the courts: Supreme Court to consider Trump’s tariff authority. … Supreme Court appears skeptical of Trump’s tariff defense. … Judge bars Trump from deploying National Guard to Portland until at least Friday. What’s next The Senate could stay in session over the weekend to finalize a deal to reopen the government, although those plans are fluid. The House could return if the Senate manages to pass a new spending resolution, but that will depend on whether the vote on Friday morning is successful.
