Democrats secured major electoral victories this week in high-profile state and local races across the East Coast, prompting responses from politically engaged Dartmouth students on both sides of the aisle. The outcomes included gubernatorial wins in Virginia and New Jersey and the election of Zohran Mamdani as New York City mayor, marking key gains for the party ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Mamdani, a Queens assemblyman and self-identified democratic socialist, won the New York City mayoral race with 50.4% of the vote against former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who garnered 41.6%. The race drew historically high turnout, with over two million ballots cast in the city for the first time since 1969.
Mamdani’s campaign emphasized rent freezes, affordable housing development and expanded access to childcare. His election drew attention from students at Dartmouth, some of whom saw his win as an encouraging signal for youth participation in politics. “He’s for people our age,” said Ryantony Exuma ’26. “He’s only 13 years older than me. So, I think it speaks as a testament that young people can get involved and start to change things.”
Lucia Vitali ’26, executive director of Dartmouth Democrats, said Mamdani’s success reflected the strength of grassroots outreach. “We really saw, especially in New York, how grassroots mobilization is an effective strategy, and that communicating with voters directly is really important,” she said. She attributed the appeal of Mamdani’s campaign to his focus on affordability and his direct style of engagement with residents.
Not all students were supportive. Vittorio Bloyer ’28, president of Turning Point USA at Dartmouth, argued that Mamdani’s proposals would reduce the city’s appeal. “Unfortunately, what we will likely see in the next four years will be some of the most cost-ineffective, poor-quality government-run housing projects and grocery stores that this nation has ever seen,” Bloyer said.
Jack Coleman ’26, president of Dartmouth Conservatives, said the results were not surprising given the political leanings of those cities, but argued they did not indicate a shift nationwide. “There is still a real attraction to the far left in some of these more liberal cities,” Coleman said. “I don’t think, though, that translates to national support for these types of candidates.”
In Virginia, Representative Abigail Spanberger became the state’s first female governor, winning with 57.2% of the vote over Republican Winsome Earle-Sears. Spanberger campaigned on lowering healthcare costs, improving public schools, and addressing affordability, drawing on her background as an intelligence officer and prosecutor.
Tamia Kelly ’27, who voted absentee in the Virginia election, said Spanberger’s victory felt likely throughout the campaign. “From what I experienced and what I saw, the Virginia climate was really pointing in her direction from pretty much the beginning,” she said. Kelly, who aspires to run for governor herself, said the election outcome gave her hope. “When I see a development like this, it gives me hope that my career aspirations aren’t that unattainable.”
In New Jersey, Representative Mikie Sherrill defeated Republican Jack Cittarelli with 56.4% of the vote. Sherrill’s victory marked the first time since the 1960s that three consecutive governors from the same party were elected in the state.
Vitali suggested the broader Democratic wins were driven by a desire for leaders who would oppose former President Donald Trump and what she described as threats to rights and freedoms. “Right now, Americans are seeking leaders who are actively going to fight back,” she said.
These state races illustrated the range of candidates within the Democratic coalition, from Mamdani’s left-leaning platform to Spanberger and Sherrill’s more moderate policy positions. Vitali said the victories represented a sign of momentum for Democrats. “Regardless of people’s opinions on any one specific candidate, the Democratic party can focus on the fact that we are beginning to win again,” she said.
Coleman said the wins suggest Democrats may be positioned to retake control of the House of Representatives in 2026. He added that Republican challenges would involve mobilizing voters who typically turn out only in presidential cycles.
As the party looks ahead, Vitali emphasized the importance of applying lessons from this election cycle. “Democrats, and honestly many Americans, are looking for an aggressive pushback against what’s happening in the Trump administration,” she said. “I think those are things the party needs to learn from.”
The elections served both as a gauge of public sentiment in key states and a reminder of the evolving dynamics within America’s political landscape. For Dartmouth students watching closely, they offered insight into the future of national and local politics alike.
