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Vivek Ramaswamy, the wealthy biotechnology entrepreneur and outspoken ally of President Donald Trump who emerged as a prominent figure in Republican politics following his 2024 presidential campaign, has suffered a major electoral defeat in Ohio, losing the governor’s race to Democrat Amy Acton in one of the most consequential upsets of Tuesday’s midterm elections.

Acton, a physician and former Ohio health director who became nationally known during the COVID-19 pandemic, defeated Ramaswamy despite his strong backing from Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and the Republican establishment. Her victory returns the Ohio governor’s office to Democratic control for the first time in two decades.

The Associated Press and other major news organizations projected Acton as the winner Tuesday night, delivering a striking setback to Republicans in a state that has increasingly shifted toward the GOP in recent election cycles.

The result is particularly significant because Trump carried Ohio by approximately 11 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election, and Republicans have dominated statewide politics there for years.

Acton, 60, will succeed Republican Governor Mike DeWine, who was barred by term limits from seeking another term. She will become the first woman elected governor of Ohio, marking a historic milestone for the state.

Ramaswamy, 41, entered the race with considerable advantages, including national name recognition, substantial personal wealth, extensive financial backing, and the endorsement of Trump.

The Cincinnati-born businessman had previously sought the Republican presidential nomination in 2024, gaining attention for his aggressive criticism of federal bureaucracy, his support for conservative policies, and his willingness to challenge established figures within his own party.

After withdrawing from the presidential race following the Iowa caucuses, Ramaswamy endorsed Trump and became one of his most enthusiastic political supporters.

Following Trump’s election victory, Ramaswamy was initially selected to help lead the administration’s Department of Government Efficiency initiative alongside Elon Musk, although he departed before the administration took office.

He subsequently announced his campaign for Ohio governor in February 2025, presenting himself as a political outsider who would bring business-oriented management and sweeping government reforms to Columbus.

Trump endorsed his candidacy, and Ohio Republican leaders quickly rallied behind him, effectively clearing the path to the party’s nomination.

Ramaswamy campaigned on reducing government inefficiency, promoting economic development, and applying the principles of private-sector management to state government.

Acton, however, pursued a markedly different strategy, emphasizing economic affordability, access to health care, and the financial pressures confronting working families.

A native of Youngstown, Acton frequently discussed her difficult childhood, including periods of homelessness, using her personal experiences to connect with voters concerned about rising living expenses and economic insecurity.

She previously served as director of the Ohio Department of Health under DeWine, a Republican, and became a prominent public figure during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Her handling of the pandemic remained controversial throughout the campaign, with Ramaswamy and other Republicans criticizing restrictions imposed during that period.

Acton defended her public service and sought to shift attention toward the economic and health care challenges facing Ohio residents.

The race became increasingly bitter during its closing weeks, particularly after Ramaswamy’s campaign released a television advertisement featuring Acton’s estranged mother.

In the advertisement, Acton’s mother accused her daughter of dishonesty, prompting an immediate backlash over the use of deeply personal family circumstances in a political campaign.

The controversy was especially sensitive because Acton had previously disclosed a traumatic childhood involving allegations of abuse by her stepfather.

The advertisement drew criticism from Democrats and Republicans alike, including DeWine and Republican Senator Jon Husted, who objected to the campaign’s decision to involve Acton’s family history.

The Ramaswamy campaign reportedly committed approximately $4 million to airing the advertisement before withdrawing it roughly a week before Election Day.

Trump defended the advertisement, while Vance criticized Republicans who publicly condemned it.

The controversy intensified scrutiny of Ramaswamy’s campaign tactics and threatened to distract from his central message about economic development and government reform.

Despite significant Republican spending, Acton maintained a competitive position throughout the final stages of the race and ultimately secured a victory that few would have expected in a state Trump had carried comfortably just two years earlier.

More than $100 million was reportedly spent opposing Acton’s candidacy, making her victory particularly noteworthy given the considerable financial resources directed against her.

Her campaign also benefited from broader Democratic momentum in Ohio, where former Senator Sherrod Brown won his race to return to Washington, defeating Republican Senator Jon Husted.

The simultaneous Democratic victories in Ohio’s gubernatorial and Senate contests represent a substantial reversal for a state that Republicans had increasingly regarded as reliably favorable territory.

For Ramaswamy, the defeat interrupts a rapid political ascent that began with his emergence as a nationally recognized conservative commentator and presidential candidate.

Although he had never previously held elected office, Ramaswamy had become a familiar presence in Republican political circles and was frequently discussed as a potential future leader of the party.

His gubernatorial campaign was widely viewed as an opportunity to establish a record in elected office and strengthen his standing within the national Republican movement.

Instead, Tuesday’s results leave his immediate political future uncertain.

For Trump, the outcome represents another defeat for a personally endorsed candidate during a midterm election in which Democrats made significant gains across the country.

The president’s endorsement was a central feature of Ramaswamy’s campaign, and the Republican candidate repeatedly emphasized his alignment with the administration’s priorities.

Acton’s victory also raises questions about the effectiveness of relying on Trump’s political popularity in statewide races when the president himself is not on the ballot.

Ohio’s political trajectory had appeared to favor Republicans following successive Trump victories and years of GOP control of state government.

The Democratic victory demonstrates that the state’s electorate remains capable of delivering major reversals, particularly when voters are dissatisfied with economic conditions or the direction of national politics.

Acton, meanwhile, sought to present her election as an opportunity to move beyond the bitterness that characterized much of the campaign.

“The healing begins today,” she declared following her victory.

She pledged to govern for all Ohioans, including those who had supported her Republican opponent, and emphasized the need to lower political tensions while addressing the practical concerns of families throughout the state.

Acton will take office with a Republican-controlled state legislature, potentially complicating her efforts to implement major policy changes and requiring negotiations with lawmakers who opposed her candidacy.

Nevertheless, her election represents a major breakthrough for Ohio Democrats and gives the party a prominent new governor in a state that has played an important role in national politics for decades.

For Ramaswamy, the loss is a significant personal and political setback. For Republicans, it is another indication that the party’s electoral difficulties extended well beyond the most competitive congressional districts.

And for Democrats, Acton’s victory stands as one of the clearest examples of the party’s ability to win major statewide contests even in territory that had appeared increasingly secure for Republicans.

The defeat of one of Trump’s most recognizable political allies is certain to generate further debate within Republican circles about the party’s campaign strategy, its relationship with the president, and its prospects heading into the final two years of his administration.

New York Attorney General Letitia James, one of President Donald Trump’s most prominent political and legal adversaries, has won reelection to a third term, defeating Republican challenger Saritha Komatireddy in a contest that once again placed James’s yearslong confrontation with the president at the center of a statewide election.

James, a Democrat who has repeatedly pursued legal action against Trump and his administration, declared victory Tuesday night as election returns showed her holding a commanding lead over Komatireddy, a former federal prosecutor who had received Trump’s endorsement.

With approximately 52 percent of the expected vote counted, James was leading with roughly 67 percent to Komatireddy’s 33 percent, according to election results reported early Wednesday. The outcome allows James to remain New York’s chief legal officer for another four years, positioning her to continue challenging the Trump administration in court.

“My heart is full tonight. This victory belongs to each and every one of you,” James told supporters at a Democratic gathering in Manhattan shortly after 10 p.m.

“New Yorkers spoke loud and clear: they want Tish James to finish the job,” she declared.

The victory represents a political setback for Trump, who had supported Komatireddy’s effort to unseat an attorney general whose legal battles with him have generated national attention for years.

James first took office in 2019 and has become a central figure in Democratic legal efforts against Trump, both through litigation involving his business interests and through lawsuits challenging policies implemented by his administration.

Her most prominent case against the president involved a civil fraud lawsuit accusing Trump and his businesses of misrepresenting asset valuations. The case resulted in a substantial financial judgment, although an appellate court subsequently overturned the monetary penalty. Further proceedings remain pending, with New York’s highest court expected to consider the matter next year.

The legal confrontation between James and Trump has also extended beyond the civil fraud proceedings.

In October 2025, James was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to a home purchase in Norfolk, Virginia. She pleaded not guilty, and the charges were subsequently dismissed after a federal judge determined that the prosecutor responsible for the case had not been lawfully appointed.

Trump has repeatedly criticized James, portraying her investigations as politically motivated. James, meanwhile, has maintained that her office’s legal actions are grounded in the law and that public officials should be held accountable regardless of their political standing.

Komatireddy, 42, sought to capitalize on those controversies during the campaign, arguing that James had allowed her political disputes with Trump to distract from the responsibilities of the attorney general’s office.

The Republican challenger, who previously served as a federal prosecutor, emphasized public safety, retail theft, street crime, and concerns about the priorities of New York’s law enforcement establishment.

She accused James of devoting excessive attention to national political battles while failing to adequately address issues affecting ordinary New Yorkers.

James rejected those accusations, defending her record on consumer protection, civil rights, antitrust enforcement, and litigation involving major corporations.

The campaign became increasingly contentious in its final weeks as Komatireddy raised additional funds and expanded her television advertising campaign.

Her attacks also focused on allegations raised by a former prosecutor in the attorney general’s office, who claimed that supervisors had improperly directed investigations toward individuals and organizations associated with Trump.

James disputed the allegations, and the controversy became another flashpoint in a campaign already dominated by questions about the political independence of the attorney general’s office.

Despite the Republican challenger’s efforts, James entered Election Day with substantial advantages in a state where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by more than two to one.

New York has not elected a Republican attorney general since 1994, and polling throughout the campaign consistently showed James maintaining a double-digit advantage.

Komatireddy’s campaign attempted to narrow that gap by appealing to voters frustrated with crime, government spending, and what Republicans described as the politicization of law enforcement.

Trump’s endorsement, however, presented both an opportunity and a challenge for the Republican candidate. While it helped establish her credentials among the president’s supporters, Trump remains a deeply polarizing figure in New York, particularly in New York City and its surrounding Democratic strongholds.

James, for her part, used the president’s support for her opponent to reinforce her argument that the election was about preserving an independent attorney general willing to challenge the White House.

The result ensures that James will remain a major legal opponent of the Trump administration during the second half of the president’s term.

Her office has already participated in numerous lawsuits challenging federal policies, and her reelection provides her with a renewed mandate to continue those efforts.

For Trump, the defeat of his endorsed candidate means that one of his most persistent adversaries will retain a powerful statewide position, with the authority to initiate investigations, pursue civil litigation, and participate in legal challenges to federal government actions.

For James, Tuesday’s victory represents both a personal political triumph and an opportunity to continue the legal battles that have defined much of her tenure.

President Donald Trump said Tuesday night that he is prepared to accept the results of the 2026 midterm elections, even as Republicans suffered major losses across the country, and indicated that he would be willing to negotiate with Democrats as they move toward taking control of Congress.

In an interview with The New York Times as election results continued to come in, Trump acknowledged the Republican setbacks but attributed much of the party’s disappointing performance to the fact that his own name was not on the ballot.

“I am absolutely willing to accept those results,” Trump told the newspaper.

The president also signaled that he was prepared to deal with Democratic congressional leaders despite the increasingly unfavorable political landscape for his administration.

“We’ll work with the Democrats, and we’ll, you know, look forward to working with them. We’ll probably work something out,” Trump said.

The remarks came as Democrats were projected to regain control of the House of Representatives and were making substantial gains in Senate contests, threatening to dramatically change the political balance in Washington for the remaining two years of Trump’s presidency.

Republicans entered Election Day hoping to preserve their congressional majorities, with Trump campaigning extensively in battleground states and urging voters to support Republican candidates as a way of strengthening his administration.

Instead, Democrats scored victories in a series of competitive races, including several contests in states that Trump had carried during the 2024 presidential election.

Trump, however, argued that the outcome would have been considerably different had he personally been seeking reelection.

“I wasn’t on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE! Thank you for your attention to this matter,” the president wrote on Truth Social.

The statement reflected an argument that Trump and his advisers have made throughout the election cycle: that the president’s personal appeal to voters does not necessarily translate into comparable support for Republican candidates when he is not running.

A White House official, speaking to The Washington Post as results came in, similarly suggested that Trump’s supporters are more likely to participate when he is personally on the ballot and that some Republican candidates had failed to generate sufficient enthusiasm among voters.

The official also indicated that the president was in a defiant mood as he monitored the election returns at a White House gathering.

Trump’s comments to the Times were particularly notable because he had previously declined to make an unconditional commitment to accepting the election results.

Asked by reporters on October 27 whether he would recognize the outcome if Republicans lost, Trump responded, “I will — if they’re honest elections.”

His latest remarks appeared to represent a more conciliatory approach, although the president did not elaborate on whether he was withdrawing his earlier qualification concerning the integrity of the vote.

The question of Trump’s willingness to accept unfavorable election results has remained politically sensitive since the disputed aftermath of the 2020 presidential election, when he challenged his defeat to Joe Biden and alleged widespread voting irregularities.

In the weeks leading up to this year’s midterms, Trump repeatedly raised concerns about election procedures and criticized aspects of the voting system.

Nevertheless, his comments Tuesday night suggested that he was preparing for the possibility of governing alongside a Democratic-controlled Congress rather than immediately challenging the outcome.

At the same time, Trump made clear in a separate interview with CBS News that he has no intention of surrendering his ability to pursue his agenda if Democrats take control of one or both chambers.

Speaking with CBS chief Washington analyst Robert Costa before polls closed Tuesday, the president emphasized that he would retain substantial constitutional and executive authority regardless of the election results.

“I have the ultimate power — it’s called ‘veto,’” Trump declared.

The president said he would not hesitate to reject legislation advanced by Democrats if he considered it inconsistent with his administration’s priorities.

He also suggested that repeated presidential vetoes could eventually force Democratic leaders to negotiate with the White House.

“Historically, you veto for a couple of months and then they come and say, ‘We’ve got to make a deal,’” Trump said.

Trump indicated that he would be comfortable being described as “Mr. Veto” if congressional Democrats attempted to push legislation that he opposed.

His remarks offered an early indication of how the administration might approach the next Congress, with the president prepared to combine legislative negotiations with the threat of blocking Democratic proposals.

Trump also argued that recent Supreme Court decisions had strengthened his authority to act independently of Congress, particularly in the management of federal agencies.

Citing a ruling involving his authority to remove Federal Trade Commission member Rebecca Slaughter, Trump said the decision had expanded the powers available to the executive branch.

“We won the Slaughter case and the Slaughter case gives the president tremendous powers that it never had before,” he said.

The president suggested that he could use those powers to continue advancing administration policies even if Democrats controlled the legislative branch.

“The presidency, our presidency, is considered a strong presidency. You can do a lot,” Trump said.

The comments raised the prospect of significant confrontations between the White House and Congress over immigration enforcement, trade policy, federal spending, and the administration’s management of government agencies.

A Democratic majority in the House would give the opposition party control of congressional committees, including the authority to conduct investigations, summon administration officials, and issue subpoenas.

Democrats would also be able to block major Republican legislative proposals and exercise greater influence over federal spending negotiations.

Should Democrats also secure the Senate, the political consequences would be even more substantial, potentially affecting Trump’s ability to secure confirmation of judicial nominees, Cabinet officials, and other presidential appointments.

Despite the possibility of losing congressional control, Trump insisted in his CBS interview that he had done everything possible to assist Republican candidates.

The president pointed to his extensive campaign schedule, arguing that his rallies had energized Republican voters and helped improve the party’s prospects.

“If you remember, about 30, 40 days ago, people were saying it’s going to be a big loss, and now people are talking about, like we could even win it,” Trump said before the election results became clear.

“I think the tour made a big difference. I did 29 days, 33 of these things, and they were all massive rallies, they were big rallies. No one has ever done anything like it. And I think we got the word out. I think we got the enthusiasm out, too.”

Trump said he had undertaken the demanding campaign schedule because he wanted to protect the accomplishments of his administration.

“I just think that we’re doing so well that I didn’t want to see anything get in the way of what we’ve done,” he explained.

The president also expressed confidence that his economic and trade policies would ultimately produce results that would strengthen Republican political prospects.

However, the election results suggested that significant numbers of voters remained dissatisfied with the direction of the country, particularly over the cost of living, economic uncertainty, and the administration’s foreign policy.

The White House has maintained that many of those concerns will diminish as economic conditions improve and the conflict with Iran moves toward a resolution.

The prospect of a Democratic-controlled Congress also raises questions about whether the opposition party will pursue investigations of the administration or potentially seek another impeachment of Trump.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has declined to commit to impeachment proceedings, saying that any such decision would have to be based on the facts, applicable law, and the Constitution.

Trump was impeached twice during his first term and acquitted by the Senate on both occasions.

For now, the president’s comments suggest that he is attempting to balance two competing messages: an acknowledgment that Republicans have suffered serious electoral setbacks and an insistence that his administration will remain politically powerful regardless of who controls Congress.

His willingness to accept the election results and negotiate with Democrats could provide an opening for bipartisan agreements on selected issues.

At the same time, his explicit warnings about vetoes and executive authority indicate that the White House is preparing for an increasingly confrontational political environment.

With the new Congress scheduled to take office in January 2027, the midterm results are poised to reshape the final half of Trump’s second term, potentially replacing the Republican-controlled Congress that supported much of his agenda with Democratic lawmakers determined to challenge his administration.

Trump, however, has made clear that he believes the presidency itself will remain a formidable source of political power, regardless of Tuesday night’s results.

{Matzav.com}

Democrats have won control of the United States Senate, according to projections by CBS News, delivering a sweeping political defeat to Republicans and fundamentally altering the balance of power in Washington for the final two years of President Donald Trump’s second term.

The Democratic takeover follows an extraordinary series of election-night victories in traditionally Republican states, including Texas, South Carolina, North Carolina, Ohio, Iowa, and Kansas, where Democratic candidates overcame Republican opponents in contests that had initially appeared difficult or nearly impossible for the party to win.

Republicans entered Tuesday’s midterm elections holding a 53-47 Senate majority, leaving Democrats needing a net gain of four seats to take control of the chamber. With Vice President JD Vance empowered to break tie votes, Democrats needed to secure at least 51 seats to guarantee a majority.

What began as a difficult electoral map for Democrats turned into a remarkably successful election night, fueled by voter dissatisfaction with the economy, rising living expenses, the war with Iran, and President Trump’s policies.

Among the most significant victories was Texas, where Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton for the seat being vacated by Senator John Cornyn. The result ended a decades-long Democratic losing streak in Texas Senate elections and represented one of the night’s most consequential political upsets.

In Ohio, former Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown staged a remarkable comeback, defeating Republican Senator Jon Husted in the special election for the seat previously held by Vice President Vance.

Brown had lost his own Senate seat to Republican Bernie Moreno just two years earlier, making his return to Washington an especially striking political reversal.

Democrats also captured North Carolina’s open Senate seat, where former Governor Roy Cooper defeated Republican Michael Whatley, a former Republican National Committee chairman who entered the race with Trump’s encouragement.

In South Carolina, Democrat Annie Andrews defeated Republican Senator Darline Graham, delivering another unexpected victory in a state that has long been considered a Republican stronghold.

Iowa produced another major Democratic pickup, with state Representative Josh Turek defeating Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson for the seat being vacated by Senator Joni Ernst.

Turek, a two-time Paralympic gold medalist, successfully attacked Hinson over her support for the administration’s trade policies and the war with Iran, arguing that Republican decisions had contributed to rising costs for Iowa farmers and families.

Kansas also emerged as a major Democratic breakthrough, with Adam Hamilton’s victory over Republican Senator Roger Marshall adding to the party’s gains in states where Democrats had struggled for generations to win Senate elections.

At the same time, Democrats successfully defended several seats that Republicans had hoped to capture.

In Georgia, Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff defeated Republican Congressman Mike Collins, preserving a critical Democratic-held seat in a state Trump carried in 2024.

In New Hampshire, Democratic Congressman Chris Pappas defeated former Republican Senator John Sununu, keeping the seat of retiring Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen in his party’s hands.

The results were especially damaging for Republicans because several of the defeated candidates had received strong support from Trump, who had invested considerable political capital in maintaining his party’s Senate majority.

The election was widely viewed as a national referendum on the president’s second term, with voters expressing concerns about inflation, tariffs, energy costs, and the administration’s handling of the conflict with Iran.

The consequences for the White House could be substantial.

Democratic control of the Senate would give the party authority over the chamber’s committees, legislative agenda, and confirmation process for presidential appointments.

Republicans would no longer be able to rely on their Senate majority to advance Trump’s judicial nominees, Cabinet appointments, and other executive branch selections without Democratic cooperation.

The shift could prove particularly important if a vacancy develops on the U.S. Supreme Court, where conservatives currently hold a 6-3 majority.

A Democratic-controlled Senate would possess the power to block or delay a presidential Supreme Court nominee, potentially preventing Trump from making another lifetime appointment to the nation’s highest court.

The new majority would also give Democrats greater authority to conduct investigations, issue subpoenas, and demand testimony from administration officials.

With Democrats also projected to regain control of the House of Representatives, Trump could face opposition from both chambers of Congress during the remaining two years of his presidency.

Such an arrangement would sharply limit the president’s ability to enact major legislation without bipartisan support and could lead to prolonged confrontations over federal spending, immigration enforcement, foreign policy, and government oversight.

For Republicans, the results represent a major reversal from the party’s victories in 2024, when Trump returned to the White House and Republicans secured control of both chambers of Congress.

The party had entered the 2026 election cycle believing that the Senate map favored Republicans, with Democrats forced to defend several competitive seats while attempting to win in states that had become increasingly conservative.

Instead, Democratic candidates succeeded in expanding the battlefield and winning races in states that had appeared safely Republican.

The victories also strengthen the political position of Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, who is positioned to become majority leader when the new Congress convenes in January.

The precise size of the Democratic majority will depend on the remaining races and the completion of vote counting in several states.

Among the contests still attracting national attention is Michigan, where Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers are competing for the seat being vacated by Democratic Senator Gary Peters.

The Michigan contest is particularly significant for Jewish voters because of El-Sayed’s outspoken criticism of Israel and his opposition to American military assistance to the Jewish state.

Nevertheless, the broader outcome is now clear: Democrats have secured enough victories to regain the Senate, completing one of the most dramatic midterm election reversals in recent American political history.

The new Congress will convene in January 2027, with Democrats preparing to exercise substantial new authority over the legislative and confirmation processes and President Trump confronting a dramatically changed political landscape in Washington.

{Matzav.com}

Republican Congressman Jeff Van Drew has conceded defeat to Democratic challenger Zack Mullock in New Jersey’s 2nd Congressional District, ending his eight-year tenure in Washington and delivering another significant Democratic pickup in the battle for control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Van Drew, one of President Donald Trump’s most prominent congressional allies and a former Democrat who switched parties during Trump’s first term, acknowledged his defeat early Wednesday morning after election returns showed Mullock holding a substantial lead.

“I’ve already conceded about 10 minutes ago, I called Zack Mullock and I conceded his victory. He is and will be our new congressman for the next two years,” Van Drew told supporters. “I wish him the very best. I wish him success. His success is our success.”

The concession was reported by Philadelphia’s 6abc Action News at approximately 4:36 a.m. Wednesday. At the time of the report, ABC News had not formally projected a winner, although Van Drew’s public acknowledgment of defeat effectively brought the contest to a close.

Unofficial results published by Decision Desk HQ showed Mullock receiving approximately 52.8 percent of the vote, compared with 46.4 percent for Van Drew, with independent candidate Ramon Mora Jr. receiving less than one percent. The figures were preliminary and subject to additional counting.

Mullock, the mayor of Cape May, will become the district’s first Democratic representative since Van Drew himself won the seat as a Democrat in 2018.

The result is particularly striking because the South Jersey district had become increasingly favorable to Republicans. Van Drew won reelection in 2024 by nearly 17 percentage points, and the district was regarded as likely Republican heading into this year’s election.

New Jersey’s 2nd Congressional District covers much of southern New Jersey, including Atlantic and Cape May counties and portions of Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, and Salem counties. The district encompasses Atlantic City, Cape May, and numerous Jersey Shore communities.

Van Drew, a former state senator, was first elected to Congress in 2018 as a Democrat. His political career took a dramatic turn the following year when he opposed the first impeachment of President Trump and announced that he was joining the Republican Party.

The party switch made Van Drew a national political figure and one of Trump’s most visible supporters in New Jersey. He subsequently won reelection as a Republican in 2020, 2022, and 2024, consolidating his position in a district that had previously been represented by Democrats.

Throughout his congressional tenure, Van Drew aligned himself closely with Trump on immigration, border security, energy policy, and other major national issues.

He also became an outspoken critic of the Democratic Party, frequently arguing that its leadership had moved too far to the left and abandoned the priorities of working-class voters.

Mullock, meanwhile, entered the congressional race with a background in local government, presenting himself as a candidate focused on the practical concerns of South Jersey residents.

As mayor of Cape May, Mullock emphasized his experience addressing municipal issues and argued that the district needed new representation in Washington.

The campaign featured sharp disagreements over healthcare, energy policy, immigration, and the accessibility of elected officials to their constituents.

During the general election, Mullock sought to make the contest a referendum on Van Drew’s alignment with the Trump administration, while the incumbent defended his congressional record and emphasized his efforts on behalf of South Jersey communities.

Mullock had secured the Democratic nomination in June after defeating several primary opponents, including Tim Alexander, Bayly Winder, and Terri Reese.

Van Drew faced no opposition in the Republican primary and entered the general election seeking a fifth term in Congress.

The race initially attracted less national attention than some of New Jersey’s other competitive congressional contests, particularly the 7th District, where Republican Congressman Tom Kean Jr. faced Democrat Rebecca Bennett.

Nevertheless, Mullock’s victory represents a substantial electoral shift in a district that Republicans had appeared well-positioned to retain.

Unofficial county-level returns showed Mullock performing strongly in Atlantic, Cumberland, and portions of Gloucester counties, while Van Drew maintained an advantage in Cape May and the Ocean County portion of the district.

The result adds to a difficult election night for New Jersey Republicans, who also saw Kean defeated in the 7th Congressional District.

For Democrats, capturing Van Drew’s seat carries both numerical and symbolic significance. The party has regained a district that had moved into the Republican column following Van Drew’s high-profile party switch, while also defeating a congressman whose political identity had become closely associated with Trump.

The victory comes as Democrats are projected to regain control of the House of Representatives, potentially giving them the power to block major elements of the president’s legislative agenda and exercise greater oversight of his administration.

Van Drew’s defeat also removes a familiar political figure from New Jersey’s congressional delegation, where he had served since January 2019.

Despite the bitter political divisions surrounding the campaign, Van Drew’s concession struck a conciliatory tone, with the outgoing congressman expressing his hope that Mullock would succeed in representing the district.

Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms has been elected governor of Georgia, defeating Republican businessman Rick Jackson in a historic victory that ends more than two decades of Republican control of the governor’s mansion and makes her the first Black woman elected governor of any U.S. state.

The former Atlanta mayor, 56, was projected the winner Tuesday night by major television networks, including CBS News, CNN, and NBC News, delivering another significant victory for Democrats in one of the nation’s most competitive political battlegrounds.

Bottoms will also become Georgia’s first female governor and its first Black governor, marking a historic milestone in a state whose political landscape has undergone considerable changes in recent years.

Her victory ends a Republican hold on the governorship that began in 2003, when Sonny Perdue took office after defeating Democratic Governor Roy Barnes in the 2002 election.

Bottoms will succeed Republican Governor Brian Kemp, who was prohibited by term limits from seeking a third consecutive term.

The outcome represents a major political setback for Republicans, who had maintained control of Georgia’s executive branch even as Democrats achieved significant victories in presidential and U.S. Senate elections.

Bottoms previously served as mayor of Atlanta from 2018 until 2022, when she declined to seek reelection. She later joined President Joe Biden’s administration, serving as a senior adviser and director of the White House Office of Public Engagement.

Her return to electoral politics placed her at the center of one of the most closely watched gubernatorial contests of the 2026 midterm elections.

Throughout the campaign, Bottoms emphasized healthcare affordability, economic opportunity, housing costs, and voting rights, seeking to assemble a broad coalition of Democratic voters, independents, and moderate Republicans.

She called for expanding Medicaid in Georgia, arguing that the state’s existing healthcare policies had left too many residents without adequate access to medical services, particularly in rural communities.

Bottoms also proposed eliminating state income taxes for teachers, an initiative intended to address concerns about educator recruitment and retention.

Her campaign highlighted the financial pressures confronting working families and argued that Georgia’s government needed to devote greater attention to housing affordability, education, and healthcare.

Jackson, a billionaire healthcare executive and founder of Jackson Healthcare, presented himself as a political outsider with extensive business experience.

He emphasized tax reductions, public safety, economic development, and reducing government regulations, arguing that his business background would allow him to manage the state more effectively.

Jackson invested heavily in his campaign, spending more than $100 million of his personal fortune in an effort to win the governorship.

Despite that extraordinary financial advantage, Bottoms remained competitive throughout the campaign and ultimately prevailed.

The Republican nominee had emerged from a contentious primary contest in which he defeated Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones in a runoff election.

Bottoms, meanwhile, secured the Democratic nomination in May after winning a majority of the primary vote against a field that included former Republican Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan, former state Senator Jason Esteves, and former DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond.

The general election also featured Libertarian candidate Chase Oliver, who had been his party’s presidential nominee in 2024.

Bottoms’ victory reflects the growing competitiveness of Georgia politics, where changing demographics and increased voter participation have transformed a once reliably Republican state into a major national battleground.

Democrats carried Georgia in the 2020 presidential election and subsequently won both of the state’s U.S. Senate seats, but Republicans continued to dominate gubernatorial contests.

Kemp defeated Democrat Stacey Abrams in both 2018 and 2022, maintaining Republican control of the governor’s office despite the state’s increasingly competitive electoral environment.

Abrams’ campaigns, although unsuccessful, helped establish an extensive voter registration and turnout operation that contributed to subsequent Democratic victories.

Bottoms’ election represents the culmination of years of Democratic efforts to expand their coalition among Black voters, suburban residents, younger voters, and other groups throughout the state.

The result also carries national historical significance.

Although Black women have served in Congress, statewide executive offices, and other prominent government positions, none had previously been elected governor of a U.S. state.

Bottoms now becomes the first, breaking a barrier that has stood throughout American history.

Her victory comes during an election cycle that has produced several notable political firsts and significant changes in state leadership.

In Florida, Republican Congressman Byron Donalds won the gubernatorial election, becoming the first Black Republican elected governor in American history.

Bottoms will enter office facing a Republican-controlled Georgia Legislature, a political reality that could complicate efforts to advance some of her principal campaign proposals.

Her ability to expand Medicaid, change state tax policies, and pursue other major initiatives will depend in part on cooperation with Republican lawmakers.

Nevertheless, the governorship will give her considerable influence over state agencies, executive appointments, budget priorities, and the administration of Georgia’s government.

For Democrats, the victory represents an important breakthrough in a state where Republicans had held the governor’s office for 24 consecutive years.

For Republicans, the defeat raises new questions about their ability to maintain control of statewide offices in Georgia as the state’s electorate continues to change.

Bottoms will be inaugurated in January 2027, beginning a new chapter in Georgia politics as the state’s first female governor, its first Black governor, and the first Black woman elected to lead any state in the country.

Democrat Rob Sand has emerged victorious in Iowa’s closely watched gubernatorial election, defeating Republican Zach Lahn and delivering another major victory for Democrats in a state that has moved sharply toward the Republican Party in recent years.

Sand, Iowa’s state auditor and the only Democrat currently holding statewide elected office, will succeed Republican Governor Kim Reynolds, who decided not to seek another term. His victory returns the governor’s mansion to Democratic control for the first time since Terry Branstad defeated Democratic Governor Chet Culver in 2010.

The outcome represents a significant political reversal in Iowa, where Republicans have consolidated their control of state government and President Donald Trump won by a comfortable margin in the 2024 presidential election.

Sand’s victory also comes on a remarkable election night for Iowa Democrats, with state Representative Josh Turek projected to defeat Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson in the race for the state’s open U.S. Senate seat.

Together, the two results represent a substantial setback for Republicans in a state that had increasingly appeared to be moving beyond the reach of Democratic candidates in statewide elections.

Sand, who has served as Iowa’s auditor since 2019, built his campaign around government accountability, fiscal responsibility, and a pledge to move beyond the partisan divisions that have dominated state politics.

A former prosecutor, Sand cultivated a reputation for investigating government spending and identifying waste and misconduct. He frequently emphasized his small-town upbringing and sought to appeal to voters who had supported Republicans in recent elections.

His campaign focused on rising living expenses, declining access to healthcare in rural communities, concerns about water quality, and Iowa’s worsening budget outlook.

Sand also criticized the state’s political leadership over policies he argued had failed to address the needs of ordinary families, while promising a more independent approach to governing.

His Republican opponent, Zach Lahn, a businessman and farmer, entered the general election after pulling off a surprising victory in the Republican primary.

Lahn defeated Congressman Randy Feenstra, who had received President Trump’s endorsement, by a narrow margin in a crowded primary field.

The result was an early indication of divisions within Iowa’s Republican electorate, with Lahn attracting support from grassroots conservatives and voters associated with the Make America Healthy Again movement.

Lahn campaigned on reducing government regulation, encouraging economic development, and changing the direction of state government, despite Republicans having controlled the governor’s office for more than a decade.

The two candidates offered sharply different approaches to the state’s challenges, particularly concerning education, healthcare, agricultural policy, and government spending.

Sand benefited from his existing statewide recognition and his history of outperforming other Democratic candidates in rural and politically conservative areas.

In his 2022 reelection campaign for state auditor, Sand won by fewer than 3,000 votes, demonstrating his ability to attract support beyond the Democratic Party’s traditional base even as Republicans won other statewide races.

His gubernatorial campaign sought to build on that coalition by emphasizing practical concerns rather than national political disputes.

The contest became increasingly competitive during the closing weeks of the campaign, with several public opinion surveys showing Sand ahead of Lahn.

Iowa’s gubernatorial election attracted national attention because of its implications for the broader political environment confronting Republicans during President Trump’s second term.

Although Iowa was once regarded as a presidential battleground, Republicans have won the state in three consecutive presidential elections, and Democrats have struggled to regain their former strength.

Sand’s victory now raises questions about whether economic dissatisfaction and concerns over state government policies are creating new opportunities for Democrats in traditionally Republican territory.

Nevertheless, the governor-elect will face substantial challenges in advancing his agenda, as Republicans retain considerable influence in Iowa’s Legislature.

His ability to enact major changes will depend on negotiations with lawmakers and his willingness to pursue bipartisan agreements.

For Democrats, the victory is particularly meaningful because it gives the party a governorship in a Midwestern state where it had suffered repeated electoral defeats.

Sand will take office in January 2027, becoming Iowa’s first Democratic governor in 16 years and adding another important victory to his party’s election-night gains.

Democrat Sherrod Brown has staged a remarkable political comeback in Ohio, defeating Republican Senator Jon Husted in Tuesday’s closely contested special election and reclaiming a seat in the U.S. Senate just two years after voters removed him from office.

The Associated Press projected Brown the winner in one of the nation’s most expensive and closely watched Senate contests, delivering another important pickup for Democrats as they seek to overturn the Republican majority in Washington.

Brown, 73, previously represented Ohio in the Senate for 18 years before losing his reelection bid to Republican Bernie Moreno in 2024. His latest victory returns him to Washington in the seat previously held by Vice President JD Vance, who resigned from the Senate after winning the 2024 presidential election alongside President Donald Trump.

Husted, Ohio’s former lieutenant governor, was appointed to the Senate by Republican Governor Mike DeWine in January 2025 to fill the vacancy created by Vance’s departure. Tuesday’s special election determined who would serve the remaining two years of Vance’s term, which expires in January 2029.

The outcome represents a significant setback for Republicans in a state that has moved sharply toward the GOP over the past decade. Trump carried Ohio in three consecutive presidential elections, including a decisive victory in 2024, and Republicans have increasingly dominated statewide contests.

Brown’s ability to win under those circumstances demonstrates the difficulties facing Republican candidates amid widespread voter frustration over the cost of living, economic uncertainty, and the policies of the Trump administration.

The race attracted extraordinary national attention and more than $500 million in political spending, making it one of the costliest Senate contests in American history.

Both parties viewed the election as potentially decisive in the battle for control of the Senate, where Republicans entered Election Day holding a 53-47 majority. Democrats needed a net gain of four seats to regain control of the chamber.

Brown, a longtime advocate for organized labor and manufacturing workers, centered his campaign on economic issues, arguing that Republican policies had failed Ohio families struggling with higher prices.

He repeatedly criticized the administration’s tariffs and trade disputes, particularly their effects on Ohio businesses and manufacturers with commercial relationships in Canada.

The war with Iran and its impact on gasoline and transportation costs also became important campaign issues, allowing Brown to argue that Republican leadership had contributed to the financial pressures facing ordinary Americans.

Brown sought to revive the working-class political coalition that had sustained his earlier victories in Ohio, emphasizing his opposition to corporate influence and his longstanding support for American manufacturing.

He also attacked Husted over his connections to major political donors, his support for the expansion of artificial intelligence data centers, and his involvement in testimony connected to Ohio’s FirstEnergy bribery scandal.

Another point of contention involved campaign contributions from billionaire Les Wexner, whose past association with Jeffrey Epstein became an issue raised by Brown’s campaign.

Husted rejected the attacks and portrayed Brown as a career politician whose decades in elected office had left him out of touch with the state’s changing political priorities.

The Republican incumbent emphasized Brown’s lengthy political career, which began with his election to the Ohio House of Representatives in 1974, and argued that the Democrat’s record was too liberal for Ohio voters.

Husted also criticized Brown’s support for the federal bank bailout during the 2008 financial crisis, attempting to challenge his reputation as a defender of working-class interests.

President Trump endorsed Husted and campaigned on his behalf, seeking to energize Republican voters and prevent Democrats from capturing a seat in a state that had become an important component of the GOP’s electoral coalition.

The president’s involvement, however, was not enough to overcome the political environment confronting Republicans.

Brown benefited from dissatisfaction among voters concerned about inflation, energy prices, and the direction of the economy, including some rural and working-class voters who had supported Republican candidates in recent elections.

The contest also drew substantial spending from cryptocurrency industry organizations, which had previously opposed Brown because of his positions on financial regulation during his tenure as chairman of the Senate Banking Committee.

Cryptocurrency-backed political groups had spent heavily against Brown during his unsuccessful 2024 reelection campaign, and they again invested millions of dollars in efforts to defeat him.

Republican-aligned organizations, including the Senate Leadership Fund, also poured enormous sums into the race, underscoring the national importance of retaining the Ohio seat.

Brown’s victory is especially noteworthy because he had appeared to be facing the end of his political career following his defeat by Moreno two years earlier.

That loss ended his three-term Senate tenure and left Ohio without a Democratic U.S. senator for the first time in years.

Rather than retiring from politics, Brown accepted the challenge of running again, this time against an appointed incumbent in a special election that offered Democrats an opportunity to reverse their 2024 losses.

His return makes him one of the relatively few senators in modern American history to regain a seat in the chamber after losing a reelection campaign.

The last former senator to accomplish a comparable comeback was Republican Slade Gorton of Washington, who lost his seat in 1986 before winning election to the Senate again in 1988.

For Democrats, Brown’s victory carries significance beyond Ohio. The party has been seeking to rebuild its electoral strength among working-class voters in states where Republicans have made substantial gains during the Trump era.

Brown’s success offers Democrats evidence that candidates with established labor credentials and a strong economic message can remain competitive even in states that have become increasingly Republican.

For Republicans, the defeat removes a sitting senator and raises questions about the party’s ability to maintain its recent electoral dominance in Ohio when Trump himself is not on the ballot.

The result also strengthens Democratic hopes of securing enough Republican-held seats to reclaim the Senate majority, potentially limiting Trump’s ability to advance his legislative agenda during the final two years of his presidency.

Brown will return to the Senate in January 2027, representing Ohio alongside Republican Senator Bernie Moreno, the very candidate who defeated him in 2024.

His victory completes an unusual political reversal: After losing his own Senate seat two years ago, Brown will return to Washington by winning the seat once held by the sitting vice president, giving Democrats another critical victory in their effort to regain control of Congress.

Democrat Josh Turek has defeated Republican Congresswoman Ashley Hinson in Iowa’s closely contested U.S. Senate race, according to a projection by NBC News, delivering another major victory for Democrats in their effort to wrest control of the Senate from Republicans.

The outcome represents a significant political reversal in Iowa, a state that has moved steadily toward the Republican Party over the past decade and has not elected a Democratic U.S. senator since Tom Harkin won his final term in 2008.

Turek, an Iowa state representative and two-time Paralympic gold medalist, captured the open seat being vacated by Republican Senator Joni Ernst, who decided not to seek reelection. His victory gives Democrats a crucial pickup in their effort to gain the four additional seats needed to secure a Senate majority.

The race was among the most expensive and closely watched Senate contests in the country, attracting approximately $200 million in spending by the candidates and outside political organizations.

Hinson, a three-term congresswoman who received President Donald Trump’s endorsement, entered the race with strong Republican support and the advantage of competing in a state that Trump had carried comfortably in recent presidential elections.

Nevertheless, Turek successfully turned the contest into a referendum on the administration’s economic policies, particularly the impact of tariffs on Iowa farmers and businesses and the rising costs associated with the war in Iran.

Throughout the campaign, Turek repeatedly criticized Hinson for supporting Trump’s trade policies, arguing that tariffs had increased expenses for agricultural producers and consumers across the state.

He also attacked her voting record concerning the war with Iran, which contributed to higher gasoline and diesel prices and increased transportation costs.

Hinson struggled to balance her support for Trump with efforts to present herself as an independent-minded legislator willing to challenge the administration when necessary.

During an October 21 interview with NBC Nightly News anchor Tom Llamas, Hinson defended her approach to the president.

“I work alongside the president. When he’s right for Iowa, I’m going to tell him. When he’s wrong for Iowa, I’m going to tell him,” she said. “But that’s not a change for me in how I’ve operated. I’ve always worked with both sides to get things done for Iowa.”

Her attempt to establish political distance from Trump became particularly evident in September, when she called for an end to the war with Iran after previously voting seven times against efforts to end the conflict.

Turek seized on the reversal, accusing Hinson of changing her position in response to shifting public opinion rather than consistently representing Iowa voters.

Trump personally campaigned for Hinson, holding a rally in Sioux City on October 21 in an effort to energize Republican voters and protect the seat.

The president’s involvement, however, was insufficient to overcome growing dissatisfaction among voters concerned about the economy and the cost of living.

Turek’s victory is also notable because of his extraordinary personal background.

Born with spina bifida, a condition he has attributed to his father’s exposure to Agent Orange during military service in Vietnam, Turek became an accomplished wheelchair basketball player, winning gold medals with the United States team at the 2016 and 2020 Summer Paralympics.

He subsequently entered politics and won election to the Iowa House of Representatives in 2022, becoming the first permanently disabled member of the state Legislature.

His biography became an important component of his Senate campaign, allowing him to present himself as someone who had overcome significant personal challenges while advocating for working families and people with disabilities.

Before facing Hinson, Turek defeated Iowa State Senator Zach Wahls in a contentious Democratic primary, winning approximately 63 percent of the vote to Wahls’ 37 percent.

Although Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee did not formally endorse Turek during the primary, he was widely regarded as their preferred candidate.

Hinson, meanwhile, enjoyed strong support from the Republican establishment, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune and National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Tim Scott.

Their early endorsements helped clear the Republican primary field, allowing Hinson to secure her party’s nomination with approximately 75 percent of the vote.

During the general election, Hinson sought to portray Turek as closely aligned with the national Democratic leadership and the party’s progressive wing.

She also highlighted her congressional record, including bipartisan legislation addressing stillbirth prevention and rural veterans’ mental health that was signed into law by President Joe Biden.

Despite those efforts, the contest remained extremely competitive throughout the fall, with public opinion surveys repeatedly showing the candidates separated by only a few percentage points.

Turek’s victory now adds Iowa to the growing list of Republican-held Senate seats captured by Democrats during the 2026 midterm elections.

The result is particularly consequential because Democrats entered Election Day facing a difficult path to regaining the Senate majority, requiring a net gain of at least four seats.

Iowa had initially appeared to be challenging territory for Democrats, given the state’s increasingly Republican voting patterns and the party’s long absence from the Senate winner’s column.

Turek’s win demonstrates the extent to which economic concerns and dissatisfaction with the Trump administration shaped the political environment in several states that had previously been considered reliably Republican.

For Hinson, the defeat ends her bid to move from the House of Representatives to the Senate after three terms representing Iowa in Congress.

For Turek, it marks a remarkable political ascent from Paralympic champion and first-term state legislator to United States senator-elect.

He will take office in January 2027, becoming Iowa’s first Democratic U.S. senator in nearly two decades and giving his party another critical seat as the battle for control of Congress continues.

The Toms River Jewish Community Council (TRJCC) scored a significant election-night victory Tuesday as all three of its endorsed candidates won seats on the Toms River Regional Board of Education, delivering a clean sweep in a closely watched contest dominated by concerns over soaring school taxes, district spending, and the future of public education.

Incumbent board members Ashley Lamb and James Capone secured reelection, while newcomer Laura Picurro won her first term on the nine-member school board. The three candidates emerged victorious in a seven-person contest for three available seats, with all 63 election districts reporting.

According to unofficial election results, Lamb led the field with 11,187 votes, followed closely by Capone with 11,043. Picurro secured the third seat with 10,628 votes.

Together, the three TRJCC-endorsed candidates received 32,858 votes, exceeding the combined total of the next three candidates by 6,744 votes.

The outcome represents an important political success for Toms River’s growing frum community, which has become increasingly involved in municipal and school board elections as local families seek greater representation and a stronger voice in decisions affecting property taxes, educational spending, and community services.

The TRJCC endorsed the three candidates after they committed to opposing additional school tax increases and identifying opportunities to reduce spending without compromising educational quality.

Those commitments resonated amid growing frustration over the financial pressures facing Toms River homeowners, particularly following school tax increases totaling nearly 30 percent over the past three years.

The Toms River Regional School District has faced serious financial challenges, including declining state education aid, budget shortfalls, and disagreements over how to balance the district’s financial obligations with the burden imposed on local taxpayers.

The financial situation became particularly contentious when the school board previously authorized steps toward exploring Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection, highlighting the severity of the district’s budget difficulties.

Throughout the campaign, the candidates emphasized the importance of fiscal responsibility, greater transparency, and finding ways to maintain educational programs while limiting further increases in property taxes.

Lamb, who currently serves as president of the Board of Education, was seeking her third term. She has been a prominent voice in the district’s ongoing disputes over state school funding and has argued that reductions in financial assistance from Trenton have placed an unfair burden on local residents.

Capone, the board’s vice president, sought another term after serving through a period marked by difficult budget decisions and continuing disagreements over school funding.

Picurro, meanwhile, entered the race as a first-time school board candidate with experience in municipal government. She serves as Toms River’s director of Health and Human Services, overseeing programs for senior citizens and other residents.

Her campaign emphasized responsible budgeting, accountability, and the importance of ensuring that taxpayer funds are used effectively.

The contest featured several competing groups of candidates.

Lamb and Capone appeared on the ballot alongside Gerard Nappi under the slogan “Protect What Matters.” Another slate, consisting of Anthony Colucci, Elizabeth Huber, and Picurro, ran under the banner “Finance, Education, Accountability.”

Kristen Hanson, a former school administrator, also sought a seat under the slogan “Educating Students Responsibly.”

The TRJCC’s endorsements therefore crossed the boundaries of the competing campaign slates, supporting Lamb, Capone, and Picurro based on their stated positions and commitments rather than simply backing one of the established tickets.

That approach proved successful, with all three endorsed candidates finishing ahead of the remaining contenders.

The result is particularly noteworthy because the school board race attracted attention from Toms River Mayor Daniel Rodrick, who supported the slate that included Picurro, Colucci, and Huber.

The TRJCC’s decision to support Picurro while also endorsing Lamb and Capone reflected its emphasis on individual candidates’ commitments to fiscal restraint and the interests of local taxpayers.

For the frum community, school board elections have become an increasingly important part of local civic engagement, even though many Orthodox Jewish families send their children to private yeshivos rather than public schools.

School taxes represent a substantial portion of homeowners’ property tax bills, making district spending decisions a significant concern for families regardless of where their children attend school.

The school board also plays an important role in overseeing transportation, special education services, and other programs that can affect families throughout the broader community.

Tuesday’s results demonstrate the TRJCC’s growing ability to organize voters and influence local elections through a coordinated endorsement effort.

The victory comes amid other significant election-night developments in Ocean County, including the reelection of Lakewood Mayor Ray Coles and Committeewoman Deborah Fuentes, both of whom received the endorsement of the Lakewood Vaad.

In neighboring Jackson, meanwhile, challenger Elliott Shem-Tov defeated incumbent Mayor Jennifer Kuhn in another closely watched municipal contest.

The results across the region highlight the growing political importance of local elections and the role community organizations are playing in determining municipal and educational leadership.

For Toms River, the immediate focus will now turn to the newly elected board members and their efforts to address the district’s financial challenges.

Lamb, Capone, and Picurro will begin their new three-year terms in January 2027, joining the other members of the regional school board as it confronts continuing questions over funding, taxation, spending priorities, and educational services.

Democrat Gina Hinojosa has defeated Republican Governor Greg Abbott in a stunning upset in Texas, ending more than three decades of Republican control of the governor’s mansion and delivering one of the most consequential Democratic victories of the 2026 midterm elections.

Abbott conceded the race Tuesday night at approximately 10 p.m. Central Time, acknowledging defeat in his bid for an unprecedented fourth term. The result marks the first Democratic victory in a Texas gubernatorial election since Ann Richards won in 1990, and the first time a Democrat has won any statewide election in Texas since 1994.

Hinojosa, a 52-year-old state representative from Austin and former school board president, will become the first Latina governor in Texas history. Her victory represents an extraordinary political reversal in a state that President Donald Trump carried by a substantial margin just two years ago and where Republicans have dominated statewide politics for an entire generation.

The upset is particularly remarkable because Abbott entered the campaign as one of the country’s most powerful Republican governors, armed with an enormous fundraising advantage, a sophisticated statewide political operation, and a record of winning his previous three gubernatorial elections by double-digit margins.

Abbott had accumulated more than $100 million in campaign funds and ultimately spent approximately $118 million on advertising, compared with roughly $26 million spent by Hinojosa. Despite that financial advantage, the Republican governor was unable to overcome a political environment increasingly favorable to Democrats.

Hinojosa built her campaign around public education, economic affordability, and opposition to what she described as the excessive influence of corporations and billionaires over Texas government.

A labor attorney by profession, Hinojosa entered politics after becoming concerned about the possible closure of her son’s elementary school in 2012. She successfully ran for the Austin Independent School District board, eventually becoming its president, before winning election to the Texas House of Representatives in 2016.

During her years in the Legislature, she became a prominent opponent of Abbott’s school voucher initiative, arguing that public funds should be directed toward strengthening public schools rather than subsidizing private education.

That issue became a central element of her gubernatorial campaign, particularly in rural Texas communities where public schools often serve as major employers and important community institutions.

Hinojosa also criticized the rapid expansion of large data centers throughout Texas, accusing powerful technology companies of placing growing demands on local water supplies, electricity infrastructure, and land resources without adequate government oversight.

She promised to impose stronger regulations on the industry, eliminate the state’s school voucher program, and return $1,500 to each Texas household from state reserves.

Abbott, meanwhile, sought to portray Hinojosa as a liberal Democrat whose policies would threaten the state’s economic growth, increase taxes, and move Texas toward the political model of heavily Democratic states such as California.

The governor emphasized his administration’s record on job creation, property tax reductions, border security, and economic development. He also attacked Hinojosa over her positions on social issues, including transgender participation in school athletics.

As early voting began, Abbott warned that electing Democrats would jeopardize the state’s conservative policies.

“These aren’t average Democrats — these are the furthest left radical Democrats we see in the United States of America,” Abbott declared. “We will not allow those radical leftist Democrats to destroy our economy, to make our communities unsafe and to put Texas a step backward. There’s too much on the line.”

Hinojosa attempted to avoid prolonged disputes over cultural issues, instead presenting her campaign as an effort to unite voters across party lines around concerns about affordability, education, and government accountability.

“People are tired of fighting the culture wars,” she said during an appearance at the Texas Tribune Festival in September. “The future feels very scary for so many Texans, and so it’s just created this opportunity for us to come together. And I do feel like it is a watershed moment, almost a post-partisan moment, where 99% of us are in the same boat.”

The race tightened considerably during the summer and fall, with several public polls showing Hinojosa ahead of Abbott, a development that would have appeared highly unlikely when she launched her candidacy in October 2025.

Democratic organizations subsequently increased their investments in the race, recognizing an unexpected opportunity to capture the governor’s mansion in a state that had long been considered safely Republican.

The contest also benefited from extraordinary voter interest in the U.S. Senate race between Democrat James Talarico and Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton.

More than 7.7 million Texans cast ballots during the state’s early voting period, representing approximately 40.5 percent of registered voters and establishing a modern midterm early-voting turnout record.

Early returns Tuesday showed Hinojosa performing strongly in major metropolitan areas and several politically competitive suburban counties, including communities in North Texas that have become increasingly important battlegrounds.

Her victory came alongside Talarico’s projected defeat of Paxton, giving Democrats two historic statewide victories on the same night and signaling a dramatic shift in the state’s political landscape.

The last Democrat to occupy the Texas governor’s mansion was Ann Richards, who served from 1991 until 1995 before losing her reelection bid to George W. Bush in 1994.

Since then, Republicans have maintained uninterrupted control of the governorship, with Bush, Rick Perry, and Abbott collectively holding the office for more than three decades.

Abbott first became governor in January 2015, succeeding Perry. During his nearly 12 years in office, Texas experienced enormous population growth and economic expansion, along with major challenges involving border security, natural disasters, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the state’s electric power grid.

He also substantially expanded the influence of the governor’s office through executive orders, appointments, emergency declarations, and his use of veto authority.

Hinojosa’s victory will bring a significant change in the state’s executive leadership, although her ability to enact major legislative changes will depend heavily on the composition of the Republican-controlled Legislature.

Texas governors have comparatively limited formal powers, and a Democratic governor facing Republican legislative majorities could encounter substantial obstacles in advancing her agenda.

Nevertheless, Hinojosa will possess important authority over executive appointments, agency leadership, and legislation approved by lawmakers.

She has already pledged to remove Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath, an Abbott appointee, and use her veto power to oppose future congressional redistricting plans that she considers unfair.

For Republicans, Abbott’s defeat represents a major setback in a state that has served as a cornerstone of the party’s national political strength.

For Democrats, the victory fulfills a political ambition that has eluded them for more than 30 years and raises new questions about the future of Republican dominance in one of America’s largest and most influential states.

Republican Congressman Mike Lawler has conceded defeat to Democrat Cait Conley in New York’s 17th Congressional District, bringing an end to his four-year tenure in Washington and handing Democrats a major victory in one of the nation’s most closely watched House races.

Lawler’s concession was reported by FOX 5 New York at approximately 11:03 p.m. Tuesday, as election returns showed Conley leading the Republican incumbent by a substantial margin. According to results reported by the New York Post, Conley received approximately 53.3 percent of the vote compared with 46.6 percent for Lawler.

The outcome represents a significant political development for Rockland County’s frum communities, where Lawler had cultivated extensive relationships with rabbonim, askanim, communal organizations, and local residents throughout his congressional tenure.

The 17th District includes all of Rockland and Putnam counties, along with portions of Westchester and Dutchess counties. Its combination of suburban Democratic voters and more conservative communities had made it a perennial battleground in the struggle for control of the House of Representatives.

Lawler, who first won election to Congress in 2022 by defeating Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Sean Patrick Maloney, had established himself as one of the Republican Party’s most prominent representatives from New York.

His initial victory attracted national attention because he unseated a senior Democratic leader in a district that had been considered favorable to Democrats. He subsequently won reelection in 2024, defeating former Democratic Congressman Mondaire Jones and strengthening his reputation as a Republican capable of winning in politically competitive territory.

Conley, a former national security official and military veteran, entered the race seeking to capitalize on dissatisfaction with the Republican leadership in Washington and concerns about the direction of federal policy under President Donald Trump.

Her campaign focused heavily on affordability, healthcare, government accountability, and the economic pressures facing families throughout the Hudson Valley.

Lawler, meanwhile, emphasized his bipartisan legislative work, constituent services, and record of securing federal assistance for communities throughout the district. He portrayed himself as an independent-minded Republican willing to challenge members of his own party when he believed local interests were at stake.

For Rockland County’s Orthodox Jewish population, Lawler’s defeat carries particular significance because of his longstanding engagement with the community and his outspoken advocacy on issues involving Israel and antisemitism.

Throughout his time in Congress, Lawler was a vocal supporter of Israel, frequently speaking out against antisemitism and criticizing efforts to isolate or delegitimize the Jewish state.

He also maintained regular contact with communal leaders in Monsey, New Square, and surrounding neighborhoods, participating in meetings and events addressing religious freedom, public safety, education, and federal assistance for local institutions.

Lawler’s relationships with the frum community had become an important component of his political coalition, particularly in Rockland County, where Orthodox Jewish voters have played an increasingly influential role in congressional and statewide elections.

His defeat comes despite that support and reflects the broader challenges confronting Republican candidates in competitive suburban districts during this year’s midterm elections.

Conley, who served in the U.S. Army and later worked in national security, presented her professional background as evidence that she could bring a practical approach to Washington.

Her campaign sought to appeal to voters concerned about political polarization while also drawing a clear contrast with Lawler over his support for the Republican congressional leadership and key elements of Trump’s agenda.

The race attracted considerable national attention and substantial campaign spending, with both parties recognizing that the district could prove critical to determining control of the House.

For Democrats, Conley’s victory represents the recapture of a seat they lost during the 2022 midterm elections and another important gain in their effort to build a congressional majority.

For Republicans, Lawler’s defeat removes a prominent member of the party’s New York delegation and a lawmaker who had demonstrated an ability to compete successfully in a district with a substantial Democratic electorate.

The result also comes amid other significant election-night developments in Rockland County, including Democrat Joe Rand’s reported victory over Republican State Senator Bill Weber in the 38th Senate District.

Together, the outcomes point to a difficult election night for Republicans in Rockland County, despite the party’s continued support among substantial portions of the local electorate.

Conley will take office in January 2027, becoming the district’s new representative in Congress.

For Rockland County’s frum residents, her election will begin a new chapter in relations with their congressional representative, with community leaders expected to seek continued cooperation on religious freedom, yeshiva-related concerns, federal funding, public safety, and support for Israel.

The election was also marked by a significant ballot-counting problem in Westchester County, where a software issue caused voting machines to reject thousands of paper ballots. Election officials secured the affected ballots for later counting under bipartisan supervision, and the problem was not expected to change the outcome following Lawler’s concession.

The New York Post reported that Lawler conceded shortly before 11 p.m., despite the outstanding ballots. The result gives Democrats an important congressional pickup and ends one of the most closely watched races of the 2026 midterm elections.

{Matzav.com}

Democratic socialist Aber Kawas has won election to the New York State Senate from Queens, becoming the first Palestinian American and first Muslim woman elected to the New York State Legislature in a historic victory for the growing socialist movement aligned with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Kawas, a Palestinian American community organizer and outspoken critic of Israel, won Tuesday’s election in the heavily Democratic 12th Senate District, securing a seat previously held by longtime Democratic State Senator Michael Gianaris, who decided not to seek reelection.

Her victory marks another significant advance for the Democratic Socialists of America, which has steadily expanded its political influence in New York City and now counts the city’s mayor among its most prominent members.

Kawas, who was born and raised in Brooklyn to Palestinian parents, ran on a platform emphasizing affordable housing, expanded government services, immigrant protections, and opposition to American support for Israel.

She has been particularly outspoken in her criticism of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, repeatedly accusing Israel of genocide and calling for an end to American assistance to the Jewish state.

Kawas has also been closely involved in the controversial “Not On Our Dime” campaign, an initiative developed alongside Mamdani that seeks to prevent New York-based nonprofit organizations from using their tax-exempt status to support certain activities connected to Israel.

Supporters of the campaign contend that it would prevent charitable funds from supporting alleged human rights violations involving Palestinians. Critics have raised concerns that such measures could unfairly target Jewish charitable organizations and interfere with legitimate philanthropic activity connected to Israel.

On her campaign website, Kawas described her involvement in the initiative as part of her broader political activism and pledged to continue advancing Palestinian causes in Albany.

Her election is likely to attract considerable attention from Jewish organizations and pro-Israel advocates, particularly as debates continue in New York over legislation affecting Jewish charities, Israeli institutions, and political activity related to the Middle East.

Kawas’ political background is rooted in grassroots activism rather than traditional elected office. She has spent more than 15 years organizing around economic inequality, immigration policy, and civil rights issues, including involvement in the Fight for $15 minimum-wage movement.

Her personal experiences have also shaped her political outlook. Kawas has said that her father, a Palestinian immigrant, was detained by federal immigration authorities and deported when she was a child, leaving her family facing financial difficulties.

She frequently cited that experience during the campaign while advocating stronger protections for immigrants and restrictions on federal immigration enforcement.

The new senator-elect initially planned to run for a State Assembly seat in Queens but shifted her campaign to the 12th Senate District after Gianaris announced his retirement.

She subsequently secured the endorsement of Mamdani and the New York City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, which made her campaign a priority in its effort to expand its representation in Albany.

In the June Democratic primary, Kawas defeated Assemblyman Steven Raga, who had represented a portion of Queens since 2023 and was seeking to move to the Senate.

Kawas received approximately 60 percent of the primary vote, defeating Raga by roughly 20 percentage points and effectively positioning herself to win the general election in the overwhelmingly Democratic district.

Her general-election opponent was Republican Han Khon To, who faced a difficult contest in a district where Democratic candidates traditionally enjoy substantial advantages.

The 12th Senate District includes portions of Astoria, Sunnyside, Woodside, Ridgewood, Maspeth, Long Island City, Elmhurst, Glendale, and Jackson Heights.

The area has become a center of democratic socialist political organizing in recent years, with candidates associated with the movement winning an increasing number of legislative offices.

Mamdani’s support was particularly important to Kawas’ campaign. The mayor, himself a democratic socialist and outspoken critic of Israel, has used his political influence to promote candidates who share his priorities on housing, government spending, transportation, and foreign-policy-related activism.

Kawas’ victory also comes amid broader electoral gains by candidates affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America, further strengthening the movement’s influence within the New York Democratic Party.

Her election could have implications for the ideological balance within the Democratic majority in the State Senate, particularly on issues involving rent regulation, taxation, government spending, immigration enforcement, and legislation concerning Israel.

Kawas has advocated expanded tenant protections, universal healthcare, free public transportation, and increased public investment in working-class communities.

She has also called for greater restrictions on cooperation between state and local authorities and federal immigration enforcement agencies.

For New York’s Jewish community, her arrival in Albany will likely be watched closely because of her activism involving Israel and her support for policies affecting organizations that provide assistance to Israeli institutions and communities.

Although the State Senate has long included progressive Democrats critical of Israeli government policies, Kawas’ election introduces a legislator whose Palestinian identity and pro-Palestinian activism have been central elements of her political career.

Kawas will take office in January 2027, joining the Democratic majority in Albany and adding another prominent socialist voice to New York’s state government.

New York City voters overwhelmingly supported all five ballot proposals advanced by Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Tuesday, handing the democratic socialist mayor a significant political victory and approving sweeping changes to the way city government handles construction permits, street projects, outdoor dining, government contracts, and financial reserves.

With approximately 88 percent of voting scanners reporting Tuesday night, all five proposals were headed toward passage by comfortable margins, according to unofficial results from the New York City Board of Elections. The first four measures received between 61 and 67 percent support, while the fifth, dealing with the city’s emergency financial reserves, attracted approximately 72 percent approval.

The results represent a clean sweep for Mamdani, whose administration developed the proposals through a 15-member Charter Revision Commission established earlier this year. The commission, known as the Commission on Government Efficiency, was tasked with identifying ways to eliminate bureaucratic obstacles and accelerate government operations.

The measures will amend the New York City Charter, the document governing the structure and operation of municipal government, and will affect several areas of city administration.

The first proposal streamlines the approval process for businesses and property owners seeking permission to use public spaces, including sidewalks and streets. Under the changes, mandatory public hearings for certain applications will be eliminated, and the City Council will lose its authority to reject sidewalk cafe permits after they have received approval from the Department of Transportation. Community boards and elected officials will continue to receive notice and have opportunities to provide input.

The second proposal changes the city’s contracting procedures, allowing officials to simplify paperwork required of businesses and nonprofit organizations seeking municipal contracts. It also requires the city’s Procurement Policy Board to meet at least quarterly and expands the authority of city agencies to approve certain contracts without additional administrative review.

The third measure could have particularly significant consequences for neighborhoods throughout the five boroughs. It accelerates approval procedures for street safety projects, including bike lanes and road redesigns, while reducing some of the reviews required for the sale or lease of city-owned property and government office space.

Under the changes, certain smaller city-owned properties will be eligible for an expedited review process that bypasses final City Council approval. The measure also provides greater flexibility for transportation officials to move forward with projects when immediate safety concerns are identified.

The fourth proposal focuses on construction permits, authorizing the creation of a centralized system through which developers and property owners can submit applications to multiple city agencies. It also expands the number of Department of Buildings officials authorized to approve construction documents and transfers responsibility for certain waterfront construction permits to that department.

The centralized permitting system is scheduled to be developed by 2030, with supporters arguing that it will reduce delays and simplify a process that currently requires applicants to navigate multiple agencies.

The fifth proposal establishes a financial reserve target intended to strengthen the city’s ability to withstand economic downturns and unexpected emergencies.

Under the measure, the city will aim to maintain reserves equivalent to at least 12 percent of the previous year’s tax revenue. The mayor’s budget office, working with the city comptroller, will be required to develop a methodology for reaching that target, although actual contributions will remain subject to the normal budget approval process.

The financial proposal received the strongest support of the five measures, with approximately 72 percent of voters backing it in the initial returns.

Mamdani established the charter commission in May, naming former diplomat and Democratic National Committee official Patrick Gaspard as its chairman. The panel conducted public hearings across the five boroughs before presenting its recommendations.

The commission’s name, Commission on Government Efficiency, was widely viewed as a reference to President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency initiative, although Mamdani’s proposals focused specifically on municipal administrative procedures.

Supporters argued that the changes would reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, speed up government services, and make New York City more responsive to residents and businesses.

Critics, including Republican officials and some civic organizations, raised concerns about reducing public hearings and limiting City Council oversight of certain decisions. Opponents argued that streamlining government should not come at the expense of public participation or accountability.

The proposals involving street redesigns, city-owned property, and outdoor dining generated particular concerns about the potential reduction of neighborhood input into decisions affecting local streets and commercial districts.

Unlike previous charter revision battles, however, the City Council did not mount a coordinated campaign against the measures.

The outcome gives Mamdani another important political victory as he continues implementing his agenda at City Hall. The mayor, who took office in January, has emphasized affordability, housing, and changes to government operations as central priorities of his administration.

Tuesday’s results suggest that voters were broadly receptive to his argument that municipal government should operate more efficiently, even when doing so involves eliminating longstanding review procedures.

The changes will take effect on different schedules, with some provisions becoming operative following certification of the election results and others requiring additional administrative work over the coming years.

While final certified vote totals remain pending, the strong margins reported Tuesday night indicate that all five proposals are on course for approval, giving Mamdani a decisive election-night victory and potentially reshaping several important aspects of New York City government.

Democrat Adam Hamilton has reportedly defeated Republican U.S. Senator Roger Marshall in Kansas, delivering what would be one of the most extraordinary political upsets of the 2026 midterm elections and ending a 94-year Republican winning streak in the state’s U.S. Senate elections.

The reported victory would mark the first time since 1932 that Kansas voters have elected a Democrat to the United States Senate, a historic breakthrough in a state where Republicans have dominated federal elections for generations.

Hamilton, a prominent Methodist pastor and first-time political candidate, entered the campaign as a decided underdog against Marshall, a physician and Republican incumbent seeking his second six-year term. But an increasingly difficult national political environment for Republicans, combined with Hamilton’s appeal to moderate and independent voters, transformed the contest into one of the nation’s most closely watched Senate races.

President Donald Trump carried Kansas by approximately 16 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election, making the prospect of a Democratic Senate victory particularly striking.

Hamilton, the founder and senior pastor of the Church of the Resurrection in the Kansas City area, built his campaign around economic affordability, healthcare, political moderation, and dissatisfaction with Washington. His congregation, which has approximately 25,000 members, is the largest United Methodist congregation in the country.

Although Hamilton had never previously held elected office, his years as a religious leader, author, and public speaker gave him substantial name recognition and helped him establish a political identity that appealed beyond traditional Democratic voters.

His campaign attracted support from moderate Republicans and former Republican officials who had become increasingly dissatisfied with the direction of their party under Trump.

Marshall, meanwhile, sought to portray Hamilton as a liberal Democrat whose election would strengthen the party’s leadership in Washington and threaten conservative priorities.

The incumbent repeatedly warned that a Democratic victory in Kansas could help Democrats gain control of the Senate, making the race a critical battleground in the national struggle for power.

Trump personally intervened in the contest, traveling to Kansas in October to campaign for Marshall and describing the senator as “one of the greatest senators in our country.”

Vice President JD Vance also campaigned for Marshall, while national Republican organizations redirected substantial resources toward defending a seat that had initially been expected to remain safely in Republican hands.

The contest became the most expensive Senate race in Kansas history, with approximately $71 million in advertising commitments from the candidates and outside political organizations.

Hamilton demonstrated unexpectedly strong fundraising ability, collecting millions of dollars from donors across the country and substantially outraising Marshall during important portions of the campaign.

The Democrat also benefited from growing concerns among Kansas voters about inflation, rising fuel prices, and the economic consequences of the Trump administration’s policies.

Marshall faced criticism over his record as a physician after reports revealed that he or his former medical practice had filed hundreds of lawsuits against patients over unpaid medical bills. The senator rejected allegations that his collection practices had been improper.

The campaign also featured disputes over immigration, transgender policies, and the role of religion in politics.

Hamilton sought to present himself as a moderate Democrat, emphasizing his willingness to work with Republicans and arguing that political differences should not prevent cooperation on issues affecting ordinary Americans.

By Election Day, polling showed an extraordinarily competitive race. Decision Desk HQ’s final polling average placed Hamilton ahead by approximately 3.7 percentage points, while its election forecast gave him a narrow 51 percent probability of victory.

The historical significance of the reported outcome is difficult to overstate.

The last Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from Kansas was George McGill, who won reelection in 1932 during the Great Depression, when Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidential victory helped Democrats achieve sweeping gains nationwide.

McGill lost his reelection bid in 1938, and Republicans have held both Kansas Senate seats ever since.

Over the ensuing decades, Democrats occasionally mounted competitive campaigns, but none succeeded in breaking the Republican Party’s hold on the state’s Senate representation.

Even during national Democratic victories, Kansas remained one of the country’s most reliable Republican states in Senate elections.

Hamilton’s reported victory would therefore represent more than an ordinary partisan pickup. It would mark the end of the longest active Senate-election losing streak for either major political party in any state.

The outcome would also represent a serious setback for Trump and national Republican leaders, who devoted considerable attention and resources to protecting Marshall’s seat.

For Democrats, a Kansas victory would provide an unexpected addition to their Senate ranks and further strengthen their position in the battle for control of Congress.

Hamilton would take office in January 2027, becoming the first Democrat to represent Kansas in the U.S. Senate in nearly nine decades.

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Democrat Annie Andrews has defeated Republican U.S. Senator Darline Graham in South Carolina, delivering one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 midterm elections and capturing a Senate seat that Republicans had controlled for nearly three decades.

The Associated Press and CBS News projected Andrews as the winner Tuesday night, marking the first Democratic victory in a South Carolina U.S. Senate election since 1998. The result represents a major setback for President Donald Trump, who personally endorsed Graham, campaigned on her behalf, and encouraged her to seek the seat previously held by her late brother, longtime Republican Senator Lindsey Graham.

Andrews, a 45-year-old pediatrician from Charleston, will also become the first woman ever elected to represent South Carolina in the U.S. Senate, making her victory historic on multiple fronts.

The outcome is particularly remarkable because South Carolina has been considered a reliably Republican state for decades. Trump carried the state by approximately 18 percentage points in the 2024 presidential election, and Republicans initially expected to retain the Senate seat without serious difficulty.

That calculation changed following the sudden death of Lindsey Graham in July at age 71. Governor Henry McMaster appointed his younger sister, Darline Graham, 62, to serve the remainder of his term, and she subsequently entered the race for a full six-year term.

Graham, who previously served as commissioner of the South Carolina Commission for the Blind, had limited experience in national politics. Nevertheless, she quickly secured Trump’s backing and defeated Congressman Ralph Norman in a special Republican primary runoff in August.

Trump invested considerable political capital in her candidacy, personally campaigning for her and urging South Carolina Republicans to support her election.

Despite those efforts, Andrews capitalized on voter concerns about the economy, healthcare costs, and the direction of the country under the Trump administration.

Her campaign emphasized the financial difficulties facing working families, including rising fuel prices, medical expenses, and the broader cost of living. Andrews also criticized what she characterized as corruption and excessive political influence in Washington.

A central element of her campaign was her professional experience as a pediatrician, which she used to highlight concerns about healthcare access and the financial burdens facing families with children.

The race became unexpectedly competitive during its final weeks, prompting Republican organizations to direct substantial resources toward defending a seat that had previously been considered safe.

The Senate Leadership Fund, the principal Republican Senate super PAC, committed approximately $5 million to the contest in October, while the Trump-aligned MAGA Inc. organization contributed additional financial support.

Republicans and their allies ultimately spent approximately $27 million defending the seat, compared with roughly $24 million in outside spending by Democratic groups. Andrews also enjoyed a substantial fundraising advantage over Graham, raising approximately $22 million more than her Republican opponent.

The candidates clashed sharply during the campaign over economic policy, foreign affairs, and their qualifications for office.

Graham faced criticism after acknowledging during an August debate that she was “not that informed on national security” when questioned about American policy toward Taiwan.

Andrews used the remark to argue that Graham lacked the experience necessary to serve in the Senate, particularly at a time of international tensions and American military involvement overseas.

The Democrat also criticized the administration’s war with Iran, describing it as an unnecessary and costly conflict that had contributed to rising fuel prices and placed additional financial pressure on American families.

Graham, meanwhile, remained closely aligned with Trump, defending his economic policies, tariffs, and handling of foreign affairs.

The campaign also featured disputes over social issues, with Andrews attempting to distinguish herself from more progressive Democrats on certain questions involving transgender policies.

In one campaign advertisement, Andrews said she opposed gender-transition surgeries for minors, a position that drew criticism from some liberal advocacy organizations.

Her efforts to appeal to moderate and independent voters appeared to strengthen her candidacy in a state where Democrats have struggled to win statewide elections.

A New York Times/Siena College poll released shortly before Election Day showed the two candidates tied at 48 percent, signaling that the race had become a genuine battleground despite South Carolina’s longstanding Republican leanings.

Tuesday’s result confirmed the extent of the political shift.

The last Democrat to win a U.S. Senate election in South Carolina was Fritz Hollings, who secured reelection in 1998. Republicans have held both of the state’s Senate seats since 2005.

Andrews’ victory ends that Republican dominance and gives Democrats an unexpected pickup in their effort to regain control of the Senate.

The result follows other major Democratic successes Tuesday night, including Roy Cooper’s victory in North Carolina and James Talarico’s projected win in Texas, illustrating the increasingly difficult political environment confronting Republicans.

For Trump, the South Carolina defeat is especially significant because it involved a candidate he personally recruited and strongly supported in a state where his own political standing had previously appeared secure.

For Democrats, Andrews’ victory demonstrates their ability to compete successfully in deeply Republican territory when economic dissatisfaction and concerns about individual candidates create an opening.

Andrews will take office in January 2027, replacing Darline Graham and becoming South Carolina’s first Democratic U.S. senator in more than a quarter-century.

Her election adds another crucial seat to the Democratic column and represents one of the most striking political reversals of the 2026 election cycle.

Republican Deborah Fuentes has won reelection to the Lakewood Township Committee, defeating fellow Republican Moshe Raitzik in a closely watched municipal election that saw the two candidates compete for one of the two available seats on Lakewood’s five-member governing body.

Fuentes’ victory, alongside the projected reelection of Democratic Mayor Ray Coles, means that Lakewood voters have returned both incumbents to office, rejecting challenges from Raitzik and Democratic candidate Samantha Stokes.

The outcome is particularly noteworthy because Fuentes and Raitzik had run together as Republican candidates during the June primary, when both secured their party’s nominations. However, the two found themselves competing for the same seat in the general election after the influential Lakewood Vaad endorsed Fuentes and Coles, one Republican and one Democrat.

The Vaad’s decision reflected its longstanding practice of supporting municipal candidates from both parties based on their relationships with the community and their records on issues affecting Lakewood residents.

Fuentes, who first joined the Township Committee in January 2024, has served on several important municipal committees and has been involved in matters relating to the township’s finances, legal affairs, development, and local government operations.

During her tenure, she has held liaison responsibilities involving the Finance Department, Tax Collector, Zoning Board, and Lakewood Development Corporation, among other municipal agencies.

Raitzik, a longtime Lakewood community figure, currently serves as a fire commissioner and previously served on the Lakewood Board of Education. His candidacy attracted considerable attention, particularly because of his involvement in local communal affairs and his emphasis on the challenges associated with Lakewood’s rapid growth.

Throughout the campaign, Raitzik focused on traffic congestion, road closures, infrastructure improvements, and the impact of continued residential development on the township’s streets and neighborhoods.

Those issues have become increasingly important to Lakewood residents as the municipality continues to experience extraordinary population growth, with new housing developments and expanding neighborhoods placing substantial demands on roads, public services, and municipal resources.

Raitzik had entered the general election with a strong showing in the Republican primary. He finished ahead of Fuentes in the June contest, securing the largest share of the Republican primary vote and demonstrating significant support among party voters.

The general election, however, presented a different political dynamic, particularly after the Vaad announced its support for Fuentes and Coles.

Lakewood’s municipal elections have long differed from its voting patterns in national and statewide contests. Although the township regularly delivers overwhelming margins to Republican candidates in presidential and gubernatorial elections, local voters have frequently supported Democratic officials, including Coles, who has served on the Township Committee since 2001.

The Vaad’s bipartisan endorsement of Fuentes and Coles continued that tradition, emphasizing continuity in municipal leadership rather than strict party affiliation.

The result also carries implications for the balance of power on the Township Committee, where Republicans currently hold three of the five seats. With Fuentes and Coles retaining their positions, the existing partisan composition of the governing body is expected to remain unchanged.

Unlike municipalities where residents directly elect their mayor, Lakewood’s mayor is selected annually by the Township Committee from among its five members. Coles’ reelection to the committee therefore does not automatically determine who will serve as mayor in 2027, although he has held the position for many years.

For Fuentes, the victory secures another three-year term and an opportunity to continue working on the municipal issues that have dominated Lakewood’s political discussions, including development, traffic, infrastructure, taxation, and public services.

For Raitzik, the defeat ends his bid for a seat on the Township Committee, although he remains a familiar figure in Lakewood communal and public affairs.

Fuentes will begin her new term in January 2027, joining Coles and the other committee members as Lakewood continues to confront the challenges of governing one of New Jersey’s fastest-growing communities.

Democratic Assemblyman Aron Wieder has won reelection to the New York State Assembly, defeating Republican challenger Rob Bonomolo in Rockland County’s 97th Assembly District and securing a second term representing one of New York’s largest and fastest-growing frum communities.

Wieder’s victory Tuesday night allows the longtime community activist and former Rockland County legislator to continue representing a district encompassing substantial portions of Monsey, Spring Valley, New Square, New Hempstead, and surrounding communities, along with sections of Orangetown, including Pearl River and Tappan.

The election was closely watched throughout Rockland County, where Wieder has established himself as a prominent advocate for yeshivos, families, and community institutions. His reelection ensures that the district will continue to have a frum representative in Albany at a time when issues involving education, housing, transportation, and government assistance remain major priorities.

Wieder, a Democrat, first won election to the Assembly in November 2024, defeating Republican incumbent John McGowan in a competitive race that attracted considerable attention throughout the county. Wieder received approximately 52 percent of the vote in that election, compared with 44 percent for McGowan, capturing a seat that had been held by Republicans.

His latest victory comes in a district with an unusual political makeup. Although registered Democrats outnumber Republicans, the area has demonstrated strong Republican tendencies in statewide and national elections. President Donald Trump carried the district by nearly 28 percentage points in 2024, making Wieder’s ability to win as a Democrat particularly noteworthy.

Bonomolo, a fourth-generation Rockland County resident and president of Laborers Local 754, challenged Wieder on a platform emphasizing affordability, property taxes, infrastructure, and the concerns of working families.

The Republican candidate, who grew up in Pearl River, highlighted his experience representing union construction workers and argued that his background provided him with an understanding of the economic challenges facing district residents.

The contest also featured Abraham Klein, who ran on the Conservative Party line after defeating Bonomolo in the party’s June primary. Klein’s presence created a three-way race, with the possibility of dividing votes among residents who might otherwise have supported the Republican candidate.

Wieder, meanwhile, campaigned on his record during his first term in Albany and his longstanding relationships with local residents, municipal officials, and community organizations.

Before joining the Assembly, Wieder served for years in the Rockland County Legislature, where he became known for his involvement in issues affecting the county’s Orthodox Jewish population and for his work on behalf of local government services.

As an assemblyman, Wieder has emphasized property tax relief, access to childcare assistance, transportation funding, and securing state resources for local communities.

His position within the Democratic Assembly majority has also given him opportunities to advocate directly with legislative leaders and state officials on matters affecting his constituents.

For the frum community, Wieder’s reelection carries particular importance because of the continuing challenges facing yeshivos and growing families throughout Rockland County. Transportation, school funding, infrastructure, affordable housing, and access to state programs have become increasingly pressing concerns as the community continues to expand.

Wieder has maintained close relationships with rabbonim, askanim, mosdos, and community organizations, drawing on his years of experience in local government to address constituent concerns and navigate state agencies.

His victory also comes amid significant political developments elsewhere in Rockland County, including the reported defeat of Republican State Senator Bill Weber by Democrat Joe Rand in the neighboring 38th Senate District.

Together, the results reflect the continuing importance of Rockland County’s growing frum electorate and the competition among candidates seeking its support.

For Wieder, the election represents a renewed mandate to continue his work in Albany while maintaining his focus on the practical needs of the communities he represents.

He will begin his second two-year Assembly term in January 2027, continuing as one of the relatively few frum lawmakers serving in the New York State Legislature.

{Matzav.com}

Democrat Joe Rand, the mayor of Nyack, has defeated incumbent Republican State Senator Bill Weber in New York’s 38th Senate District, flipping a Republican-held seat in one of Rockland County’s most closely watched elections and bringing an end to Weber’s four-year tenure in Albany.

Rand’s victory, reported Tuesday night, represents a significant political development in a district that includes Monsey, Spring Valley, New Square, and numerous other communities with substantial frum populations. The race drew extraordinary attention from local rabbonim, askanim, elected officials, and community organizations, with the outcome carrying important implications for yeshivos, government funding, religious freedom, and representation in the State Legislature.

Unofficial election results showed Rand leading Weber by approximately 5.4 percentage points with roughly 80 percent of the vote reporting. The outcome marks a Democratic pickup in a district that Weber captured from Democratic incumbent Elijah Reichlin-Melnick in 2022 and successfully defended in 2024.

Weber, a Republican who also ran on the Conservative Party line, had sought a third term by emphasizing his record of constituent services, his relationships with Orthodox Jewish communities, and his opposition to policies advanced by Democratic leaders in Albany.

Rand, who ran on the Democratic and Working Families Party lines, campaigned on his experience as mayor of Nyack, his relationships with local officials, and his ability to work with the Democratic leadership controlling the State Senate to secure additional resources for Rockland County.

The contest became particularly contentious within Monsey and surrounding communities, where both candidates actively courted support from rabbonim, community leaders, and representatives of local mosdos.

Numerous rabbonim and Orthodox Jewish organizations publicly supported Weber, pointing to his positions on religious freedom, parental rights, education, and the importance of maintaining a Republican voice in Albany. His supporters argued that his record demonstrated a willingness to stand with the community on issues affecting yeshivos and religious institutions.

Rand, meanwhile, secured backing from other influential community figures who emphasized his accessibility, his relationships with local government officials, and the potential advantages of having a senator with strong connections to the Democratic majority in Albany.

His campaign received a major boost in October when dozens of elected officials throughout Rockland County announced their endorsements.

Among those backing Rand were Democratic Assemblyman Aron Wieder, Ramapo Supervisor Michael Specht, Spring Valley Mayor Schenley Vital, and numerous county legislators, village officials, and school board members.

The endorsements also included several officials from communities with significant Orthodox Jewish populations, reflecting the divisions that emerged during the campaign over which candidate would be better positioned to represent local interests.

In the final weeks before Election Day, Rand helped arrange a meeting between State Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Senator Shelley Mayer, and representatives of Rockland County yeshivos. The gathering focused attention on the importance of maintaining communication between the Orthodox Jewish community and the Democratic leadership in Albany.

Weber’s campaign had entered the closing weeks expressing confidence in his reelection prospects.

An internal survey conducted by McLaughlin & Associates in late August and released in October showed Weber leading Rand by 18 percentage points, 53 percent to 35 percent. The poll, commissioned by Weber’s campaign, surveyed 300 likely voters and carried a margin of error of 5.7 percentage points.

Tuesday’s result represented a striking reversal from those figures.

Weber had first won election to the Senate in 2022, defeating Reichlin-Melnick by slightly more than 3,200 votes. Two years later, he secured reelection by a larger margin, receiving 69,278 votes on the Republican and Conservative lines compared with 59,750 for Reichlin-Melnick.

His defeat this year demonstrates how rapidly the district’s political landscape has shifted, particularly amid a national election in which Democrats made substantial gains in competitive races.

The election also highlighted the increasingly important role of Rockland County’s frum electorate, whose support has become a major factor in local, state, and congressional contests.

Both campaigns devoted considerable attention to Monsey, New Square, Spring Valley, and neighboring communities, recognizing that voter turnout in these areas could prove decisive.

The divisions within the community were especially notable because the contest involved competing considerations: Weber’s established record of supporting Orthodox Jewish priorities and Rand’s argument that closer relationships with the Democratic Senate leadership could produce tangible benefits for local institutions.

For Rand, the victory marks a significant political advancement from municipal government to the New York State Senate, where he will represent a district encompassing a diverse collection of suburban communities.

For Weber, the defeat ends a tenure during which he became a familiar presence at community events, yeshivos, and meetings with local leaders throughout Rockland County.

Rand will take office in January 2027, joining the Democratic majority in the State Senate.

His election is expected to bring renewed attention to the relationship between Albany and Rockland County’s Orthodox Jewish communities, particularly on issues involving education, transportation, public safety, religious accommodations, and state assistance for local institutions.

The final certified vote totals remain pending, but the reported outcome establishes Rand as the winner of one of the most consequential local races of the 2026 election cycle.