Democrats shine in gubernatorial elections: Abigail Spanberger wins Virginia, Mikie Sherrill elected from New Jersey

It was Democrats day in the United States as Abigail Spanberger defeated Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears to win the Virginia governor's race. In New Jersey, Mikie Sherrill was elected. Moreover, Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani won in the high-octane New York Mayoral polls. These elections seen as a test for US President Donald Trump, proved to be a ray of hope for the Democrats, months after they faced defeat in presidential polls. In all the elections, Democratic candidates were pitted against Trump-aligned Republicans with the US president himself endorsing them.

The former CIA officer and three-term congresswoman was projected to beat Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, a Marine veteran and staunch Trump ally, by a comfortable margin that makes her Virginia's first-ever female governor. In New Jersey, Democratic former Navy pilot Mikie Sherrill was also seen as the favorite, although she was locked in a closer battle with Republican businessman Jack Ciattarelli.

Meanwhile, Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani has created history as he won New York City Mayoral elections to become the first Indian-American of Muslim faith to win the race. Mamdani, who won the Democratic primary earlier this year, was facing former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, an independent candidate, and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa in the key mayoral election.