Dr Shonali Banerjee on US election results

Commenting on the US election results, Dr Shonali Banerjee, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Politics and International Studies, explains:

“Democrats across America saw crucial victories in key races, potentially signalling a rebuke against the Trump administration's far-right policies and indefinite federal government shutdown. The wins spanned the Democrats' self-proclaimed ‘big-tent’ approach, with centrists, party loyalists, and anti-establishment progressives all winning their campaigns.

“Candidates with overtly anti-Trump platforms, including newly elected female governors of Virginia and New Jersey, saw significant double-digit margins on their victories in races that were initially thought to be more competitive.

“California’s Governor Newsom secured an impressively large mandate to do ahead with independent redistricting plans, and the Pennsylvania supreme court maintained their liberal majority.

“The most watched race in the US and globally was for mayor of New York City, where popular Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani won handily after a hard-fought campaign against former governor Andrew Cuomo. Many saw this race in particular as not only a response to Trump and Republicans but also a gauntlet thrown in front the deeply unpopular Democratic Party leadership, who have been ineffective in mobilising any momentum since the 2024 presidential election.

“Going into a critical 2026 election cycle, it will be essential for Democrats to establish a clear direction if they hope to mount a successful challenge against Trump’s administration.”

6 November 2025