GOP Loses: Trump Cites ‘No Trump Ballot,’ Shutdown

In the wake of recent defeats in crucial gubernatorial and mayoral elections, former President Donald Trump has pointed to two main culprits: his own name not being on the ballot and the government shutdown. These losses, most notably the historic mayoral victory for Zohran Mamdani in New York City, have injected renewed energy into the Democratic Party ahead of next year’s midterm elections. Trump shared his assessment on Truth Social, asserting that “Trump wasn’t on the ballot, and shutdown” were the decisive factors behind the Republican losses. This aligns with his history of voicing displeasure over unfavorable election outcomes. Trump had previously voiced strong opposition to Mamdani’s candidacy, labeling him a “Communist lunatic” and predicting a “disaster.” The election results saw Democrats achieve significant wins in New York City, Virginia, and New Jersey, with Mamdani making history as the first South Asian and Muslim mayor of America’s largest city. Meanwhile, Democrats Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill achieved comfortable victories in their respective gubernatorial races. These wins are being viewed as a significant confidence booster for Democrats as they prepare for the upcoming congressional midterms.