CADEN HAYNOR / NEWS  EDITOR

On Election Day 2025, voters elected Democrats in Virginia, New Jersey and New York City, while California voters voted “YES” on Proposition 50, which was endorsed by Governor Gavin Newsom.

As the polls closed across the country, USD students entered Frank’s  Lounge to watch the results come in on the TVs. One of those students was USD sophomore Michelle Esparza, who looked into these elections before seeing any results.

Students filled out election ‘bingo’ cards while watching the progress of the off-year elections. Photo courtesy of @usdpolisci_ir/Instagram

“Voting is a really important way  for  people  to  use  their  voice,” Esparza explained. “Americans  are   coming  out  to  vote against  all of  Trump’s  actions, which are against democracy. We can use our voice to fight the injustice in this administration.”

A highly publicized U.S. election was on California’s Proposition 50, a response by Newsom to Texas’ gerrymandering actions. This proposition passed with almost a 65% vote on “yes,” putting a redrawn gerrymandered map of state districts into effect that gives the Democratic party five extra seats in the House of Representatives. 

Esparza talked about why voting “YES” on Proposition 50 was important for Californians and America as a whole.

“Especially  in   the   times   we are   in,   voting   for   Prop   50   is  really  important  to directly go against Trump’s  undemocratic  actions,” Esparza said. “I am glad there is some  opposition  to Trump  coming    from  politicians.”

The first decided election of the night was the Virginia gubernatorial race won by former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger. She became the first female governor of Virginia, simultaneously taking the incumbent Republican out of office. A former Central Intelligence Agency officer and congresswoman, Spanberger promotes education reform, strengthening the economy and healthcare affordability.

One  hour after Virginia, New Jersey closed its polls for the 2025 gubernatorial election, resulting   in  another  partisan flip, electing female Democrat Mikie Sherrill. Sherrill’s campaign focused heavily on reproductive rights, gun safety and  economic  stability,  all  of   which she reiterated in her  victory  speech.

USD    sophomore   Sam   Pearson, a California resident, reacted to the results of these elections.

“I   don’t   think   I   was   shocked by any  of   the   outcomes,” Pearson stated. “I think that it’s good that people are going out and voting for or against what they 

believe in, especially at a time where politics are so extreme.”

One of the most publicized elections this year was in New York City. An hour after polls closed in New Jersey, New York City elected its first democratic-socialist and Muslim mayor, Zohran Mamdani. 

At  34  years   old,  Mamdani  is   the youngest New York City mayor in a century, and his campaign focused heavily on low-income working-class neighborhoods, looking to make public transportation free and increace rent control.

As    a  young politician, Mamdani  worked to connect with the younger generation through intense social media coverage and networking, which is where many young people came across his campaign. Pearson spoke on her thoughts about the limitations of social media news.

“I    just   think    it’s    very   important that people  check multiple sources and don’t get everything from social media, and when you check your sources it shouldn’t be looking at someone that leans heavily to either side,” Pearson said. 

This  increased   media coverage   has   caused  people from  around  the   country  to  tune in to the   campaigns,  debates and results  of  the  election   in  one U.S.   city.   Dr.   Casey   Dominguez, department  chair and  professor in  the department of  Political  Science of  International Relations,  talked about  this   increased   media  coverage on the New York City election.

“There   is   a  bias  toward east coast politics in the media,” Dominguez said. “What happens in the election of one city on the opposite coast matters little in other states.”

Even   though   national  turnout data is still  being finalized, for an off-year cycle, voter turnout was particularly high  in  key  states for  this election.  Competitive races and responses to the recent actions of the Trump administration drew large groups of voters to the polls.

Virginia  had  over  2.6  million ballots cast,  New Jersey had  3.1 million,   New  York  City  alone   had 2   million  voters  come to the  polls and  California  counted  8.3  million votes   statewide  for   one   proposition.  These   turnout numbers are all sharp increases from 2021.

Dr. Dominguez, the faculty advisor for the club USD Votes, reacted to these high voter turnout rates and the results of the elections.

“A high voter turnout rate is always  good  because it improves the legitimacy of the elections,” Dominguez said. “For California, there was almost a fifty percent voter turnout for Prop 50… These  democratic wins were a response to the actions of the Trump administration. A large number of Latino voters that voted for Trump one year ago, voted for Democrats this election period. Some could attribute that to the recent tariffs, but these communities  are  likely  very aware of the recent mass deportations.”

Mail-in, absentee and in-person voting were available in some form in all 50 states this election on the ballot. Photo courtesy of @zohrankmamdani/Instagram

The newly elected officials will take office in January. These candidates now have the task of enacting   their  campaign  promises to the people they represent. 

Toreros gathered in Frank’s Lounge to watch the results on election night. Photo courtesy of @usdpolisci_ir/Instagram