IN THE STATES: Blue Wave Sweeps the Nation as Democrats Win Major Elections Up and Down the Ballot Arrow

On Election Day, Democrats delivered a historic victory - a true Blue Sweep with wins up and down the ballot. Democrats put up high-quality candidates with clear plans to lower costs for working families. The Democratic Party continues to be the only party focused on addressing kitchen table issues, while Republicans bend the knee to Donald Trump and his toxic agenda that is raising costs and destroying jobs.

• In New Jersey: New Jersey Monitor: Mikie Sherrill celebrates win in NJ governor's race, as supporters cheer: 'Blue is back!'
• In New Jersey: WHYY: Democrat Mikie Sherrill prevails over Republican Jack Ciattarelli and wins the race for governor of New Jersey
• In Virginia: Virginia Mercury: Blue wave rebuilds the House: Democrats soar to at least 64 seats in Virginia
• In Virginia: Associated Press: Abigail Spanberger elected Virginia governor in a historic first that boosts Democrats ahead of 2026
• In Virginia: NBC News: Virginia's Ghazala Hashmi becomes the first Muslim woman elected statewide in the U.S.
• In Pennsylvania: The Hill: 3 Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices retained, handing Democrats key victory
• In Pennsylvania: The Guardian: Pennsylvania keeps three liberal justices, preserving swing-state court control
• In California: Associated Press: California voters approve new US House map to boost Democrats in 2026
• In New York: Associated Press: Zohran Mamdani wins NYC mayor's race, capping a stunning ascent
• In Maine: Portland Press Herald: Voter ID, absentee ballot restrictions defeated in Maine
• In Georgia: Georgia Recorder: Democrats flip two seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission
• Nationwide: Politico: Affordability, affordability, affordability: Democrats' new winning formula

None of these victories could have happened without us doing the work. The week leading up to Election Day, DNC Chair Ken Martin hit the road to barnstorm across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Virginia to energize voters. Chair Martin phonebanked with volunteers to rally support for Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty, and David Wecht ahead of the PA Supreme Court retention races. Then, in New Jersey, Chair Martin stumped for Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill, and in Virginia, stumped for Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger.

• In New Jersey: Tapinto Newark: Obama Rallies for NJ Gubernatorial Candidate Sherrill in Newark
• In New Jersey: Reuters Connect: DNC chair says Mikie Sherrill 'in the driver's seat' and expects her to be the next NJ governor
• In New Jersey: NJ.com: N.J. governor race has Ciattarelli and Sherrill all but tied, says nation's most accurate pollster
• In New Jersey: NJ.com: Predicting the winner of N.J.'s huge governor's race | What Makes Jersey Run
• In New Jersey: InsiderNJ: Martin Vows to Protect Voters from Trump's Federal Monitors
• In Virginia: WRIC: DNC chair says he's confident in Virginia ahead of Election Day
• In Virginia: Associated Press: Republicans seek to tap into Trump energy on eve of Election Day in New Jersey, Virginia
• In Virginia: Richmond Times-Dispatch: DNC leader says VA Dems 'respond in kind' to Trump on redistricting
• In Virginia: Washington Post: In history-making vote, Virginia to elect its first female governor
• Nationwide: New York Times: Elections on Tuesday Offer Democrats a Chance to Get Off the Mat
• Nationwide: NBC News: DNC chair defends party's redistricting push: This isn't 'your grandfather's Democratic Party that just rolled over'
• Nationwide: USA Today: NYC votes early in record numbers, voters to cast ballots in VA, NJ: 2025 election latest
• Nationwide: The New Republic: DNC Chair Says Whole System Is "Bullshit" and Needs to Change

After Tuesday's blue wave, DNC Chair Ken Martin hosted a press call featuring DGA Executive Director Meghan Meehan-Draper, DLCC President Heather Williams, Pennsylvania Democratic Party Chair Eugene DePasquale, and California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks. During the call, the speakers highlighted the historic Democratic victories and overperformances on Tuesday. As we move forward to the 2026 midterms, Democrats hold momentum, a winning strategy, and a winning message.

• In Georgia: WABE: Democrats rush to seize momentum after Georgia victories built on affordability messaging
• In Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania Capital-Star: Pa. Supreme Court justices won retention race in counties where Trump won last year
• In Wisconsin: Wisconsin Examiner: Tuesday's Democratic sweep is a wake-up call for Wisconsin
• Nationwide: New York Times: After 'Seismic' Win, New Jersey's Next Governor Says She Has a Mandate
• Nationwide: Reuters: Democrats bask in electoral victories a year after Trump's reelection
• Nationwide: HuffPost: The Wildest Democratic Victories You May Not Have Heard About
• Nationwide: The 19th: How one woman's victory in Virginia explains Democrats' success

As Trump beats his own record for the longest government shutdown in history, working families are paying the price. Trump's shutdown is impacting everything from air travel to food assistance for kids and families, despite the fact that he could fully fund SNAP if he wanted to.

• In South Dakota: CNN Business: A community on the brink fears for the absolute worst as SNAP funds and food grow scarce
• Nationwide: New York Times: Odd Jobs and DoorDash: How Air Traffic Controllers Are Surviving
• Nationwide: New York Times: How Families Are Coping with SNAP Cuts During the Shutdown
• Nationwide: New York Times: Some SNAP Recipients May Not Receive Food Stamps Under White House Policy
• Nationwide: Bloomberg: How the Longest Government Shutdown Is Impacting the Economy
• Nationwide: Washington Post: After a month of the shutdown, workers face mounting bills, car repossessions
• Nationwide: CNBC: Consumer sentiment nears lowest level ever as worries build over shutdown
• Nationwide: CNBC: Food banks are in 'disaster response mode' due to shutdown and SNAP cuts, leaders say: 'The damage gets worse and worse' every day
• Nationwide: NBC News: Travelers brace for mass holiday delays amid dragging government shutdown and cut flights

Finally, to recap the DNC's historic support and investments into Tuesday's elections and preview the next fights to come, DNC Chair Ken Martin released a memo about why Americans have been electing Democrats this year and why they'll continue to elect them next year in the midterms.

• Nationwide: TIME: Exclusive: How Democrats Plan to Capitalize on This Week's 'Blue Sweep' in the 2026 Midterms