Democrats won a series of high-profile victories across the East Coast on Tuesday, including gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey and the mayoral race in New York City. The outcomes prompted a range of reactions across the Dartmouth community, with students and campus political groups offering differing views on what the results signal for national politics.
In New York City, first-term state assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist, defeated former Governor Andrew Cuomo with 50.4% of the vote compared to Cuomo’s 41.6%. Voter turnout reached over 2 million for the first time since 1969. Dartmouth Democrats executive director Lucia Vitali ’26 said Mamdani’s campaign emphasized grassroots organizing and direct communication with voters. His platform included proposals such as rent freezes, expanded affordable housing and free childcare.
“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.”
Not all campus reaction was favorable. Turning Point USA at Dartmouth president Vittorio Bloyer ’28 expressed concern about Mamdani’s policy goals. “The most logical way to lower food and rent prices would have been to elect a mayor whose goal was to stop the city from hindering the free market’s ability to efficiently fix the supply issue,” Bloyer said. “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.”
Jack Coleman ’26, president of Dartmouth Conservatives, argued the victories do not reflect a national ideological shift. “There is still a real attraction to the far left in some of these more liberal cities,” Coleman said. “I don’t think that translates to national support for these types of candidates.”
In New Jersey, Democratic Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill defeated Republican Jack Cittarelli with 56.4% of the vote. Her election marks the first time in over half a century that Democrats have won three consecutive gubernatorial races in the state. Sherrill, a former federal prosecutor and Navy helicopter pilot, campaigned on issues such as public safety and economic resilience.
In Virginia, Democrat Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA officer and three-term congresswoman, won with 57.2% of the vote over Republican Winsome Earle-Sears. She becomes Virginia’s first female governor. Spanberger’s campaign focused on lowering healthcare costs, strengthening public education and addressing economic challenges.
Tamia Kelly ’27, a Virginia voter who cast her ballot absentee, said she was not surprised by the result. “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 added that seeing the state elect its first female governor was personally inspiring. “When I see a development like this, it gives me hope that my career aspirations aren’t that unattainable.”
The results reflect diversity within the Democratic Party’s leadership, from Mamdani’s progressive platform to Spanberger’s moderate proposals. Vitali said the party’s success was tied to strategic voter outreach. “We really saw how grassroots mobilization is an effective strategy,” she said. “It’s what people are looking for.”
Vitali also pointed to what she sees as voter concern over policies backed by former President Donald Trump. “Americans are seeking leaders who are actively going to fight back against attacks on our rights and freedoms,” she said.
Coleman, however, said Republicans should focus on improving turnout in non-presidential elections. “The challenges will be making sure that voters who turn out for President Trump will also turn out for Republicans,” he said. He added that Democrats may now be in a strong position to retake the House of Representatives in 2026.
As the dust settles on this year’s elections, Dartmouth students and political groups are watching closely for what these key state races might mean for national narratives and 2026 midterm prospects. Whether the results reflect lasting political change or isolated regional trends remains a central question as both parties assess their strategies moving forward.
