Democrats celebrate major election victories as Trump agenda faces new challenges

Democrats are celebrating a series of major election victories across the country

(NBC)- Democrats are celebrating a series of major election victories across the country — wins they hope will give them momentum against President Trump’s agenda.

In New York City, Zohran Mamdani won the mayoral race on promises of rent freezes, free bus service, and expanded childcare. President Trump had previously threatened to cut off federal funding to the city if Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist, prevailed. In his victory speech, Mamdani fired back at the president, declaring, “If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him.”

In New Jersey, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill became the state’s first female Democratic governor. Sherrill struck a defiant tone in her acceptance speech, saying, “Here in New Jersey, we know that this nation has not ever been, nor will it ever be ruled by kings.”

Virginia also made history, electing former Democratic Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger as its first woman governor. “Virginia chose pragmatism over partisanship,” Spanberger told supporters. “We chose our Commonwealth over chaos.”

Meanwhile, California voters approved a redistricting measure designed to add more Democratic seats in Congress — a direct counter to Trump-backed redistricting efforts in conservative states like Texas.

With the elections now over, some senators are suggesting Democrats could use their victories as political leverage to end the record-long government shutdown as soon as this week.

Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin expressed cautious optimism, saying, “I feel very confident.”

Transportation officials, however, warned that the continued shutdown could soon lead to widespread air travel disruptions if unpaid air traffic controllers begin missing shifts.