 "'Pass voter reform': Trump calls for sweeping changes in US election system after Republican setbacks")
US President Donald Trump has called for voting reforms after the Republican Party suffered major setbacks in statewide elections.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, “Pass Voter Reform, Voter ID, No Mail-In Ballots. Save our Supreme Court from “Packing,” No Two State addition, etc. TERMINATE THE FILIBUSTER!!!”
The GOP fell short of winning the gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey and the mayoral elections in New Jersey. Abigail Spanberger, the Governor-elect and the Democratic candidate from Virginia, became the first woman to take over the post, while Mikie Sherrill won the race in New Jersey. Meanwhile, Zohran Mamdani won in the New York mayor race, defeating Andrew Cuomo.
These were not isolated victories, say Washington-watchers, but full-throated endorsements of a new Democratic vibe centred on the middle class.
“These two candidates, in particular – in Virginia and New Jersey – showed the Democrats how to mobilise their base, how to get out the vote,” said Wendy Schiller, a political science professor at Brown University.
Democrats have long been criticised for not speaking the language of ordinary voters, but Tuesday showed a shift to kitchen-table issues as Spanberger and Sherrill talked rent, groceries and gas prices.
The Democrats showed they were listening, political commentators noted, with middle-income voters swinging back to the Democrats like it was 2008.
California voters also passed Proposition 50, a measure backed by Governor Gavin Newsom that grants the Democratic Party authority over congressional redistricting. The move could enable Democrats to win back as many as five seats currently held by Republicans. The initiative was intended to counterbalance redistricting changes in Texas that were seen as benefiting the GOP.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsTrump’s comments reflect growing Republican anxiety about the party’s electoral outlook. The timing highlights how recent election results continue to influence discussions around voting rights, political representation, and the balance of power, especially as Democrats seek to bolster their standing through initiatives such as California’s redistricting reform.
With inputs from agencies
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