The socialist Zohran Mamdani34 years old, was the protagonist of one of the most significant triumphs of the Democrats in the Trump era. This is basically because the tycoon He had been directly involved in the campaign to seek to prevent the victory of the young Muslim of Ugandan origin, even supporting his rival. Andrew Cuomo.
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SEE ALSO: Who is Zohran Mamdani, the socialist candidate who won the election for Mayor of New York?
Mamdani will be the next mayor of New York after winning by 10 points over former Democratic Governor Cuomo, who ran as an independent; and the Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.
New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani celebrates during an election night event at the Paramount Theater in Brooklyn, November 4, 2025. (Photo by Angelina Katsanis / AFP).
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Mamdani’s victory was not the only important one for Democrats.
In Virginiathe democrat Abigail Spanberger won the governorship against Republican Winsome Earle-Sears by more than 10 points. It was the most resounding victory for a Democrat in the state’s recent history.
In New Jerseythe democrat Mike Sherrill He defeated Republican Jack Ciattarelli.
While in Californiavoters approved a redistricting ballot measure aimed at boosting Democrats’ chances in next year’s election for control of the House of Representatives.
Californians cast their votes at a Los Angeles center on November 4, 2025, where Proposition 50 was the only measure on the ballot. (Photo by Frederic J. BROWN / AFP).
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After knowing the results, trump He reacted publicly on his Truth Social platform. He said “the reason” for the Republican defeats was because he was not on the ballot. and that he government shutdownwhich this Wednesday set a record as the longest in history, It had a negative impact on his party.
In fact, it seems that the republicans face a serious challenge, because when the figure of trump is not directly on the ballot, the party appears to be losing momentum.
On Wednesday, Trump acknowledged that Republicans have “learned a lot” after the Democratic victories.
“Last night, as you know, a victory was not expected. They were very Democratic areas, but I don’t think it was good for the Republicans. In fact, I don’t think it was good for anyone. But we had an interesting night and we learned a lot”he said in a meeting before senators of his party at the White House.
The reasons for the Republican defeat
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, delivers a speech during breakfast with Republican senators in the State Dining Room of the White House on November 5, 2025. (EFE/EPA/YURI GRIPAS).
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What other reasons contributed to the defeat of trump and your party and what does the good performance of the Democrats mean for the 2026 midterm elections?
Midterm elections are scheduled for Tuesday, November 3, 2026. In them the 435 seats in the House of Representatives and a third of the seats of the Senate. Republicans currently dominate both chambers.
For the international analyst Francesco Tucci, Although the November 4 elections were local in nature, their political reading has been national, since Trump himself turned these elections into a kind of plebiscite on his first year of his second term, and the result ended up working against him.
Tucci states that in a context marked by the prolonged closure of the federal government and an ultra-conservative agenda, The urban vote mobilized massively against the former president. He points out that cities like New York They recorded the highest participation in decades among young people and minorities, sectors with little affinity with the republican discourse. It highlights that The victory of Democrat Zohran Mamdani is an inclusive and progressive message, and? it reflected the erosion of Trump’s polarizing speech.
“The election has further polarized the urban vote against Trumpism and its ultra-conservative agenda”explains Tucci to The Commerce. “Himself trump attributed the Republican defeat to the closure of the federal government and its absence on the ballot as key factors, something that has also generated demotivation in the Republican base and has facilitated the mobilization of Democrats,” manifests.
However, the analyst emphasizes that It would be a mistake to consider these results as a definitive national trend. “New York is a historically Democratic city. We cannot yet affirm that Americans are punishing Trumpism at the federal level. “We have to wait for the 2026 midterm elections to know if this local wave consolidates as a national trend.”he indicates.
For his part, the international analyst Francisco Belaunde Matossian It also highlights that although the elections were local, their political reading transcends the states.
According to Belaunde, the results express a national message: confirmation of a clear rejection of Trump which was already being reflected in the surveys, where Its popularity registers a sustained decline.
“Trump’s fall in the polls comes from before the shutdown,” Belaunde maintains when referring to the Republican’s message after the results. In his opinion, the frustration of many voters, including former supporters, has more to do with the lack of tangible results from his management and with unpopular decisions like the refusal to finance food aid programs for millions of low-income people.
The analyst also points out that The elections do not necessarily reflect a structural victory for the Democratswhich also face internal divisions. He gave as an example the triumph in New York of the progressive Mamdaniwhom he describes as a “left-wing populist””, which contrasts with the more moderate profiles of the Democratic winners in Virginia and New Jersey.
“For Democrats, the challenge between now and the 2026 legislative elections will be to articulate a coherent discourse that manages to unite these two currents: the progressive and the centrist,” write down.
Change of strategy for 2026?
A sign informs visitors that the US Capitol Visitor Center is closed due to the federal government shutdown, Nov. 4, 2025. (Photo by Mandel NGAN / AFP).
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About what’s coming for the republicans in 2026, Tucci maintains that The political future of Trump and his party will depend largely on the economy. “The average American voter doesn’t care about foreign policy, they care about inflation, jobs, the cost of living. If the economy doesn’t improve, Trump’s wear and tear will be inevitable,” points out.
Tucci says that despite Tuesday’s results, The president seems determined to maintain the political-partisan leadership. “Trump is a self-centered leader. “He will want to transform the legislative elections into another plebiscite on his figure,” explains. But this strategy, he adds, entails a risk because in the event of defeat it will be interpreted that citizens actually voted against him.
Warn that If Republicans lose control of Congress, Trump’s second term could be paralyzed. “He would be a lame duck president, forced to agree with a Democratic majority.”
For Belaunde, facing 2026, Republican leaders face a strategic dilemma: if they distance themselves from Trump, they risk being punished by his base; But if they remain under its influence, they could continue to lose ground among moderate voters.
“It is a very fragile balance. Many Republican congressmen are afraid to challenge him because Trump can finance primary rivals. But at the same time, following their line is no longer a guarantee of electoral success.”emphasizes Belaunde.
All in all, the American political board is entering a phase of readjustment: while the Democrats seek to unify their message, the Republicans will have to decide if their future lies in maintaining Trumpism or trying to overcome it.
