Election Day 2025: The five biggest races to watch

It s not a presidential electoral process Related Articles Bomb threats in New Jersey and Trump warnings for California mark final day of voting What to watch on Balloting Day Trump s strength Democrats message and the shutdown effect New York City voters are choosing their next mayor as Mamdani faces Cuomo in a generational battle California voters take up Democrats push for new congressional maps that could shape House control Virginia governor s race will test Trump and Democrats nationally and make history But voters will go to the polls Tuesday dozens of states deciding everything from local tax measures to high-profile races that could impact national politics In short Tuesday is the bulk notable referendum in the United states since last November experts say when President Trump defeated Kamala Harris in the presidential race and Republicans maintained control of the House and Senate It s also being viewed as a way to gauge the pulse of voters a year before the elections when control of the House Senate and governor s offices will be up for grabs Tuesday has become an early referendum on Trump mentioned Larry Gerston a professor emeritus of political science at San Jose State University There are different states different turnouts and different issues But that s the overall theme A CNN poll Monday established voters aren t happy Trump s approval rating was the lowest of his second term A majority of voters disclosed his polices have worsened the financial sector hurt America s standing in the world and that his immigration crackdown has gone too far But the same voters had an even lower view of the Democratic Party giving it just a approval rating Five key races to watch Tuesday Proposition Opponents of California Proposition also known as the Balloting Rigging Response Act a California ballot measure that would redraw congressional maps to benefit Democrats rally in Westminster in Orange County Calif on Wednesday Sept AP Photo Damian Dovarganes File Gov Gavin Newsom s statewide ballot measure if approved by voters would redraw California s congressional districts in a way that could cost five Republicans their seats tilting the state s delegation from the current Democrats and Republicans to - after next year s elections Newsom and Sacramento Democrats placed the measure on the ballot after Trump pushed governors in red states including Texas to redraw their district lines this year instead of every years after the Census as had been the custom in an attempt to boost Republicans chances of keeping control of the House of Representatives next year If Democrats win the House in they could impeach Trump again haul his cabinet secretaries under oath before investigations and block funding for everything from new offshore oil drilling to expanded immigration detention centers Republicans led by former Gov Arnold Schwarzenegger who worked hard to create California s non-partisan commission that draws district lines have fought Prop But Democrats have outraised opponents million to million Polls show the measure leading in California a state Trump lost by points last November If it passes Newsom s national profile as a presidential candidate will be boosted Virginia Former President Barack Obama and Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger raise their arms together during a campaign rally in the Chartway Arena on Nov in Norfolk Virginia Spanberger will face Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears in the Commonwealth of Virginia s off-year referendum for governor and other statewide offices on Nov Photo by Win McNamee Getty Images Republican Gov Glenn Youngkin will leave office due to term limits in this purple state Former congresswoman Abigail Spanberger a moderate Democrat and former CIA agent who has focused on cost-of-living issues is running to succeed him against Republican Lt Gov Winsome Earle-Sears a Trump supporter and former Marine Spanberger is leading in the polls particularly as the federal authorities shutdown has hit Virginia residents hard Whoever wins will be the first female governor in Virginia history A big question mark Whether Democrat Jay Jones can hang on to beat Republican incumbent Jason Miyares in the attorney general s race Jones led until last month But the National Review published text messages Jones sent to a fellow state lawmaker wishing a Republican state leader and his family would die Jones also was cited in for driving mph As part of a plea deal he performed hours of area arrangement for his own political action committee His image and poll numbers have suffered New Jersey New Jersey Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli speaks during a campaign rally on Saturday Nov in Westfield N J AP Photo Olga Fedorova The other marquee governor s race Tuesday is in the Garden State where a close battle is playing out Democrat Mikie Sherrill a four-term member of Congress and former Navy helicopter pilot faces Republican Jack Ciattarelli a former state Assemblyman who came within points of defeating incumbent Democratic Gov Phil Murphy in A normally reliable blue state that has voted for the Democratic nominee for president in every referendum since New Jersey has occasionally elected Republicans as governor majority of in recent weeks Chris Christie in and Sherrill holds a narrow lead in the polls But Harris only defeated Trump there in November by and Ciattarelli with Trump s backing and solid fundraising is looking for a breakthrough win New York City Democratic New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks during a campaign event with New York City elected leaders on Nov in the Queens borough of New York City Mamdani remains the front runner against former Democratic New York Gov Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa Photo by Stephanie Keith Getty Images Three candidates are vying to run America s the greater part populous city Former Gov Andrew Cuomo a Democrat who won four statewide elections only to resign his Albany office in amid sexual harassment statements Republican Curtis Sliwa who founded the Guardian Angels crimefighting group and state lawmaker Zohran Mamdani a -year-old Democratic Socialist who has built momentum with charismatic speeches clever social media and promises to raise taxes on billionaires provide free bus operation and a pass a minimum wage Mamdani a darling of progressives nationwide is leading in the polls even though countless traditional Democratic leaders including Barack Obama Hillary Clinton and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have not endorsed him or Cuomo Pennsylvania Democratic National Committee chairman Ken Martin speaks at a Lancaster County Democratic Party event in patronage of the party s candidates for state Supreme Court Wednesday Oct in Lancaster Pa AP Photo Marc Levy Scarce states are more crucial in winning the presidency than Pennsylvania After voting for Obama twice Keystone State voters shifted to Trump in embraced Joe Biden in and veered back to Trump last year awarding him their electoral votes Democrats hold a - majority on the state Supreme Court Three Democratic justices David Wecht Christine Donohue and Kevin Dougherty face yes-no retention votes in which voters will decide whether to keep them on the bench Republicans are pushing hard to remove them which would shift the court to a - tie before elections in add new members A deadlocked chamber could have major impacts on the presidential race if disputes over voting ballot counting or other elections questions make it to Pennsylvania s highest court