New York City Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani speaks during an interview on Fox News' "The Story with Martha MacCallum," Oct. 15, 2025, in New York City. (Evan Agostini/Invision/The Associated Press)
In New Jersey, voters reported that the state's notoriously high taxes and the economy were their top issues heading into the polling stations, according to Fox News Voter Poll data. In Virginia, half of voters reported that the economy was their top issue, more than double the number who reported healthcare as their top concern, according to Fox polling data.
In New York City, affordability was by far voters' top concern, according to Fox News Voter Poll data, with Mamdani notching a significant win over his challengers. Mamdani ran on policies such as city-run groceries to lower food costs, eliminating bus fares, implementing rent freezes on rent-stabilized units and other affordable housing proposals.
Voters responded by voting for Democrats following President Donald Trump's decisive win over former Vice President Kamala Harris just more than a year ago in a federal election that also focused on the economy amid spiraling inflation woes.
Rep. Mikie Sherrill, Democratic gubernatorial candidate for New Jersey, checks in to cast her ballot at a polling location inside Hillside Elementary School in Montclair, New Jersey, Nov. 4, 2025. (John Lamparski/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
"Donald Trump needs to answer directly to Virginians on why he is actively cutting Virginia jobs and hurting the Virginia economy," Spanberger said in October. "The Trump Administration has taken a sledgehammer approach to governing that has hurt Virginia’s workers, businesses, and economy."
Sherrill pitched the current economy as a "catastrophe," including claiming Trump's tariffs would be disastrous.
DEMOCRAT IN KEY GOVERNOR RACE KEEPS DISTANCE FROM NYC'S MAMDANI
"Donald Trump just implemented the biggest tax increase in my lifetime — an economic catastrophe for New Jersey families," Sherrill said in April as Trump announced increased tariffs on foreign nations. "This will raise costs to the tune of almost $4,000 per year, and many companies have already announced layoffs. No wonder the Wall Street Journal called it the ‘dumbest trade war in history.'"
New Jersey, a historically deep blue state, was viewed as the most likely to potentially flip red after the 2024 federal election showed Trump made inroads with Garden State voters, including flipping five counties to the GOP.
The trio of high-profile Democrats who won their elections campaigned in part against Trump administration policies and affordability woes. (Alex Brandon/The Associated Press)
Following Spanberger's win Tuesday, she celebrated that she would reinvigorate the Old Dominion state's economy.
"Virginia chose pragmatism over partisanship," Spanberger said. "We chose our commonwealth over chaos."
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"You all chose leadership that will focus relentlessly on what matters most — lowering costs, keeping our communities safe and strengthening our economy for every Virginian," she said.
Trump responded to the Democrat wins Tuesday with a quote from pollsters that the ongoing government shutdown was partially due to the Republican losses.
"'TRUMP WASN’T ON THE BALLOT, AND SHUTDOWN, WERE THE TWO REASONS THAT REPUBLICANS LOST ELECTIONS TONIGHT,' according to Pollsters," Trump posted on Truth Social.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/economic-anxiety-keys-dem-sweep-high-stakes-races-left-leverages-voter-frustration