New York mayoral election and other things to watch out for in the US elections

Watch: Mamdani, Cuomo or Sliwa? New Yorkers on their choice of mayor

It's election day in the United States.

Polling locations have opened in New York, Virginia and New Jersey, while polling centers in California will open later.

This so-called “off-year” election does not feature presidential or congressional races, but there are still several critical votes to watch this evening.

New York City will choose its next mayor, in a battle that pits a young progressive Democrat against a member of the party's old guard.

The states of Virginia and New Jersey will elect new governors, and the outcome of those elections could be a bellwether for next year's midterm congressional elections.

Californians will also decide whether to redraw the maps of their House districts in a rare mid-decade redistricting, as Democrats try to counter Republican efforts to give their party an advantage in next year's midterm elections.

Here are five things to watch out for.

1. New York City mayoral race

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All eyes will be on the Big Apple as Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old state lawmaker, attempts a political upset in his bid to become New York's youngest mayor in more than a century.

Mamdani, a democratic socialist, shocked the political establishment by defeating former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the Democratic primary this summer. Cuomo, undeterred, continued to campaign as an independent. Meanwhile, Republican Curtis Sliwa resisted pressure to withdraw from the race to clear the way for Cuomo.

If Mamdani wins, he will become the city's first Muslim mayor. Democrats across the country will be watching to see if his focus on cost-of-living issues like rent, groceries and wages could serve as an effective message in the upcoming election.

Although Mamdani heads into election night with a suggested lead in the polls, the gap between him and Cuomo has narrowed. In the latter part of the campaign, Cuomo criticized Mamdani on crime and public safety, and said the young politician lacked the experience needed to lead the largest city in the United States.

2. California Redistricting

California Democratic leaders are asking voters for permission to redraw the state's congressional districts mid-decade. That's unusual in California, which by law relies on a nonpartisan committee to draw congressional maps once every ten years, based on census data.

However, as Republican-led states like Texas and Missouri seek to hastily redraw their congressional maps to give their party an advantage in the 2026 midterm elections, California Governor Gavin Newsom wants to counter the losses by redistricting in his own state.

California's Proposition 50 would allow temporary use of new congressional district maps through 2030. The campaign generated $158 million in donations, according to the Los Angeles Times, with Democratic supporters far outpacing the efforts of the Republican opposition.

California Republicans, who hold only nine of the state's 52 seats in the House of Representatives, strongly oppose the plan.

An IGS/University of Berkeley poll suggests that 60% of likely California voters support Proposition 50, while 38% oppose it. The breakdown was very partisan, with 93% of Democrats saying they would choose “yes” and 91% of Republicans choosing “no.”

3. The New Jersey governor's race

New Jersey is considered a Democratic state, but polls indicate a tight race between Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli. It's one of two gubernatorial elections this year that could indicate how Americans feel about the current political climate.

Sherrill currently represents New Jersey's 11th District in Congress and Ciattarelli is a former state lawmaker.

Despite its leaning toward blue, the state has had Republican governors in the past. The last, Chris Christie, served two terms between 2010 and 2018.

The rhetoric in the race has been heated. Ciattarelli and his supporters aired political ads featuring clips of Sherrill giving halting answers during interviews about her policies.

It also attracted the attention of nationally known names from both parties. Democratic stars like former President Barack Obama and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg campaigned alongside Sherrill. President Donald Trump attended a virtual rally for Ciattarelli, and conservative activist Jack Posobiec supported him.

4. The Virginia governor’s race

Virginia's leadership typically swings between Democrats and Republicans, meaning the outcome of this year's gubernatorial election could serve as an indicator of the mood of the electorate.

Regardless of who is elected, the state will elect its first female governor this year. Voters will choose between Democrat Abigail Spanberger, a U.S. congresswoman, and Republican Winsome Earle-Sears, the state's current lieutenant governor.

If Earle-Sears wins, she will become the first black woman elected president of an American state in the history of the country.

Virginia is bordered to the north by Washington, DC, a liberal-leaning city, where many residents work in the nation's capital or for the federal government. But the state also has many conservative voters in its rural districts and undecided voters.

Spanberger highlighted the economic impact of Trump's federal budget cuts, which have impacted Virginia employment. Earle-Sears touted Virginia's economy under Republican leadership. But she also delved into cultural topics such as transgender issues, which Republicans successfully used as a point of contention in last year's presidential election.

5. The Trump factor

Even though he's not on the ballot, Trump's name looms over this election.

The race for New York City mayor is how the city's next leader will deal with the Trump administration, which has interfered in city politics. Cuomo is touting his experience as governor facing the first administration as a reason for voters to choose him.

The president suggested he would penalize the city if voters chose Mamdani.

“It's going to be difficult for me as president to give a lot of money to New York, because if you have a communist running New York, all you're doing is wasting the money you're sending there,” Trump said in an interview on CBS's 60 Minutes that aired Sunday. Mamdani rejects the communist label.

Trump launched the redistricting battle that led to California putting Proposition 50 on the ballot and supported Ciattarelli in the New Jersey gubernatorial race.

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