Election night ended with accusatory finger-pointing among Republicans as they scramble to find blame for spectacular defeats in Virginia, New Jersey, California and several other state races in the first major elections since Donald Trump took office in January.
“»[To, że] TRUMP WAS NOT ON THE BALLOT AND SHUTDOWN ARE TWO REASONS REPUBLICANS LOSED TODAY'S ELECTION, “according to the polls,” Trump wrote in all caps on Truth Social shortly after Democrats won Virginia, New Jersey and New York.
Voting outside of an election year often turns out to be difficult an early referendum on how voters evaluate the White House's performance. This year, Trump has largely refused to enter the fray on behalf of Republican candidates. His party colleagues quickly attributed the poor results to the Democrats' motivation in the so-called blue states [zdominowanych przez Demokratów — red.]not dissatisfaction with Trump himself. In this way, they are softening the blow that could hurt them in next year's crucial midterm elections, while also acknowledging some warning signs.
Trump ally: people don't feel like promises have been kept
— It's not doomsday, but it's not a good sign. Not a great night if you're in the president's party, admits one White House ally who was granted anonymity so he could candidly discuss the election results. — Part of this has always been a struggle: How do we move his voters to other elections? There are people who only show up when he's on the ballot.
– People do not feel that the promises have been fulfilled – adds our interlocutor. — He won by cutting costs, putting more money back into people's pockets. And people don't feel it now.
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Republican losses are clear. Democrats won all three Virginia races and took 13 seats in the state House of Delegates from Republicans. Democrat Mikie Sherrill defeated Republican Jack Ciattarelli by 13 percentage points, and Democrats picked up several counties that Trump won in 2024. Three Democratic justices retained their seats on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. California voters approved Proposition 50, which will redraw the state's congressional maps to favor Democrats.
In Georgia, Democrats even ousted two Republicans in statewide elections for the Public Service Commission there.
Vivek Ramaswamy, a close Trump ally running for governor in Ohio, offered a blunt assessment, blaming Republicans' poor showing in part on the party could not cope with rising costs. “We got our asses kicked,” he said in a video posted on the X platform (formerly Twitter).
“He has already lost three times and has always been vulnerable.”
Advisors close to Trump point the finger at Winsome Earle-Sears and Ciattarelli, two candidates who were defeated in gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey. At the beginning of the campaign, Republicans, at least in New Jersey, were optimistic. Chris LaCivita, former Trump campaign manager and longtime activist in Virginia, he summarized Earle-Sears' poor performance as a disaster of its own making.
“A bad candidate and a bad campaign have consequences — Virginia's gubernatorial race is example #1,” he wrote on social media shortly after news outlets announced the victory of Winsome-Sears' opponent, Democrat Abigail Spanberger.
Republican candidate for Governor of Virginia Winsome Earle-Sears during a rally. Purcellville, November 1, 2025PAP/EPA/GRAEME SLOAN / PAP
Alex Breusewitz, head of a Trump-related organization and his former adviser, accused Earle-Sears of doing so “she is not a friend of President Trump”while calling on Republican candidates to stronger support the president in order to win the election.
Both Earle-Sears and Ciattarelli touted their support of Trump during their campaigns — but Trump especially stayed away from the Virginian, who repeatedly criticized him in the years between his first and second presidencies.
“Tonight was a great lesson for the Republican Party: running the soft R’s[epublikanów]who are lukewarm towards Trump and MAGA, even in the “purple” states [gdzie poparcie dla dwóch partii jest wyrównane — red.]doesn't work,” Breusewitz wrote on social media. “Your candidate must be able to attract ALL FACTIONS of our partyand she does it by being MAGA all the time.”
— Just to be clear, NJ [New Jersey] is not a referendum on Trump, says Mike Hahn, a Republican strategist from New Jersey who advised the defeated candidate and a former employee of Trump's campaign. —It's a reflection on Jack Ciattarelli, who has already lost three times and has always been vulnerable.
Jack Ciattarelli, Republican candidate for Governor of New Jersey, on election night. Bridgewater, November 4, 2025KENA BETANCUR / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP
Few Republicans blamed the president for his decision to stay out of the races in Virginia, New York and California, casually acknowledging that entering campaigns in historically liberal states may backfire. But Trump's last-minute televised Republican rally on Monday highlighted how rarely he stood alongside the most prominent Republican candidates.
Andrew Kolvet, a spokesman for Turning Point USA, said in a live broadcast on Charlie Kirk's YouTube channel that he believed Trump should have offered more support for Ciattarelli, who seemed to have the best chance of winning on Election Day among the Republican candidates. Unlike Earle-Sears, Trump endorsed the New Jersey Republican by name.
— Do I think Trump should have performed in New Jersey? Yes. “Trump absolutely should be in New Jersey,” Kolvet said. — People who love Trump would be motivated by this.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
