An Overview of 2025’s Election Night
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This Nov. 4 was Election Day, a day when citizens can practice their right to vote and engage with democracy. Despite President Donald Trump’s victory last year, Election Day turned out to be a significant victory for Democrats, achieving electoral wins in the states of Calif., N.Y., Va., and N.J.. Each has important implications for the future of the United States, so it’s important to stay informed on the new additions to our government.
In Calif., Proposition 50 passed with a 64.6% majority – but what does this mean for Californians? Proposition 50 was a response to the gerrymandering of red states, a process of drawing electoral districts to benefit a specific political party. Namely, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a redistricting bill requested by President Donald Trump to add five additional Republican seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Proposition 50 aims to counteract gerrymandering by participating in it, redrawing lines to add five more Democratic seats and make the House more evenly balanced between parties. This is to ensure that every voice is heard regarding our government, given the recent uncertainty about healthcare and immigration policies – Proposition 50 can help secure the power of each Californian’s vote.
Another significant victory was Zohran Mamdani winning the NYC mayoral election, becoming the city’s first Muslim mayor. His mayorship will be focused on affordability for everyday people, including policies like free childcare and buses, city-funded grocery stores, and freezing rent. Despite skepticism about these policies from Republicans, Mamdani’s popularity among New Yorkers and onlookers on social media stays strong.
Additionally, Va. elected a new governor, Democrat Abigail Spanberger, a former member of the Democratic Party, as a U.S. representative for six years. Her goal is to help the public through legislation like Abigail’s Affordable Virginia Plan, meant to lower costs on healthcare, energy, and housing, as well as make education more accessible and protect reproductive healthcare in the state.
Election Day also led to New Jersey gaining a new Governor-elect, Democrat Mikie Sherrill. Her main priorities in her service include decreasing utility costs for households, addressing children’s online safety and mental health, and transparency within the government.
Does this year’s Election Day represent the shifting beliefs of the American public? Many of these results emphasize social justice and humanitarian issues in the United States, marking a progressive turning point in an otherwise polarizing presidency. Election Day serves as an optimistic reminder that we can still have power in our voices through being updated on local politics and voting.
