One week from Election Day, and while 2025 seems like a quiet year following last year's presidential election, there are some key races on the national radar. At the top is the New York City mayoral race, which vaulted into the headlines earlier this year when avowed socialist Zohran Mamdani won a dominant victory in the Democratic primary, ultimately leading to former Governor Andrew Cuomo running as an independent, and incumbent Mayor Eric Adams dropping out of the race altogether. Mamdani continues to hold a double-digit lead in the polls, although his lead has shrunk in recent weeks against Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa.
Some Republicans believe a Mamdani win could be a positive for the GOP, since it would display the effects of socialism in America's largest city for everyone to see. Others warn the damage to the city and its economy from a Mamdani win would be too great a risk for any political victory that might ensue. "For the country, I think it would be terrible to have a socialist win, because I don't think it would be successful," says Jeff Crouere, author and political analyst. "But for the Republican Party I think it would be great, because it will show that the Democrat Party is moving further and further to the left."
"I think (Mamdani) is going to win, and he's going to move the party to the left because there'll be more people following in his footsteps," he continues. "I think for Democrats, that's maybe something that can succeed in New York, but I don't think it's going to do well for the Democrats nationally, I really don't."
The other key contests to watch this year are the governor's races in New Jersey and Virginia. Both are competitive races for open seats, and both show narrow leads for the Democrats in solid blue states. Former Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger (D) has held a steady lead over Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears (R) in Virginia, while Democrat Mikie Sherill has a smaller lead over Republican Jack Ciattarelli in New Jersey, after Ciattarelli nearly upset Gov. Phil Murphy four years ago. "If Republicans can win one of those two races, that's a major accomplishment because both of those states trend solidly Democrat," says Crouere.
"I think the Republican has a better chance in New Jersey," he continues. "So if they can pull off a win in New Jersey that will be a major boost for Republicans going into the midterm."