Donald Trump has broken his silence on Zohran Mamdani’s historic win in the New York City mayoral race, which topped off one of the Democrats’ biggest nights this year.
“...AND SO IT BEGINS!,” the president raged after the self-described “Trump’s worst nightmare” gave his victory speech.
It was a disastrous night for Republicans nationally, as they also lost a gubernatorial race in New Jersey and another in Virginia.
And, in California, voters gave the green light to Proposition 50 which will allow Democrats to redraw the congressional map.
Back in New York, during his victory speech, Mamdani said that his election race showed that Trump can be defeated and even delivered a defiant message directly to the president.
“If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him,” he said. “And if there is any way to terrify a despot, it is by dismantling the very conditions that allowed him to accumulate power.”
“So Donald Trump, since I know you're watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up,” Mamdani said.
Read More
Who is Rama Duwaji? What Zohran Mamdani’s wife has said about Gaza and ICE as he’s elected NYC mayor
Key Points
- Recap: A huge night for Democrats and a dismal performance by Republicans
- Mamdani wins the NYC mayor's race and delivers heartwarming victory speech laced with jabs at Trump and Cuomo
- US Supreme Court to weigh up the legality of Trump's tariffs
- California passes Proposition 50 as the White House makes bizarre claim over a rigged vote
- Cincinnati Mayor defeats JD Vance's half-brother in re-election campaign
- Gavin Newsom says that Trump is 'underwater' and that the president wants to 'rig' the midterms
- Pictured: Mikie Sherrill wins the race to become New Jersey's governor
- Pictured: Abigail Spanberger becomes the first female governor in Virginia's history
Recap: A huge night for Democrats and a dismal performance by Republicans
08:02
,
Owen Scott
The evening of November 4 was a dismal night for Republicans and a jubilant one for Democrats, as the GOP was defeated in four major votes.
Zohran Mamdani swept to victory to become NYC’s new mayor, after running on a campaign focused on making the city more affordable by raising corporation tax.
The self-described “Trump’s worst nightmare” won 50.4 percent of the vote, according to CBS News, while independent Andrew Cuomo won 41.6 percent and Republican Curtis Sliwa took home 7 percent. Mamdani is the first person to receive over a million votes since 1969.
Meanwhile, Democrats won two gubernatorial races - one in Virginia and one in New Jersey.
Democratic congresswoman Abigail Spanberger became the first woman elected as Virginia’s governor when she defeated Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears.
And Mikie Sherrill thrashed Jack Ciattarelli at the ballot box in New Jersey.
A vote in California also ended in great results for the Democrats. Voters gave the green light to Proposition 50, which will allow the state to redraw its congressional maps to favor Democrats, as Republicans have in Texas.
Gavin Newsom says that Trump is 'underwater' and that the president wants to 'rig' the midterms
11:24
,
Owen Scott
Gavin Newsom says that Donald Trump is “underwater” in “every critical category.”
“He promised to make us healthier and he promised to make us wealthier,” Newsom said. “We’re sicker and poorer. And he fundamentally understands that.
“Why else, why else would he call Greg Abbot saying he’s entitled to five seats?
“Why else is he trying to rig the midterm elections before one vote is even cast?”
Newsom added that he believes that Trump did not “count” on Californians voting to pass Proposition 50.
Cincinnati Mayor defeats JD Vance's half-brother in re-election campaign
11:04
,
Owen Scott
Aftab Pureval has defeated J.D. Vance’s half brother, Cory Bowman, in the Cincinnati mayor’s race.
Pureval’s re-election has cemented the Democrats’ control of Cincinnati’s government.
Bowman is the founder of The River Church, a Christian worship group which has been accused of encouraging its congregants to speak in tongues.
Vance shares a father with Bowman, although the pair did not grow up together. They eventually reconnected when Vance was 13 years old.
California passes Proposition 50 as the White House makes bizarre claim over a rigged vote
10:45
,
Owen Scott
California has voted to pass Proposition 50, which will allow Democrats to redraw district lines in the state. It is projected that the Democratic Party may be able to flip 5 seats in the House of Representatives through the measure.
The bill was supported by California Governor Gavin Newsom, former Vice President Kamala Harris, Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Hillary Clinton.
The vote was passed by a majority of 63.8 percent and has sent shockwaves through the MAGA leadership.
Trump branded the vote as a “giant scam” and said that a “very serious legal and criminal review” is underway. However, he failed to say which governmental department will investigate the vote.
And, Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, told reporters that the vote in California was “rigged,” but refused to provide any evidence while addressing the press.
“It’s absolutely true that there’s fraud in California’s elections,” Leavitt said. “It’s just a fact. It is just a fact.”
“Rigged fraudulent ballots that are being mailed in the names of other people and the names of illegal aliens who shouldn’t be voting in American elections,” she continued. “There’s countless examples, and we’d be happy to provide them.”
It is unknown what evidence, if any, she is planning to provide.
She also confirmed that the Republicans are looking to pass an executive order from Trump which will prevent mail-in voting in California.
US Supreme Court to weigh up the legality of Trump's tariffs
10:30
,
Owen Scott
The U.S. Supreme Court will be weighing up the legality of Trump’s tariffs today, after the president slapped hefty levies on imports coming into the United States.
Earlier this year, Trump invoked the International Emergency Economic Powers Act which allows the president to regulate international transactions in the event of an emergency.
Now, the Supreme Court will decide if Trump was legally allowed to invoke that 1977 Act.
Controlled by a right-wing majority, the Supreme Court has until July 2026 to decide on the legality of Trump’s actions.
Lower courts have ruled Trump’s invocation of the EEPA Act as unlawful, making this ruling even more important.
Trump has claimed that winning the case will make America into the “Richest, Most Secure Country” in the world, while losing it will mean that the “Country could be reduced to almost Third World status.”
A coalition of 12 states and small businesses have sued the government over the tariffs, which have increased costs on U.S. consumers.
Those states include Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Vermont.
The non-partisan Tax Foundation says that Trump’s tariffs have led to an average tax increase per household of $1,200.
By 2026, this number will rise to $1,600.
Pictured: Mikie Sherrill wins the race to become New Jersey's governor
09:59
,
Owen Scott
Democrat Mikie Sherrill thrashed her opponent Jack Ciattarelli, in the New Jersey gubernatorial race.
Sherrill won 56.2 percent of the vote, compared to her Republican counterpart’s share of 43.2 percent.
In her speech, though, she said she wants to fight for everyone in New Jersey, including the people who did not vote for her.
Sherrill also referenced the “No King’s” protests which have swept across the U.S.
"We're going to follow Lady Liberty's beacon. We're not going to give in to our darker impulses," she said. "Here in New Jersey, we know that this nation has not ever been, nor will it ever be ruled by kings. We take oaths to a Constitution, not a king."
Sherrill is a US Naval Academy graduate, as well as a former helicopter pilot and federal prosecutor.
Her victory in New Jersey was just one of the huge wins celebrated by the Democrats this evening.
Mamdani's moving victory speech referenced his Indian heritage
09:39
,
Owen Scott
Mamdani directly addressed his Indian heritage in his moving victory speech, as he quoted Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first prime minister.
Nehru delivered a famous speech named "Tryst with Destiny,” on the eve of India winning independence from the British Empire, which Mamdani referenced.
"A moment comes, which comes but rarely, in history when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance,” Mamdani quoted.
He also walked off stage to the popular Bollywood tune Dhoom Machale, which translates to “let’s make some noise.”
Mamdani delivered a heartwarming victory speech which was also peppered with jabs at Trump and Cuomo
09:12
,
Owen Scott
Mamdani called on Americans to support each other, as he listed off minority groups which have been targeted by the Trump administration.
“Here we believe in standing up for those we love, whether you are an immigrant, a member of the trans community, one of the many Black women that Donald Trump has fired from a federal job, a single mom still waiting for the cost of groceries to go down, or anyone else with their back against the wall,” Mamdani said. “No more will New York be a city where you can traffic in Islamophobia and win an election.”
He also directly addressed Donald Trump with a subtle jab, which earned raucous applause from the audience.
“So, if there is any way to terrify a despot, it is by dismantling the very conditions that allowed him to accumulate power,” he said.
“This is not only how we stop Trump, it’s how we stop the next one.
“So, Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up.”
Mamdani also addressed his opponent, Andrew Cuomo.
He said that he wished Cuomo “only the best in private life,” but told supporters that they had “toppled a political dynasty.
“But let tonight be the final time I utter his name, as we turn the page on a politics that abandons the many and answers only to the few,” Mamdani added.
Mamdani thanked those closest to him for their support in victory speech
09:00
,
Mike Bedigan
Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s next mayor, thanked those closest to him for their support in his victory speech in Brooklyn Tuesday night.
“To my campaign team who believed when no one else did, and who took an electoral project and turned it into so much more – I will never be able to express the depth of my gratitude: You can sleep now,” Mamdani joked.
He added thanks to his parents, “Mama and Baba,” telling them, “You have made me into the man I am today. I am so proud to be your son.”
To his wife, Rama Duwaji, he said: “There is no one I would rather have by my side in this moment and in every moment.”
Pictured: Abigail Spanberger becomes the first female governor in Virginia's history
09:00
,
Owen Scott
Abigail Spanberger, a former CIA officer, has become the first woman ever to be elected as the Governor of Virginia.
The three-term congresswoman defeated Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears in the election.
Her state often swings between Republicans and Democrats, which means that Spanberger’s victory may offer an insight into the mood of the country as the midterms draw closer.
Virginia is home to the Pentagon, as well as thousands of federal workers who have been hit hard by the government shutdown and Trump’s spending cuts.
In her victory speech, Spanberger thanked her supporters and called for Virginians to unite. She says it could “set an example” for the nation.
New Yorkers were seen celebrating Mamdani's victory at the Bohemian Beer Hall & Garden
08:46
,
Owen Scott
New Yorkers have been spotted cheering Zohran Mamdani’s win with a stein of beer at the Bohemian Beer Hall & Garden.
The massive venue has served customers since the prohibition years and was founded by Czech and Slovakian immigrants from Austria-Hungary.
Bars across New York City were packed with people watching the results come in. There were scenes of jubilation when Mamdani was projected as the winner.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan cheers Mamdani's victory: 'Hope won'
08:37
,
Owen Scott
Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, has celebrated Mamdani’s victory in New York City on social media.
“New Yorkers faced a clear choice – between hope and fear – and just like we’ve seen in London – hope won,” Mayor Khan said.
Khan first took office in 2016 and has won three elections in a row.
He often clashes with Donald Trump on social media, with the U.S. president claiming that Khan wanted to impose Sharia Law on the British capital.
London’s mayor hit back by branding Trump as “Islamophobic” and “racist,” and said that London is a “progressive” and “successful” city.
“People are wondering what it is about this Muslim mayor who leads a liberal, multicultural, progressive, successful city that means I appear to be living rent-free inside Donald Trump’s head”, he said.
Government shutdown becomes the longest in history, beating Trump's own record
08:28
,
Owen Scott
The U.S. Government shutdown has become the longest in history as it enters its 36th day.
Millions of Americans have been left without access to essential services, while thousands of federal workers continue to go without their paychecks.
Democrats and Republicans have been at loggerheads for weeks over spending plans.
The GOP proposed slashing Affordable Care Act subsidies and Medicaid, which Democrats have continued to block.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said that he believes a breakthrough could come soon though.
"I just think, based on, sort of, my gut of how these things operate, I think we're getting close to an off-ramp here," Thune said.
Trump has previously urged Congressional Republicans to use the “nuclear option,’ ditching the filibuster, to get his budget approved.
However, there has been much unease about Trump’s plan within the GOP, as this would hand Democrats a massive amount of power if they win the midterms in 2026.
The now-second longest shutdown in history unfolded during Trump’s first term, as he tried to forced Democrats to pass a bill which would funnel billions of dollars into funding his wall on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Watch: Winner of the New Jersey Gubernatorial race Mikie Sherrill says the state will never be 'ruled by kings'
08:09
,
Owen Scott
Mikie Sherrill, the winner of the New Jersey Gubernatorial race, said in her victory speech that her state will never be “ruled by kings.”
The Democrat quoted The New Colossus, the poem written on a plaque beneath the Statue of Liberty, The New Colossus, as she addressed supporters and called on her party to continue to fight Trump’s policies.
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,” Sherrill quoted to a round of applause from the audience.
Chuck Schumer congratulates Mamdani on election victory
08:00
,
Alex Woodward
Among New York’s Democratic holdouts who didn’t back Mamdani: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who refused to say who he voted for.
In a statement after Mamdani’s victory, he congratulated New York City’s next mayor “on his well-earned and historic victory tonight.”
“His campaign was relentlessly focused on the cost-of-living crisis, that Donald Trump has only made worse, and on finding ways to help working families, seniors, and young people build a life of dignity and economic security in New York City,” Schumer said.
“I have worked collaboratively and productively with Mayor-elect Mamdani on a number of vital issues over the years — including delivering historic relief to our taxi drivers who were suffering under crushing and unfair debt — and I look forward to building on that partnership to keep New York City strong, fair, more affordable, and thriving,” he added.
Jewish group who backed Mamdani say that his victory represents a move away from divisive politics
07:50
,
Owen Scott
Beth Miller, the political director for the Jewish Voice for Peace Action, said that Mamdani’s win represents a shift away from divisive politics.
In a statement, she said that focusing on the rights of Palestinians helped his victory.
The JVPA had supported Mamdani’s campaign throughout his run.
“Zohran ran and won on an agenda of affordability and dignity for all of NYC’s communities, as well as on a politics of consistency in which values do not stop at the city’s borders and a vision of freedom and dignity for all people that does not stop at the city’s borders,” she said.
“The old political playbook that tried to exclude Palestinians and erase their humanity is coming to a close. Zohran’s victory is a clear message to the Democratic Party: A progressive agenda that includes Palestinian rights is popular.”
“New Yorkers want to turn the page on politics that rely on dividing and attacking our communities,” Miller added. “We want to build a future in which we all thrive together.”
In his victory speech, Mamdani pledged to remain “steadfast behind Jewish New Yorkers” and to “not waiver in the fight against antisemitism”.
Trump quickly moves to dodge responsibility after big Democratic wins on election night: ‘Trump wasn’t on the ballot’
07:30
,
Rachel Dobkin
Donald Trump wasted no time in dodging responsibility for decisive Republican losses Tuesday, offering alternate reasons for the defeats instead.
“‘TRUMP WASN’T ON THE BALLOT, AND SHUTDOWN, WERE THE TWO REASONS THAT REPUBLICANS LOST ELECTIONS TONIGHT,’ according to Pollsters,” the president wrote on Truth Social.
Trump’s post came minutes after it was announced that Democrat Zohran Mamdani had won the race for New York Mayor, a contest that had been fiercely fought with the Trump-backed former state governor Andrew Cuomo.
Elsewhere, New Jersey and Virginia also elected Democrats, with Mikie Sherill and Abigail Spanberger winning their respective gubernatorial races. Spanberger made history as the first female governor of Virginia.
Read more from Mike Bedigan:
In pictures: New Yorkers celebrate Mamdani's election victory
07:00
,
Rachel Dobkin
DNC chair praises Mamdani's 'impressive campaign'
06:30
,
Rachel Dobkin
Ken Martin, the chair of the Democratic National Committee, has praised Zohran Mamdani’s “impressive campaign” after his New York City mayoral victory.
“Mayor-elect Mamdani ran an impressive campaign, laser-focused on what matters most to working families in New York: lowering costs, expanding access to affordable child care, and making it easier for families to make ends meet.
“His campaign galvanized and energized voters across New York City and met those voters where they live. Mayor-elect Mamdani’s campaign illustrated the power of a big-tent party that focuses relentlessly on lifting up all working people,” Martin said.
Zohran Mamdani offers heartfelt thanks in mayoral victory speech
06:15
,
Rachel Dobkin
In pictures: New Jersey on election night
06:00
,
Rachel Dobkin
DNC chair Ken Martin hails Democratic 'sweep' of elections
05:52
,
Mike Bedigan
Ken Martin, Chair of the Democratic National Committee hailed a “Blue Sweep” in Tuesday’s elections.
“American voters just delivered a Democratic resurgence. A Republican reckoning,” Martin said in a statement Tuesday night.
“And it happened because our Democratic candidates, no matter where they are, no matter how they fit into our big tent party, are meeting voters at the kitchen table, not the gilded ballroom.”
It came following comprehensive wins from Zohran Mamdani in the New York mayoral race, Mikie Sherrill for governor of New Jersey, and Abigail Spanberger in Virginia.
Martin added: “To all the Republicans who have bowed a cowardly knee to Trump all year, consider this: We’re coming after your jobs next.
“Over the next year, the ability to stop Trump in his tracks runs directly through the Democratic Party. We will earn every vote. We will win.”
Californian voters back new congressional map to boost Democrats in response to Texas ‘gerrymandering’
05:45
,
Mike Bedigan
California voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly passed Proposition 50, a ballot initiative to temporarily redraw the state’s congressional maps that could add as many as five Democratic seats to Congress.
The Associated Press called the race, with over 64 percent of Californians voting yes on the measure and 65 percent of overall votes counted.
Josh Marcus has more:
Eric Adams congratulates Mamdani
05:30
,
Alex Woodward
Mayor Eric Adams, once again saying Zohran Mamdani’s name incorrectly, congratulated New York City’s next mayor for his “hard-fought battle” in a video posted to social media.
The mayor’s office is assembling a transition team for Mamdani to prepare to govern the city, “one of the most difficult jobs but is truly the greatest job on the globe,” Adams said.“
To all those communities who voted for someone else: we understand your concerns, we understand your fears, we understand the anxiety you are facing, but this is our democracy,” Adams said.
Our shared mission must always be to put New York City first and build a safer, more affordable city that is the best place to raise a family.
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) November 5, 2025
A message to my fellow New Yorkers. pic.twitter.com/OkicJAcqNN
Newsom says passage of Prop 50 is a victory for Californians and whole country
05:21
,
Alex Woodward
The passage of Prop 50 in California gives Democrats a huge boost towards getting control of Congress from Republicans (and Trump) in 2026 midterms.
A new congressional map is expected to help Democrats win 48 of California’s 52 congressional seats as Democrats get a major piece of firepower to combat the Republican-led redistricting arms race.
Speaking to supporters Tuesday, state Governor Gavin Newsom called the passage a victory for Californians and the entire country, celebrating the victory as a successful push to thwart what he called Trump’s attempts to “rig the midterms.”
“After poking the bear, this bear roared,” Newsom told reporters in a brief victory speech at California Democratic headquarters in Sacramento.
However, the state is likely to face legal challenges right on the heels of California’s election, with looming deadlines for 2026 races that could complicate these mid-decade map rewrites.
WATCH: Zohran Mamdani offers powerful message to President Donald Trump in victory speech: 'Turn the volume up!'
05:15
,
Mike Bedigan
BREAKING: Government shutdown enters 36th day, breaking record set during Trump’s first term
05:10
,
Mike Bedigan
The federal government shutdown has officially entered its 36th day, breaking the record set during Donald Trump’s first term.
It comes shortly after the president blamed decisive Democrat wins in Tuesday elections in multiple states on the shutdown, and the fact that his own name wasn’t on the ballot.
Read more here:
In posts on Truth Social, Trump also urged Republicans, once again, to “terminate” the filibuster, which would allow the GOP to end the shutdown.
Top Democrats congratulate their party on election victories
05:00
,
Rachel Dobkin
Top Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and former President Barack Obama, have congratulated members of their party on sweeping electoral victories Tuesday night.
Congratulations to all the Democratic candidates who won tonight. It’s a reminder that when we come together around strong, forward-looking leaders who care about the issues that matter, we can win. We’ve still got plenty of work to do, but the future looks a little bit brighter.
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) November 5, 2025
Democrats are smoking Donald Trump and Republican extremists throughout the country.
— Hakeem Jeffries (@hakeemjeffries) November 5, 2025
Enough with the premature obituaries.
The Democratic Party is back.
Schumer declares victory for Dems: “Tonight’s results are a repudiation of the Trump agenda. The cruelty, chaos, and greed that define MAGA radicalism and are skyrocketing costs were firmly rejected by the American people” pic.twitter.com/TBIR2rhHvT
— Max Cohen (@maxpcohen) November 5, 2025
New Jersey and Virginia have chosen well by electing @MikieSherrill and @SpanbergerForVA as their next governors!
— Pete Buttigieg (@PeteButtigieg) November 5, 2025
They are proven leaders who won by focusing on what matters most - how politics and policy can make everyday life better and more affordable.
Double woohoo for Mayor-elect @ZohranKMamdani! His campaign showed that when we fight for bold policies like universal child care that make life more affordable for working families, we can win big.
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) November 5, 2025
Starting at 1% in the polls, @ZohranKMamdani pulled off one of the great political upsets in modern American history.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) November 5, 2025
Yes. We CAN create a government that represents working people and not the 1%.
I look forward to working with Zohran as he builds a city that works for all. pic.twitter.com/dHUP6Yo5xv
Mamdani's four-word message to Trump
Related News & Content