Former Democratic congresswoman Abigail Spanberger was elected governor of Virginia today, easily defeating Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears. In New Jersey, the Dems' Mikie Sherill likewise prevailed over Jack Ciattarelli, who conceded the race at about 10 p.m.
Democrats, in particular, campaigned hard in the commonwealth ahead of Tuesday's elections. Party heavyweights, including former President Barack Obama and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, held events with Spanberger in the closing days of the race.
In an ad urging voters to back Spanberger, Obama called Virginia's elections "some of the most important in the country this year." Obama won the commonwealth twice, in 2008 and 2012.
In Pennsylvania, meanwhile, voters retained three state Supreme Court justices on the ballot, preserving the liberal wing's 5-2 majority there. And in New York City, democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani was elected the city's first muslim mayor.
Polls are still open in California, where voters are considering a redistricting plan that would counter Texas's pro-Republican gerrymander.
An interesting stat from the Virginia race: young men not so interested in MAGA after all.
