What’s on the ballot in the first general election of Trump’s second term

WASHINGTON (AP) — One year after Donald Trump reclaimed the White House and began a major expansion of executive power, the Republican president is featuring prominently in Tuesday’s state and local elections.

The victors will herald the results of those contests – the first general election of Trump’s second term – as either a major rejection or a resounding seal of approval for his agenda for his second term. This is especially true of the high-profile races for governor in Virginia and New Jersey, the mayor of New York City, and California’s proposal to redraw congressional district boundaries.

More than half of the states will hold contests on Tuesday. Here’s a look at some of the key statewide and local races on the ballot:

Governors: New Jersey and Virginia

In New Jersey, Democrat Mickey Sherrill and Republican Jack Schiattarelli have been nominated to succeed Democratic Governor Phil Murphy. Cheryl is a four-term American actress and former Navy helicopter pilot. Ciattarelli is a former Trump-backed state Assembly member. In 2021, Ciattarelli was about 3 percentage points away from ousting Murphy.

And in Virginia, Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earl Sears and former Democratic U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger are looking to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin. While Spanberger has made some efforts to focus on topics other than Trump in his speeches, the president has remained a major topic of conversation throughout the campaign, from comments Earl Sears made about him in 2022 to some of his most polarizing policies, such as the so-called Big Beautiful Bill tax, spending-cutting measures and widespread firings of federal employees, many of whom live in Northern Virginia.

He watches: How Virginia’s governor’s race became a microcosm of national issues

Trump was scheduled to participate in telephone rallies for the candidates on Monday evening.

As the only gubernatorial race held in the year following a presidential election, these contests have long served as the first major test of voters’ feelings about which party controls the White House. In every gubernatorial race since 1973, one or both states have elected a governor from a different party than the incumbent president’s.

Mayor of New York City

Participating in the race to lead the nation’s largest city are Democratic state legislator Zahran Mamdani, independent candidate and former Democratic governor Andrew Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa.

Mamdani’s comfortable victory over Cuomo in the June primary excited the party’s more progressive wing and fear among the party establishment. Ultimately, party leaders like Gov. Kathy Hochul and U.S. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries endorsed self-described democratic socialism months after he won the nomination.

Read more: Mamdani, Cuomo and Sliwa clash in final New York City mayoral debate

The winner will replace outgoing Mayor Eric Adams, who initially sought renomination as a Democrat. After losing the primary, Adams chose to run as an independent, but withdrew from the race in September and ultimately endorsed Cuomo. In February, Trump’s Justice Department asked the court to dismiss corruption charges against Adams because the case obstructed Trump’s “immigration goals.” Trump later said he would like to see both Adams and Sliwa withdraw from the race in an attempt to defeat Mamdani.

California Proposition 50

California voters will decide on a statewide ballot measure that would enact a new congressional map that could flip up to five Republican-controlled U.S. House seats to Democratic control.

Proposition 50, endorsed by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, is in response to a new Texas map enacted by state Republicans in August as part of Trump’s effort to keep the U.S. House of Representatives under Republican control in the 2026 midterm elections. The Texas plan, which could help Republicans flip five Democratic-controlled seats in the U.S. House, has sparked an escalating arms race among states to pass new maps outside the usual once-a-decade timeline.

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania

Control of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court will be at stake when voters cast a yes or no vote on whether to retain three justices from the Supreme Court’s 5-2 Democratic majority.

Partisan control of the court could have major implications for the 2028 presidential race, as justices may be asked to rule on election disputes, as they did in 2020. Spending on Tuesday’s contests is on track to exceed $15 million as Republicans campaign to end the majority and Democrats respond.

If the three justices are removed, stalemate in the confirmation process to replace them could result in a 2-2 tie. An election will be held to fill any vacancies for a full 10-year term in 2027.

And other prominent competitions

Virginia Attorney General: Republican incumbent Jason Miyares is seeking a second term against Democrat Jay Jones. Much of the fall campaign focused on text messages insinuating violence against political rivals that Jones sent in 2022.

Texas 18: Sixteen candidates hope to fill the vacant congressional seat formerly held by the late Democratic U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner.

State Legislatures: Control of the Minnesota Senate and Virginia House of Delegates is at stake, while New Jersey Democrats defend their 52-28 majority in the General Assembly.

Ballot Measures: Maine voters will decide statewide questions about voting and a “red flag” law aimed at preventing gun violence. The 17 ballot measures in Texas include constitutional amendments on parental rights and limiting voting to US citizens. Colorado and Washington also have statewide ballot measures.

Mayors: Detroit, Pittsburgh, Jersey City and Buffalo will elect new mayors, while incumbent mayors in Atlanta, Minneapolis and Cincinnati are seeking another term.