US President Donald Trump stated on his social network “Truth Social“ that the election defeats of his Republican Party were due to the absence of his name from the ballot and the budget paralysis.
“Trump wasn't on the ballot and the government shutdown – "These are the two reasons why Republicans lost tonight's election, pollsters say," the president wrote.
In Virginia, home to many federal workers affected by the partial government shutdown and Trump's massive federal layoffs, voters took control of the governor's office from Republicans and elected Democrat Abigail Spanberger - the first woman to lead the state, the AP reported.
In New Jersey, where Trump has endorsed Republican candidate Jack Cattarelli and held several online rallies in his favor, voters chose to leave power to Democrats and elected Congresswoman Mickey Sherrell.
New York is Trump's hometown, but he remains deeply unpopular in this Democratic stronghold. His frequent statements and social media posts warning that the nation's largest city would be in ruins if Democrat and democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor may have narrowed the gap somewhat, but his belated support for independent candidate and former governor Andrew Cuomo, who resigned four years ago amid scandal, may have been counterproductive, the AP added.