Morrisville Mayor TJ Cawley was the only Wake County mayor on the ballot to retain his seat, according to unofficial final results. He had faced two challengers, including Satish Garimella, a current board member.

As it was becoming clear that Election Day 2025 was a very bad one for Donald Trump’s Republican Party, the president weighed in with his own electoral analysis. He posted a quote Tuesday night that he attributed to unspecified “pollsters” – apparently ones he was watching on Fox News.

Democrats had a good night, winning major races including governor's races in Virginia and New Jersey and a redistricting ballot measure in California, while also confronting the future of the party.

Today, thanks to victories in New Jersey and Virginia, a New York City mayor's race, and candidates who focused on the state of the economy, the cost of living and backlash to Trump, the party may have the outlines of roadmap back to power in next year's midterm elections.

In the aftermath of an Election Day disaster, Donald Trump struggled to accept the reality of the fallout from his painful policies, though he did at least acknowledge that the shutdown of the federal government weighed against Republicans.

Former GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy says the party needs to address high electric bills, healthcare costs and housing affordability to win voters.

Lauren Cristella, president and CEO of the election watchdog group Committee of 70 opined that “hyper polarization” certainly was a factor in energizing voters in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and across the country.

In his first Truth Social post commenting on the election results, Trump suggested that the reasons why Democrats won is because he was not on the ballot and because of the government shutdown. Trump has repeatedly blamed Democrats for the shutdown despite Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress and the White House.

Recent Democratic victories have prompted public criticism and questions from high-profile conservative figures.

Abigail Spanberger defeated Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears to become the first woman to lead Virginia.