Trump Blames GOP Election Losses on Ballot Absence: “My Name Wasn’t on It”

Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, to react after Democrats won gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey—the only states electing new governors this year—and clinched New York City’s mayoral race. He claimed, “Polls show Trump wasn’t on the ballot, and the government shutdown were the two reasons for GOP’s losses tonight.”

Analysts suggest the results signal trouble for Republicans ahead of the 2024 midterms, particularly due to economic dissatisfaction. Despite Trump’s absence from campaigning, GOP candidates closely aligned with him had hoped his influence would boost their chances—but failed.

Democrats celebrated historic wins:

• Abigail Spanberger (Virginia) and Mickey Sherrill (New Jersey) became their states’ first female governors.
• Zohran Mamdani, a progressive Democrat, won New York City’s mayoral race, making history as the first Muslim (Shia) mayor, youngest in over a century, and the first of South Asian immigrant descent to lead America’s financial capital.