One year ago, Republicans led by President Donald Trump romped to a historic victory, sweeping every swing state and ushering in a GOP trifecta in Washington. But last night was undoubtedly a rebound for Democrats, who won all the major off-year races by wider margins than expected. However, it may not be as complete a victory as liberals would like to believe.
In Virginia, Democrat gubernatorial nominee Abigail Spanberger soundly defeated Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears, the incumbent lieutenant governor. Spanberger becomes the first female governor of Virginia. Spanberger outperformed Kamala Harris in key suburbs of Washington, D.C., in the northern part of the state as well as around the capital of Richmond, where incumbent Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin performed well four years ago.
Democrat Ghazala Hashmi also prevailed over Republican John Reid to become the next lieutenant governor, becoming the first female Muslim candidate elected statewide anywhere in the country.
But by far the most disheartening result came in the Virginia Attorney General race, where incumbent Republican Jason Miyares fell to Democrat Jay Jones. That contest had been rocked by a slew of scandals involving Jones.
First, it was revealed that Jones had been charged with reckless driving for speeding at 116 mph down a Virginia interstate. Jones struck a highly unusual plea deal to avoid jail time, promising to perform community service for the crime. He is now under investigation for potentially misleading the court by reporting that he did 500 hours of community service for his own political action committee.
But the real bombshell came in early October when National Review reported on a text message exchange between Jones and a former Republican colleague in the House of Delegates. Jones fantasized about murdering former Republican Speaker Todd Gilbert and said that he hoped Gilbert’s children would die in their mother’s arms.
Talk of the scandal – and the refusal of Spanberger, Hashmi, or any Virginia Democrat to call on Jones to drop out of the race – dominated the final weeks of the campaign. But ultimately it was not enough, as more than 1.7 million Virginians still cast ballots for Jones, helping him comfortably defeat Miyares 53 percent to 46.5 percent. That result sets an alarming new precedent for the type of violent rhetoric that is now tolerated within the Democrat Party – and by American voters.
Republicans also lost seats in the Virginia House of Delegates, which was already controlled by Democrats.
In New Jersey, Republican hopes that the momentum they saw in 2024 would carry over to this year were also dashed. GOP candidate Jack Ciattarelli, who came within four points of defeating incumbent Democrat Governor Phil Murphy in 2021, is projected to lose by about 13 points to former Democrat Rep. Mikie Sherrill.
In New York City, home to one of the most high-profile mayoral races in recent history, self-described socialist Zohran Mamdani soundly defeated former Democrat Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa. Mamdani, a Muslim Ugandan immigrant who has close ties to one of the unindicted co-conspirators in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, has pledged to freeze rent on more than a million homes, create city-run grocery stores, and make public buses free. With 91 percent of the vote in as of Wednesday morning, Mamdani has a slight majority, winning 50.4 percent of the vote.
Outside of contests for public office, the other key outcome last night was in California, where voters overwhelmingly passed Proposition 50, clearing the way for Democrats to aggressively gerrymander the state and redistrict Republicans into an even smaller minority.
After Californians overwhelmingly chose to move to a nonpartisan redistricting model in 2010, Democrats successfully convinced a majority of voters (about 64 percent as of Wednesday morning) to reverse that decision and hand map-making power back to liberals in Sacramento. Republicans currently only hold nine of 52 U.S. House seats in California, despite GOP candidates regularly garnering 35-40 percent of the vote. Under new proposed maps, Republicans could be limited to as few as 1-2 seats.
In Pennsylvania, Democrats scored three more victories by retaining three incumbent state supreme court justices. The court will maintain its 5-2 liberal ideological split.
So, what to make of it all? There will undoubtedly be plenty of analysis and over-analysis in the weeks and months ahead, particularly as it relates to whether these contests were a “bellwether” for next year’s national elections. Democrats will undoubtedly call the results a strong rebuke of President Trump. The media will claim that Democrats have all the momentum heading into the midterms.
Republicans undoubtedly had a bad night – most polls were clearly wrong and predicted closer races than what actually played out. But the conclusion that this was a sweeping repudiation of Trump or the GOP is overblown.
In New York and New Jersey, the results were hardly surprising. As terrifying as it is that a literal Marxist will now be in charge of the country’s financial capital, Mamdani was ultimately the Democrat nominee in a heavily Democrat city. And should we really be shocked that the Democrat won in New Jersey, where only one Republican has won statewide since the turn of the century?
Republicans were more optimistic about Virginia, but even here the optimism may have been unrealistic. The state now has an undeniably blue tint thanks to ever-increasing numbers of liberal-minded government bureaucrats in the D.C. suburbs. The president’s party has also historically struggled in Virginia the year after a general election, with the same party winning the White House and the Virginia governor’s mansion just once since 1980.
As for the notion that Trump cost Republicans in the Old Dominion, it’s worth considering that Earle-Sears hardly leaned into an association with the President. She notably criticized Trump following the 2020 election and called for the party to move on to a new candidate in 2024. She rarely mentioned his name on the campaign trail, and it now seems evident that many Trump voters stayed home this year. Just as he has been for the past decade, Trump remains the most important turnout factor for the Republican Party.
The notion of Virginia as a bellwether is itself somewhat questionable – it’s largely based on the fact that Virginia is the only somewhat competitive state that holds a major election in between general and midterm years. Virginia is also close to all the media hubs in D.C., so state politics there attract disproportionate national attention from the press. If Virginia held its elections in general or midterm years, it probably would be little more than an afterthought.
Even when Republicans have won in Virginia, it hasn’t always been a strong predictor of future success. After the GOP clean sweep in 2021, Republican hopes for a “red wave” in the 2022 midterms failed to materialize, with the GOP narrowly retaking the House and failing to win back the Senate.
But in 2024, after Virginia Democrats held the state senate and retook the House of Delegates in 2023, Trump and Republicans stormed to victory and even came within a few points of flipping Virginia. It stands to reason, then, that the Virginia results alone don’t portend certain doom for the GOP.
In short, 2025 was a reminder that political tides never stay still for long. Democrats may be celebrating tonight, but their victories came in states and cities that were already trending their way.
For Republicans, the task ahead is to study what went wrong, refine the message, and reignite the energy that drove record-breaking turnout just a year ago. With control of Washington in their hands and a clear policy record to defend, the GOP now faces a test of discipline and focus heading into 2026.
If Republicans can unify around Trump’s popular agenda while expanding their appeal in the suburbs, this year’s setbacks may yet prove to be the wake-up call they needed that could lay the groundwork for future victories.
B.C. Brutus is the pen name of a writer with previous experience in the legislative and executive branches.
What went wrong is that much the younger population in this country like what radical liberals are hard-selling to them. The kids now voting were taught in schools that the USA is bad and so are the Conservative’s ideas of a great country. They hate this country and anyone who doesn’t march to their drumbeat of Communism. Many of the younger people want everything for free, they do not want to have to work and they don’t even care how that crime and corruption is ruining our cities. I fear the election in 2026 will go the same way. The hate Trump so much and are too stupid to know what it will be like when these violent, corrupt and evil government officials get full control.
I wonder what Virginians will do after their new “governor” declares Virginia a Sanctuary State. I think unless the “legacy media” starts being more fair (not holding my breath) the Democrats will continue their lies straight into the camera lens, and people will continue to NOT know the truth. How else did they manage to convince HALF of America that somehow the Republicans and Trump are responsible for the shut down?
The GOP has work to do for the midterm elections next year, otherwise the democrats will have the national election 2028 better rigged than a fishnet.
It’s sad that America has taken the path to Democratic Socialism, which “Will” be the downfall of our Freedom, Liberty and Justice. One only has to look at England and many states within our own country to see that Muslims have taken over Government, and it’s doing the same thing here in America. God Help us all!
Wait until the Democrat cheating is revealed. Then you will know who really won. All the Democrats know to do in elections is cheat. GOD is catching them every time.
It’s heartbreaking.
It should be no surprise, Republicans are once again asleep at the wheel and may have lost the country all together while still celebrating Trumps victory. While Hannity, Waters, and others can’t seem to stop with the rhetoric that the main stream legacy media is dead, the democrat party is dead, democrats will never win another election, etc, etc, the election results tell a completely different story. The democrats that won tell the story of where this country is in terms of the electorate, and what they are being taught in schools and by the media. There is no denying it, so ignore it all you want but the dems are running away with everything. What is being done about all of the corruption, dirty money being donated to dirty politicians, lies being told by the media, lies being taught in public schools, the list goes on. What is being done about treason that was committed, and still being committed? What is being done about those in the Biden administration guilty of accessory to murder? We have now lost the country, not just NYC, to communism and there is more than likely no turning back. So many people are guilty of so many crimes and so much corruption and what is being done about it? Looks like nothing. Any answers now, Sean? Jessie? Anybody?? I will repeat again what Rush said years ago; ‘don’t believe what you hear, believe what you see’. Prove me wrong, please.
Sometimes , the biggest thing Republicans have to fight is “COMPLACENCY”
I’ve always said that there is nothing dumber than a crime-loving, illegals-worshipping, America-hating, leftwing Socialist Commie DEMOCRAT voter. Last night PROVED IT.
EVERY DemocRAT who won is a corrupt, lying, America-LAST, tax-LOVING, deceiving, and even an evil life-threatening Socialist/Communist. All elected by ignorantly arrogant treasonous DUMBA$$ voters.
America, sit back and watch the CRIME, CORRUPTION, TAXES, DRUG USE, HOMELESSNESS, PAIN, SUFFERING, JOBKESSNESS, AND INFLATION SOAR IN THESE COMMUNIST-LEAD BLUE CITIES AND STATES, NOT TO MENTION THE MASSIVE EXODUSES FROM THEM.
Yesterday’s HUGE MISTAKES will only guarantee massive turnout and victories for Republicans and Conservatives in 2026.
Dems didn’t win this as much as republicans lost. You actually have to show up to vote to make a difference!
What amazes me the most is that 24 years ago Muslims destroyed the World Trade Center in New York…yesterday one of them was elected mayor of New York. How quickly we forget,
I can see from the sound bites of the victors that hate took the day yesterday,
Every pollster should lose his job in disgrace.
One factor that Brutus forgot to mention is that perhaps our strategy of grabbing illegal (and sometimes legal) Hispanic roofers, agricultural workers, and day laborers off the street is not a winning strategy with the rest of the Hispanic community.
Significant gains made with New Jersey Hispanic voters last year evaporated last night.
I’m just sickened by the results in Virginia, first, you have Jay Jones get pulled over for driving over 100 some miles PH, gets off on that. But worse make some threat against his opponent and Conservative wishing death and hoping his children in their mother’s arms! Yet people in this country are pretty damn stupid and or be educated about what these liberals are doing to us. Many of them have very short memories when Trump was elected. Many think that what Biden did in 4 years to ruin this country and give President Trump just a couple of minutes to clean up this mess. People don’t realize that this is going to take TIME!! Not 2 months or even 2 years! It took Biden/Obama years to put us in the mess they put us in. But to expect Trump to get us out of this mess in 30 seconds or less like a microwave oven is totally ludicrous. I think that’s what people voted for yesterday. They’re not satisfied enough that things aren’t going fast enough. And these damn kids! Don’t want to lift a finger and EARN a living . In New York city, they’re all in for a rude awakening and find that when the bill comes and nobody’s there to pay or bail em out. They’ll have eggs on their faces and people like us conservatives will be saying “told you so” You watch! It’s time to dust our feet and get to work on the mid terms because lots need to be done.
Republicans got their a$$es handed to them. If this doesn’t wake up the candidates and conservative voters, Everything DJT has tried to do up until then will be nullified. In the meantime, the voters in these liberal states better brace for what’s coming next.
Last night the people in NJ, VA and NYC just turned America into a communist Muslim country. The beginning of the destruction of a Constitutional Republic has begun. The Billionaires have succeeded to destroy America. New Yorkers don’t expect a Lamborghini in your driveway any time soon. Even killers were voted into power posing as Attorney Generals. And they call Trump a dictator. Our republic lasted 250 years it died last night. The voters have spoken or have they?
As a former Democrat, now Independent, I don’t understand how anyone in their right mind could vote for a “democrat,” really a communist? SMH These cretins are destroying our Country and we’re letting them do it. Such a disgrace.
U.S. – we have a problem!!!! (1) Parents have to educate their children on loving God and their neighbor, right and wrong, patriotism, history, civil law, as well as reading, writing, math, and science. There is no other way to take our country back. (2) U.S, Representatives and Senate have to constantly face constitutents, answer their concerns just as Bernie and AOC do. They rally their people, so should we. Trump rallied his voters, but it will be more difficult since all the wrong people have been running for elected office and winning lately. Candidates – stop relying on Trump’s endorsement. Tell us the truth! Do your own campaigning. (3) And, lastly, deport all illegals…
For what it’s worth, I think the Democrat party is going to self-destruct. They have gone so far left they are not going to be able to go back to the center. There are not enough voters in this country that believe in socialism, don’t know what a woman is, and think that transgendered people have more rights than anybody, else to get them elected. I think we can just sit back and watch them explode or implode as the case may be
Jay Jones under investigation for using community hours, for speeding, to work on his PAC and then texted how he fantasized about killing a political opponent not to mention what Jones said about the political opponent’s children. He won and will become the Attorney General of Virginia. The other democrats running for office in Virginia never said he should remove himself from running and they all won for their respective positions. Mikie Sherrill was prevented from graduating on stage at the Naval Academy because of a cheating scandal. She will now become governor of New Jersey. Zohran Mamdani the socialist/communist and unapologetic anti-semetic who was basically supported by the Muslim organizations will now become mayor of NYC. He is a staunch supporter of Hamas (I fear for the Jewish community). Finally, California’s proposition 50 will now take the duties of gerrymandering away from an independent civilian commission and give it back to the politicians. My take is that this demonstrates that the voters have lost all moral and ethical compass to elect these unethical and morally depraved people to govern their state or city. That if the voters don’t wake up and start voting for candidates who not only have morals and ethics, but is also committed to capitalism, then socialism will be the next step.
With Republicans running away from these solidly Democrat/Communist states, it becomes less and less likely that they will ever be anything but dark blue. This is a major problem since the most heavily populated states, barring TX, will elect the next president and Congress. I don’t believe the red states have the numbers to out vote the blue coastal states. I am so pessimistic today; I see our country falling to Communism (“socialism” is just a cover for the truth). And I see, as in Sinclair Lewis’ It Can’t Happen Here” a new fascist country fallen to the mobs. The haters emboldened by an Islamist win, have already painted swastikas around Jewish temples in Brooklyn, Here is an antisemitic and authoritarian nation for the next 2 generations at least. Hard to believe but stupid and self-interested voters fell for the empty promises and sleazy smiles of the Democrats again making promises they will never keep. Only God knows what is to become of OUR country. Very frightening that we go the way of the EU and Britain and are overcome by the dark side but I don’t see anyone with the cojones to fight back effectively after Pres Trump leaves office. Selfish, ignorant voters: this is the way Democracy dies in darkness.
What went wrong is that President Trump said he would turn the economy around and to many people, that meant grocery, clothing, housing, and gas prices would drop immediately. Waiting is not in their vocabulary, and we all saw prices on food and clothing rise, not fall. If there is not a turnaround soon, I really fear for those midterm elections.
The uneducated (indoctrinated) voter is the real problem. They don’t know or realize that there is no such thing as “free stuff.” History has taught us that socialism and communism are failed ideologies, yet here we are in 2025 USA. Sad.
SO SAD…..
Well, the socialist cancer has started. The Republican party better take to heart what has happened. Also, all who claim to support the GOP better start looking up. There has to be more support than what is showing. Are all of you voting for what’s right? The Democrats seem not to care that it’s been infiltrated with anti American people. We better stop this, or it’s all over
There’s no mention of maine.
It’s the same ole same. Our system functions only by accident. Both major parties persist in doing the political game route and ignore the fundamental need of keeping America, America. It matters not, be you dem or repub….the cookie cutter is the same. Both parties pay lip service to whatever it is that people WANT to hear, not what they NEED to hear. I fear it may be only a matter of time for the “supposed conservatives” to yet again no do their duty and get the big crush. Dems are pretty close to that today, but it’s not a done deal…and even if it was, the swing will happen again. And usually, for the left, that swing will be farther to the extreme, mostly because the “right” lack the skill and will to respond to the degree needed to stop the swing to that extreme. Our political scene is dominated by corruption, power brokering and kingdom building, pretty much across the board…..and I don’t see that changing. Each cycle, there are fewer and fewer actual servants of the people in office, and those who do claim that title soon fall to the temptation to be like all the rest and play the game and dance the dance. Am I a pessimist? Yep. Am I giving up? Nope. But the fight is getting to look more and more like a futile effort. What say you?
Seems Democrats rush to vote against Republicans cuz they hate Trump while Republicans stay home cuz Trump isn’t on the ballot! How stupid the voters are on both sides! Congratulations to those who did vote but Republicans can’t complain when they don’t vote! And don’t tell me there aren’t enough Republicans to have changed any of this (minus NYC)!
Welfare system, living with the idea that there is a Santa Claus, without any responsibility , any idea of the basics of life produced the voter who believes himself to be a victim of injustice , who has a right to receive everything free in perpetuity. This voter ignorant of the facts of life has a right to vote into the office people who create disaster which does not affect the voter. The voter creates the calamity with which he does not have to live, should he have a right to vote and lean heavily on the shoulder which he crippled. Bust that welfare trap.
Keep on allowing mail in ballots, early voting, late voting, no voter ID, etc. and the cheating will continue!!
Don’t know why I am shocked with the NYC VOTE BUT I AM. NYC does not deserve Curtis Silwa. I expected a far better result for him. All he has done for the city for 50 years. After the tragedy of 9/11/2000 I can’t accept that the likes of Mondays placed so well. NYC is doomed.
And the enemies where right all those years ago when they said they would destroy America from within Muslims and their beliefs have no right being in the United States Of America I guess shouting in the streets death to America is the new norm sad indeed period
The one thing I don’t see anyone talking about, let alone trying to do something about, is the impact Soros and his minions have had over the past several years over our country, elections, political representatives, etc., etc. We really have to address this problem. Wish I had some suggestions how.
Another thing, just read that Trump wants election reforms. Well that’s fine, but not enough. Back when Eisenhower ‘s time there was set in place that no communist could not hold any office anywhere. But the Democrats got rid of that . Well, it’s high time to bring that back.
I didn’t watch all the pre-election coverage but to my knowledge, neither Winsome or Ciaterelli tried to get Trump’s support. This left the voting-averse GOP voters who supported Trump to stay home. NYC and CA were not going to be feasibly GOP; too may leeches on the government teat. If Trump could move some of the agencies OUT of northern VA, that would give us a better chance. Again, for a different reason, they are leeches as well.
Our country is done and now more than ever I’m looking forward to the End of Days when God burns the earth because that’s the only way this world will be cleansed and change for the better. President Trump gave it his best shot and gave his all, but it was not enough and in the Bible was never going to be enough because God burning the earth is inevitable and the only way to rid the earth of sin, corruption and evil. Everyone better fine God and find him now because I truly believe that we are in the End of Days and it’s closer than anyone will want to admit and I now fully believe that every future election will be for not and this election proves it. Prepare for the worst because the worst is coming from here on so prepare to defend yourselves from the onslaught of liberal far left communist and socialist evil.
I forgot, all these great discussions should be sent to Trump’s Media so he can see what is going on
These blue states will never learn! They elect more wackjob democrats again, they must love living in a sewer and paying ridiculous fee’s, and taxes. They have got to be brainwashed because there is no other explanation.
The issue is that the mail in voting and allowing those not of this country to vote in elections will never allow for fair and just elections.
Fidel Castro couldn’t have said it any better (in reference to Mamdani’s victory speech).
You don’t COUNT if you DON’T vote.
If you DON’T vote, you have NO right to COMPLAIN.
The independent Republicans and white collar Republicans that voted for and put DJT over the top and in office, did NOT show up for these elections. They voted by staying home and not voting. The same thing can happen Nationally in the mid-terms and beyond. There NEEDS to be a RED wave, with Independent Repub’s, all MAGA, all Conservative Populists showing up to vote. We will not get the results we want, if we are COMPLACENT!
We The People Are The Government, Sovereign and Free!
As Nikita Khrushchev said, back in the 60’s, “we will defeat you from within”. Our public schools and colleges have avoided encouraging young people from thinking things out or questioning the left’s agenda. So here we are……….
Woke (communism) is the institutionalization of a false religion that promises a utopia but gives misery and suffering. These dumb fools will have to learn a hard lesson.
The communist leadership of the democrat party are very powerful because of tremendous financial backing from very rich communists and because their leftist indoctrination is so successful when inflicted upon the uneducated, uninformed, and stupid citizens.
Mamdani becoming the next mayor of NYC shouldn’t shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone in NY, I called it months ago, even though I was silently praying for Curtis Sliwa. If you haven’t been paying close enough attention this was just another step towards their New World Order, 2030 isn’t far off. His becoming mayor was part of their plan, as is the re-election of Kathy Hochul. If you aren’t afraid, you should be.
Instant gratification seems to be almost uniquely American. It looks like the voters gave the president 1 year to fix the country. Mr. Trump, et.al. have been trying to fix things with one arm tied behind their backs by District court judges who seem to be acting like children instead of adult professionals.
Their are 50 other executives in the nation who could pitch in with the prez but we see the results of that daily. I believe the republican party is its own worst enemy.
Republican support for ideas, policies, bills, laws gets fragmented for a number of reasons, but I have to give the democrats credit even if it the worst idea, policy, bill, they all get behind it. The big question is how does the Republican party unite long enough get the message across more convincingly to keep the communists at bay.
Blame these for Dem wins:
RNC DC Estd Bloc
Media
Indoc for voters
brain washing students
Do nothing GOP
Or wed gain more ground
It is obvious to me that in these elections, a big fraud was perpetrated, with illegal people voting. What I don’t understand is why the government is not taking any action about it? When our president won, Democrats were worried because Elon Musk was there washing them, but this time they knew he was not involved, so they had a free way to commit fraud.