Despite closely run races, left-leaning Democrats and at least one avowed socialist won major victories across the United States on Tuesday. Elections in New York, New Jersey, Virginia and California, among other states, saw Democratic party nominees win or maintain crucial seats.
In perhaps the most watched race nationally, Zohran Mamdani clinched the mayor’s race in New York City. The 34-year-old Democratic socialist, who was raised as a Shia Muslim, is an outspoken leftist who has voiced plans to target pro-life pregnancy resource centers, roll back restrictions on abortion in the city, and create a so-called office of LGBTQIA affairs.
Proposition 50 passed in California, in one of the most consequential votes on Tuesday. This initiative allows the state to draw new congressional districts—which will largely favor left-wing politicians—now through 2030. The redistricting will likely result in more progressive candidates gaining legislative seats.
In Virginia, Democratic gubernatorial candidate and former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger won a high-profile race against GOP Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears. Spanberger is an outspoken proponent of abortion and has previously voted to eliminate prohibitions on taxpayer-funded abortions. Abortion in Virginia is already largely unrestricted, with clinics performing the procedure up to 27 weeks—long after viability, which is considered between 22 and 24 weeks’ gestation.
During her tenure in the House of Representatives, Spanberger also voted against legislation that would require schoolteachers to get parental approval before using names or pronouns that do not match the child’s given name and biological gender. She also supported the Equality Act, an expansive pro-LGBTQ bill that was reintroduced in Congress this year.
U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill—also a Democrat—won the governor’s seat in New Jersey. Sherrill has publicly voiced her opposition to any protection for unborn children and advocated for abortion availability into the third trimester in New Jersey. When asked at a rally if she supported any restrictions on the procedure whatsoever, she responded, “This is a decision that should always be made between a woman and her doctor.”
Sherrill also introduced federal legislation that would make it possible for women in the military—no matter where they are stationed—to get abortions, as well as taxpayer-funded contraception.
Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, shared a word of encouragement with Christians following Tuesday’s elections. “I know the election results from coast to coast were not positive,” he began. “My hope is not based on politics; it’s not even based on our government. It’s based on the never changing, eternal promises of God.”
Perkins called on believers to continue fighting for what’s right. “We need to be praying like never before. We need to be voting when we have the opportunity, and we need to be standing for Biblical truth, regardless of what the election results will be.”
