Democrats score wins and flip seats to seize momentum for US midterms | Democrats
The 2025 off-year election proved to be a major success for Democrats, as state and local level candidates managed to penetrate and even flip several Republican strongholds across the country.
Much of the national attention was focused on Zohran Mamdani’s historic victory in New York, as well as Democratic victories in the New Jersey and Virginia gubernatorial elections. And in both Virginia and New Jersey, several districts or voting blocs voted for Trump in 2024 and then voted for Democrats this year.
Still, results in smaller districts could have offered an even deeper look at the political landscape heading into the midterm elections.
In Erie County, Pennsylvania, an area that narrowly favored Trump in the 2024 election, Democrat Christina Vogel won the county executive race by a commanding 24 points. Meanwhile, in Virginia’s 66th state district, Democrat Nicole Cole unseated Bobby Orrock, a Republican who had held that seat for 36 years and was the state’s longest-serving Republican delegate.
Democrats also scored two statewide victories in Georgia’s public commissioner races, marking their first non-federal statewide victory since 2006 and their largest margin of victory in more than two decades. Alicia Johnson defeated incumbent Tim Echols by a margin of 58 to 41 percent, while Peter Hubbard triumphed over Fitz Johnson by 61 to 39 percent. The commission is responsible for public services and has “exclusive authority to decide what rates are just and reasonable for services within its jurisdiction.”
Even in deep-red Mississippi, Democrats made significant progress by flipping two Senate seats, ending a 13-year Republican supermajority. This change prevents the GOP from unilaterally overriding gubernatorial vetoes or easily passing constitutional amendments.
Another notable result: Democrats took control of New York’s Onondaga County Legislature for the first time in nearly five decades. They won all six contested seats, turning what was a 12-5 Republican advantage into a 10-7 Democratic majority.
Pennsylvania also saw a Democratic surge, as voters in critical Luzerne County elected four Democrats and one Republican to the county council, giving Democrats control of the body’s 11 members. Republican John Lombardo was the only incumbent to retain his seat.
County Democratic Chairman Thomas Shubilla expressed satisfaction with the results, telling the Times Leader, “We are still in the fight and we win elections with good candidates and hard work.” »
Meanwhile, progressive policies also appeared to dominate Tuesday. Colorado voters approved two ballot measures aimed at providing free meals in public schools across the state. The MM proposal increases taxes on households earning more than $300,000 per year to fund universal school meals, purchase locally sourced foods for cafeterias, and increase wages for cafeteria workers. All additional revenue generated by the tax increase will be directed to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap).
Voters also passed Proposition LL, allowing the state to keep excess tax funds generated by Proposition FF, a program that “limited income tax deductions for individuals earning more than $300,000” to fund free school meals, and allocate them to the same program.
“Last night’s Earthquake victories reaffirmed that voters are rebuking the Republican Party’s extremism and that the affordability crisis remains the issue voters care about,” Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) Chairwoman Heather Williams said in a statement. “That’s where we get things done, that’s where Democrats lead.”
In Maine, voters decisively rejected a proposed ballot measure to introduce voter ID requirements and restrict mail-in voting, described by critics as a “voter suppression bill.” According to the AP, 64% voted against.
These results, combined with Mamdani’s victory in New York and the Democrats’ successes in Virginia and New Jersey, triggered a less than positive reaction from the president. “TRUMP WAS NOT ON THE BALLOT, AND THE SHUTDOWN, WERE THE TWO REASONS WHY REPUBLICANS LOSED THE ELECTION TONIGHT, according to pollsters,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, part of a posting spree that the president continued through election night and the next morning.
But whatever the reason for the Democratic victory, it is clear that Trump’s plummeting popularity with Americans had something to do with it. The president’s approval rating fell to one of its lowest points in early November, with only 37% of Americans expressing approval of his performance as president.
However, the Democrats are not out of the water yet. In July, the party’s popularity reached its lowest level in 30 years. The blue wave of victories may have those on the left celebrating across the United States, but it’s still up to the Democratic Party to see if it can carry that energy and youth-electrifying message through the midterms and beyond.
