A handful of state contests on Tuesday will offer an early test of how Americans are feeling less than a year into President Donald Trump's second term.
LIVE UPDATES: Election Day 2025
As the government shutdown nears the record for longest ever, Trump is showing his support for Republican gubernatorial candidates during tele-rallies, and is sending election monitors to high-stakes votes in New Jersey and California. Meanwhile, former President Barack Obama and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders are stumping for Democratic candidates who represent different ideological factions but share core kitchen-table economic messages.
There are only two off-year gubernatorial elections this fall, and they're both seen as bellwethers for next year's midterm elections. The results of the governors' races in Virginia and New Jersey may serve as a referendum on the president's first 10 months in office. A lesser known trio of votes for Democratic justices on the state Supreme Court in swing state Pennsylvania could eventually decide the fate of election laws, redistricting and abortion. In New York, Zohran Mamdani has vaulted from relatively unknown state legislator to being the frontrunner for mayor in the largest city in the U.S., while drawing frequent attacks from Trump.
READ MORE: Here's what to watch for on the first major Election Day of Trump's 2nd term
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You can also find ongoing coverage on our website and social platforms, including live updates and election results.
For post-election analysis, join PBS News' Lisa Desjardins and Liz Landers live at 11 a.m. EST on Wednesday, Nov. 5.
What races are we watching?
Follow along with live election results on our website from The Associated Press:
- Virginia governor's race, featuring Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears and Democratic former Rep. Abigail Spanberger (plus more Virginia results here)
- New Jersey governor's race, featuring Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli
- New York City's mayoral race, featuring Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, independent and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa
- California's Proposition 50, which proposes a new congressional map that favors Democrats
- Majority control of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court
- Texas special election for 18th Congressional District to fill the former seat of the late Rep. Sylvester Turner
What time do polls close?
7 p.m. EST: Virginia
8 p.m. EST: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas
9 p.m. EST: New York
11 p.m. EST: California
A voter in Pennsylvania on Nov. 4, 2025. Photo by Hannah Beier/ Reuters
Who else is voting?
Other notable elections are being held across the country. Here's what to expect in:
Find more of our Vote 2025 coverage
- WATCH: Tamara Keith and Amy Walter on what to watch in Tuesday's elections
- WATCH: How a Mamdani win could change New York City and the Democratic Party
- WATCH: How the Virginia governor's race became a microcosm of national issues
- WATCH: Why Pennsylvania's Supreme Court election has national implications
- WATCH: A look at the New Jersey governor's race and its national implications