Tuesday’s elections seemed to capture some of the current political undercurrents in the United States. While former President Donald Trump performed well in New Jersey’s 2024 voting preferences, the Republican gubernatorial candidate there faced a crushing defeat. In Virginia, the three top commonwealth positions, which had been held by Republicans, will soon be occupied by liberal Democrats.
Naomi Lim of The Washington Examiner highlighted growing concerns that Trump’s support base may be eroding as he shifts his focus from domestic “kitchen table” issues to foreign policy. Republican strategist John Feehery explained, “Trump has been spending a lot of time on foreign policy and not as much time on domestic policy. That typically is what happens in the second term for a president, but it has an impact. People don’t really give a s*** what’s going on in Europe. They care what’s happening in the backyard. And the president needs to mind that as he’s thinking of the midterms.”
Our graders echoed this sentiment. Conservative analyst Jed Babbin assigned Trump a weekly grade of “D,” criticizing his overseas preoccupations. Democratic pollster John Zogby gave the president an “F,” stating that no amount of White House spin could mask the fact that Tuesday’s voters turned out to cast ballots largely against the administration.
**John Zogby Grade: F**
What did Virginia, New Jersey, New York City, California, Pennsylvania, and hundreds of smaller cities and towns have in common this week? They all voted against President Donald Trump. While local issues and candidates played a role, exit polls indicated that cost of living was the most significant factor influencing voters, followed by concerns over health care.
Although Trump attributed some Republican losses to his absence from the ballot — suggesting he couldn’t mobilize voters without being a candidate — he remains the central figure in the party and, consequently, the person held accountable by voters.
Nearly two-thirds of voters in Virginia and New Jersey expressed dissatisfaction or anger about the country’s direction. Majorities in both states disapproved of the president’s immigration policies and gave him negative job ratings. Voter turnout was high, and Democrats outperformed expectations in both states.
Notably, young voters turned out in significant numbers, overwhelmingly supporting Democratic candidates. About 60% of Hispanic voters and over 90% of Black voters cast ballots for Democrats. In New Jersey, although the GOP gubernatorial nominee won among men, his margin was insufficient to counterbalance the 27-point advantage his Democratic opponent enjoyed among women.
In summary, Democrats appear to have reclaimed much of their traditional support among key voting blocs.
Meanwhile, concerns mounted over economic challenges. October saw job cuts at their highest level in 22 years, and talk of a potential recession intensified. The president has called for an end to the federal government shutdown, acknowledging the political harm it has caused his party but still refusing to fully fund SNAP food benefits. His inaction on this front received a late Friday night endorsement from the U.S. Supreme Court.
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**Jed Babbin Grade: D**
It was a dismal week for President Donald Trump and his team. Tuesday’s election results were devastating: Democratic candidates won both gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey in what amounted to an anti-Trump vote.
Additionally, Trump’s threats to intervene “guns-a-blazing” in Nigeria raised eyebrows. While the Nigerian government welcomed assistance against terrorist violence targeting Christians, any unilateral U.S. military action would violate Nigeria’s sovereignty. These threats may be more bluster than actual policy.
The U.S. military’s repeated strikes on Venezuelan drug boats, though potentially beneficial, remain legally ambiguous at best.
In New York City, Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani secured a surprising victory. His campaign promises to “tax the rich,” defund the police, and provide free city services — including city-sponsored grocery stores — seem disconnected from fiscal realities. It’s likely that both people and businesses will continue to leave the city in response to these policies.
This week’s results painted a grim picture for Republicans and suggest tough challenges ahead in the 2026 midterms. Virginia, for example, elected a candidate who had previously expressed violent sentiments toward the state’s top Republican legislator, highlighting the volatile nature of current political discourse.
On a lighter note, Monday marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Marine Corps. Happy birthday to all Marines celebrating this historic milestone.
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**About the author:**
Jed Babbin is a Washington Examiner contributor and former Deputy Undersecretary of Defense in the administration of former President George H. W. Bush.
Follow him on Twitter: [@jedbabbin](https://twitter.com/jedbabbin)
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