Democrats had a big night. Here are 5 takeaways from the 2025 elections

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One thing was clear – it was a big night for Democrats.

Up and down the ballot, Democrats did well. That was true whether it was the marquee governor's races in Virginia and New Jersey, where Democrats significantly outperformed 2024 presidential election margins, or even less-closely-watched races like the Virginia House of Delegates, the state supreme court in Pennsylvania and even Georgia Public Service Commission.

And the outcomes very well may have consequences in the near term, for things like the federal government shutdown, in the medium term for the 2026 midterm elections and in the longer term for 2028.

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Here are five takeaways from the 2025 off-year elections:

1. It's still the cost of living, stupid.

The old political axiom, coined by former Bill Clinton adviser James Carville is, "It's the economy, stupid." Well, over the last couple of years, more specifically that should be, "It's the cost of living, stupid." Whether it was Democratic President Joe Biden or now Republican President Trump, prices and affordability have proven to be voting motivators.

But Trump has largely ignored it, saying he always felt immigration was more motivating. That came back to bite his party Tuesday night.

The exit polls found that in all four major contests — the governor's races in Virginia and New Jersey, the New York mayor's race and the Proposition 50 battle in California — voters said the economy was the most important issue (or close to it