Today, all eyes are on the polls — even without a presidential race on the ballot.
It’s Election Day in America, and while 2025 is technically an “off-year,” the races happening today are anything but quiet. Voters in several key states — including Virginia, New Jersey, New York, and California — are making decisions that could reshape local power and preview the political mood heading into the 2026 midterms.

Here’s a look at the most important contests to watch today and why they matter.

In Virginia, voters are deciding between Democrat Abigail Spanberger and Republican Winsome Earle-Sears in one of the nation’s most closely watched gubernatorial races.
If elected, Earle-Sears would make history as the first Black woman ever to serve as governor of Virginia — and the first Black woman to lead any state in the U.S.

Spanberger, a former CIA officer and moderate Democrat, has campaigned on continuing the state’s progress on education and reproductive rights. Earle-Sears, the current lieutenant governor, has leaned into conservative themes around crime and parental choice in schools, mirroring national Republican talking points.

Both parties see Virginia as a bellwether for the 2026 elections — a test of how suburban voters and independents are feeling under Donald Trump’s second presidency.

Over in New Jersey, Democratic Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill is facing off against Republican Jack Ciattarelli, who’s hoping to flip the governor’s mansion red for the first time in two decades.

New Jersey hasn’t elected a Republican governor since Chris Christie, but voter frustration over taxes, housing costs, and economic stagnation has tightened the race. Sherrill is banking on her record of bipartisanship and strong suburban support, while Ciattarelli is promising a “return to common sense” leadership.

The Democratic National Committee has poured millions into the state, viewing it as a must-win to avoid the perception of party weakness in the Northeast.

In New York City, voters are choosing their next mayor in one of the most unpredictable races in recent memory. Progressive state assemblyman Zohran Mamdani is challenging former governor Andrew Cuomo, who’s running as an independent, and conservative radio host Curtis Sliwa.

For many, the race represents a tug-of-war for the city’s political identity: does it move further left, embracing Mamdani’s calls for housing reform and police accountability, or revert to Cuomo’s brand of centrist pragmatism? The outcome could shape how Democrats nationwide navigate internal party divides heading into 2026.

California voters are deciding on Proposition 50, a ballot measure that would allow the state legislature, led by Governor Gavin Newsom, to temporarily redraw congressional maps ahead of the 2030 census.

Democrats argue it’s necessary to counter a similar mid-decade redistricting effort led by Republicans in Texas, where new maps added five likely GOP congressional seats. Supporters say Prop 50 ensures fairness until the state’s independent redistricting commission can redraw districts in 2030.

Critics, however, call it a power grab that undermines voter trust. The measure’s outcome could influence which party controls the U.S. House in the next cycle.

• Pennsylvania is holding judicial retention elections and local contests that could determine the ideological balance of its state Supreme Court.
• Arizona’s Maricopa County has several local elections testing public trust in mail-in voting systems — a lingering flashpoint since 2020.
• Local ballot initiatives in several states are tackling issues like minimum wage increases, rent control, and environmental regulations.

Even though no federal offices are up for grabs today, the implications of these elections are national. The results could reveal early indicators of voter sentiment on issues like affordability, reproductive rights, and the economy, topics that will dominate both the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential race.

For Democrats, holding onto Virginia and New Jersey would show resilience amid Republican momentum. For Republicans, flipping either state could energize their base and reinforce Trump’s influence on the party.

In short, today’s elections are about much more than local leadership; they’re about the direction America is choosing next.