Former President Donald Trump has attributed the Republican Party’s recent setbacks in key mayoral and gubernatorial races to his own absence from the ballot and the government shutdown. These electoral defeats, which saw Democrats clinch significant victories including Zohran Mamdani’s historic win in New York City, have provided a considerable boost to the Democratic Party as they gear up for the critical midterm elections. Trump took to Truth Social to state that pollsters identified “Trump wasn’t on the ballot, and shutdown” as the primary reasons for the GOP’s losses. This sentiment echoes his past expressions of discontent with election results. Notably, Trump had previously issued warnings regarding potential federal funding cuts to New York if Mamdani, whom he characterized as a “Communist lunatic” and “disaster waiting to happen,” were to win. The Democratic victories in Virginia and New Jersey, secured by Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill respectively, further underscore the party’s growing momentum. Zohran Mamdani’s triumph in New York City marks a historic milestone, making him the first South Asian and Muslim mayor of the city. This victory signals a new political and ideological chapter for the metropolis.
