The Daily – “A Good Night for Democrats”

Date: November 5, 2025
Hosts: Natalie Kitroeff, Shane Goldmacher
Guest: Jasmine Ulloa

Episode Overview

This episode of The Daily examines the outcomes of the first major elections in President Trump’s second term, focusing on sweeping Democratic victories in key races across Virginia, New Jersey, and New York City. Host Natalie Kitroeff and political correspondent Shane Goldmacher dissect the results to understand what they reveal about voter sentiments toward Donald Trump, the current state and direction of the Democratic Party, and the broader implications for both parties heading into 2026 and beyond.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Democratic Sweeps and Early Calls

• Multiple Democratic wins were called well before midnight, signaling decisive victories:
  • Virginia: Abigail Spanberger becomes the state’s first female governor.
  • New Jersey: Mikie Sherrill defeats Jack Ciarelli for governor.
  • New York City: Zoran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, elected as mayor.

    “You have delivered a mandate for change.” – Shane Goldmacher (01:31)

• Democrats saw successes “up and down the ballot,” from congressional redistricting in California to local utility commissions in Georgia.

  “Democrats are winning almost everywhere right now.” – Shane Goldmacher (03:10)

2. Two Divergent Democratic Paths

• Victorious Democrats represent vastly different visions:
  • Spanberger (VA) & Sherrill (NJ): moderates with national security backgrounds, centrist platforms.
  • Mamdani (NYC): 34-year-old democratic socialist, focused on bold, progressive policies and historic voter turnout.

  “We saw two divergent pathways … and then you have in New York City, a Democratic socialist who inspired thousands…” – Shane Goldmacher (05:03)

• Historic turnout in New York: “Over 2 million people turned out. More than a million of those voted for a democratic socialist in the capital of capitalism.” – Natalie Kitroeff (06:09)

3. How Zoran Mamdani Won NYC

• Key Message: Relentless focus on affordability—free buses, rent freezes, free childcare—delivered with strong message discipline.
  • “Many candidates don’t have that kind of message discipline. But they might not also have a message that’s quite as expansive and memorable.” – Shane Goldmacher (08:06)
• Progressive Credentials: Uncompromising on issues like Gaza/Palestine—pivoted in the general, but never abandoned principles.
• Movement Building: 90,000+ volunteers, especially Gen Z, found purpose and community.
  • “His campaign became like an antidote to loneliness … they came out, they canvassed for him, they made friends…” – Natalie Kitroeff (10:19)
• Comparison drawn to Obama’s 2008 campaign for its sense of hope and inspiration.

4. Lessons for Democrats & the Party’s Future

• The meaning of Mamdani’s win varies by viewpoint:
  • Moderates see his intense focus on the cost of living as a universal lesson.
  • The left views his bold, systemic solutions as key to his appeal.

    “The scope of the solutions … their level of frustration with the system … that is the secret to his appeal.” – Shane Goldmacher (13:04)

• Open Questions: Can Mamdani’s coalition win outside progressive strongholds?

  “We don’t know whether it’s politically viable. But that’s the whole idea of the project … if you are successful, then there’ll be people who will emulate you…” – Shane Goldmacher (12:29)

5. Moderates Win Elsewhere: Spanberger & Sherrill

• Both employed anti-Trump framing to great success.
  • Spanberger linked her GOP opponent directly to Trump’s unpopular policies and federal cuts.
  • Sherrill capitalized on Trump’s threat to withhold federal funding for New Jersey’s Gateway tunnel; her opponent refused to criticize Trump.

  “It wasn’t just Trump, it was Trump specifically in these places and finding a way to say: you need to elect a Democrat, because I will push back on a president who doesn’t have your interests at heart.” – Shane Goldmacher (16:21)

6. What the Results Tell Us About the Electorate

• Demographics: Democrats made gains across almost all demographic groups, reversing 2024 losses.
  • Massive improvement in both blue and red regions of New Jersey and Virginia.
  • In diverse Passaic County, NJ, Democrats reversed the Trump trend decisively.

  “These places that have diverse populations have not continuously, permanently shifted to the right.” – Shane Goldmacher (20:27)

• Latino Voters: The rightward movement seen under Trump has not solidified.

7. Republican Challenges & Trump’s Response

• Economic issues—once Trump’s strength—are currently a liability for Republicans.
  • Polls show voters increasingly mistrustful of Trump’s economic priorities and focus.

  “Voters are going to hold him to those promises.” – Shane Goldmacher (21:31)

  • Republicans may have trouble mobilizing the Trump-only voter base for other candidates.

  “There’s a whole set of voters who have only come out for Donald Trump. And can other Republicans go get them out?” – Shane Goldmacher (23:49)

• Trump, on Truth Social, blamed the losses on his absence from the ballot and the ongoing government shutdown; Goldmacher notes this contradicts polling and turnout data.

8. Impact on Shutdown Negotiations

• Election results may shift leverage and strategy as both parties reassess their positions.
  • Democrats may use wins to extract more concessions, or conversely, seek a swift resolution.
  • Trump’s messaging remains unpredictable but blames Republicans for losses, likely increasing intra-party tension.

9. Unified but Split: Future Democratic Messaging

• Democrats found success with “affordability” and cost-of-living issues, delivered from both moderate and progressive angles.
  • “People are unhappy about the economy now, and they’re blaming Republicans. This is the difference about being the party in power.” – Shane Goldmacher (27:50)
• To reclaim bigger national victories (Senate, Presidency), Democrats will need to blend bold inspiration and pragmatic moderation.
  • “Maybe it’s some combination of the inspiration from Mamdani and the moderation from Spanberger and Sherrill.” – Shane Goldmacher (27:50)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Election Night Results:
  “Democrats are winning almost everywhere right now.” – Shane Goldmacher (03:10)
• On Zoran Mamdani’s Victory:
  “A 34 year old Democratic socialist … built a huge following and obviously is now the mayor elect.” – Shane Goldmacher (04:23)
• On the Mood of Gen Z Volunteers:
  “His campaign became like an antidote to loneliness … they explored the city, they touched grass, they got out there.” – Natalie Kitroeff (10:19)
• On Comparing Mamdani to Obama:
  “There’s a whole lot of Obama Veterans and alumni who have said, hey, this is the first time I’ve actually seen somebody else who’s inspiring hope like that.” – Shane Goldmacher (10:55)
• On the Core Issue:
  “The number one thing people are unhappy about and have been unhappy about is economic issues.” – Shane Goldmacher (27:50)
• On the Challenge Ahead:
  “There are bigger fish to fry. If they really want to take back power … you’re going to have to come up with a bigger and broader message.” – Shane Goldmacher (27:50)

Important Timestamps

• 00:44: Election calls in VA, NJ, NYC—Democratic victories.
• 03:10: Good news for Democrats “up and down the ballot.”
• 05:03: Diverging Democratic victories: moderate centrists and progressives.
• 06:09: Historic turnout and Mamdani’s unique coalition.
• 08:06: Distinction between message and messenger.
• 10:19: Mamdani’s volunteer movement and youth engagement.
• 13:04: Rorschach test—differing takeaways from Mamdani’s win.
• 16:21: Strategies of Spanberger and Sherrill: running against Trump.
• 18:42: Demographic and geographic voting patterns; shift away from Trump.
• 21:31: GOP warning signs on economic issues.
• 23:49: Trump’s Truth Social post/Republican strategic dilemmas.
• 27:50: Synthesis—parties aligning messages around economic issues; what comes next.

Conclusion

This episode delivers a nuanced post-mortem of a consequential election night, highlighting how Democrats’ twin focus on pragmatic economic solutions and bold, progressive inspiration delivered big wins. The party’s core challenge moving forward will be harmonizing these approaches to conquer tougher races ahead, while Republicans face the urgent task of redefining their economic message and post-Trump identity.