It’s not a presidential election. Nor will California select a brand new governor.
However voters will go to the polls Tuesday in California and dozens of different states, deciding every little thing from native tax measures to high-profile races that might impression nationwide politics. In brief, Tuesday is essentially the most vital election within the United states of america since final November, specialists say, when President Trump defeated the Bay Space’s Kamala Harris within the presidential race, and Republicans maintained management of the Home and Senate. It’s additionally being considered as a option to gauge the heartbeat of voters a 12 months earlier than the 2026 elections, when management of the Home, Senate and governor’s places of work might be up for grabs.
“Tuesday has become an early referendum on Trump,” stated Larry Gerston, a professor emeritus of political science at San Jose State College. “There are different states, different turnouts and different issues. But that’s the overall theme.”
A CNN ballot Monday confirmed voters aren’t completely satisfied. Trump’s approval score was 37% — the bottom of his second time period. A majority of voters stated his polices have worsened the financial system, harm America’s standing on the earth, and that his immigration crackdown has “gone too far.” However the identical voters had an excellent decrease view of the Democratic Social gathering, giving it only a 29% approval score.
5 key races to observe Tuesday:
1) Proposition 50
Opponents of California Proposition 50, also called the Election Rigging Response Act, a California poll measure that may redraw congressional maps to learn Democrats, rally in Westminster, in Orange County, Calif., on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025. (AP Picture/Damian Dovarganes, File)
2) Virginia
Former President Barack Obama and Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger elevate their arms collectively throughout a marketing campaign rally within the Chartway Enviornment on Nov. 01, 2025 in Norfolk, Virginia. Spanberger will face Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears within the Commonwealth of Virginia’s off-year election for governor and different statewide places of work on Nov. 4. (Picture by Win McNamee/Getty Photos)
Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin will go away workplace resulting from time period limits on this purple state. Former congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, a average Democrat and former CIA agent who has centered on cost-of-living points, is operating to succeed him towards Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, a Trump supporter and former Marine. Spanberger is main within the polls, notably because the federal authorities shutdown has hit Virginia residents arduous. Whoever wins would be the first feminine governor in Virginia historical past.
A giant query mark: Whether or not Democrat Jay Jones can hold on to beat Republican incumbent Jason Miyares within the legal professional basic’s race. Jones led till final month. However the Nationwide Assessment printed textual content messages Jones despatched to a fellow state lawmaker wishing a Republican state chief and his household would die. Jones additionally was cited in 2022 for driving 116 mph. As a part of a plea deal, he carried out 500 hours of group service for his personal political motion committee. His picture and ballot numbers have suffered.
3) New Jersey
New Jersey Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli speaks throughout a marketing campaign rally on Saturday, Nov 1, 2025, in Westfield, N.J. (AP Picture/Olga Fedorova)
The opposite marquee governor’s race Tuesday is within the Backyard State, the place an in depth battle is enjoying out. Democrat Mikie Sherrill, a four-term member of Congress and former Navy helicopter pilot, faces Republican Jack Ciattarelli, a former state Assemblyman who got here inside 3 factors of defeating incumbent Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy in 2021.
A usually dependable blue state that has voted for the Democratic nominee for president in each election since 1992, New Jersey has often elected Republicans as governor, most lately Chris Christie in 2009 and 2013. Sherrill holds a slender lead within the polls. However Harris solely defeated Trump there in November by 5.9%, and Ciattarelli, with Trump’s backing and stable fundraising, is on the lookout for a breakthrough win.
4) New York Metropolis
Democratic New York Metropolis mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks throughout a marketing campaign occasion with New York Metropolis elected officers on Nov. 1, 2025 within the Queens borough of New York Metropolis. Mamdani stays the entrance runner towards former Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. (Picture by Stephanie Keith/Getty Photos)
Three candidates are vying to run America’s most populous metropolis: Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, 67, a Democrat who received 4 statewide elections, solely to resign his Albany workplace in 2021 amid sexual harassment allegations; Republican Curtis Sliwa, 71, who based the Guardian Angels crimefighting group; and state lawmaker Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old Democratic Socialist who has constructed momentum with charismatic speeches, intelligent social media and guarantees to lift taxes on billionaires, present free bus service and a move a $30 minimal wage. Mamdani, a darling of progressives nationwide, is main within the polls, regardless that many conventional Democratic leaders, together with Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Senate Minority Chief Chuck Schumer, haven’t endorsed him or Cuomo.
5) Pennsylvania
Democratic Nationwide Committee chairman Ken Martin speaks at a Lancaster County Democratic Social gathering occasion in assist of the social gathering’s candidates for state Supreme Court docket, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, in Lancaster, Pa. (AP Picture/Marc Levy)
Few states are extra necessary in successful the presidency than Pennsylvania. After voting for Obama twice, Keystone State voters shifted to Trump in 2016, embraced Joe Biden in 2020, and veered again to Trump final 12 months, awarding him their 19 electoral votes.
Democrats maintain a 5-2 majority on the state Supreme Court docket. Three Democratic justices — David Wecht, Christine Donohue and Kevin Dougherty — face yes-no retention votes, during which voters will determine whether or not to maintain them on the bench. Republicans are pushing arduous to take away them, which might shift the court docket to a 2-2 tie earlier than elections in 2027 add new members. A deadlocked chamber might have main impacts on the 2028 presidential race if disputes over voting, poll counting or different elections questions make it to Pennsylvania’s highest court docket.
