Right Now With Perry Bacon

Democrat Abigail Spanberger handily won the Virginia gubernatorial race, as was expected. In something of a surprise, New Jersey’s Mikie Sherrill, another Democrat, also won comfortably. Those two races were perhaps the most important in assessing the state of national politics in 2025. But the defining figure of this year’s elections has been Zohran Mamdani, the New York City mayoral candidate. He also cruised to victory. In the latest edition of Right Now, TNR writers Monica Potts and Alex Shephard discussed Spanberger’s, Sherrill’s, and Mamdani’s victories and what those wins say about the state of the Democratic Party, President Trump, and the country, a year after Republicans dominated the elections.

Democrat Abigail Spanberger handily won the Virginia gubernatorial race, as was expected. In something of a surprise, New Jersey’s Mikie Sherrill, another Democrat, also won comfortably. Those two races were perhaps the most important in assessing the state of national politics in 2025. But the defining figure of this year’s elections has been Zohran Mamdani, the New York City mayoral candidate. He also cruised to victory. In the latest edition of Right Now, TNR writers Monica Potts and Alex Shephard discussed Spanberger’s, Sherrill’s, and Mamdani’s victories and what those wins say about the state of the Democratic Party, President Trump, and the country, a year after Republicans dominated the elections.

Zohran Mamdani’s strong opposition to Israel’s military actions in Gaza is a critical element of his political success, according to Patrick Gaspard, a longtime Democratic operative who is advising the mayoral front-runner. In the latest edition of Right Now, Gaspard argued that Mamdani’s Gaza stances resonated with Democrats who were frustrated with party leadership over Gaza, the 2024 election defeat, and congressional Democrats’ refusal to stand up to Trump early in his second term. Gaspard likens the political effects of Mamdani’s Gaza position to Barack Obama having opposed the Iraq War, which many of his 2008 Democratic primary opponents initially supported. Gaspard, who served as Obama’s political director, says that Mamdani uniquely combines “moral clarity,” “curiosity,” “grace,” and an ability to be “nimble.” Polls suggest Mamdani may fall short of winning 50 percent of the vote. But Gaspard rejects the idea that Mamdani needs to win an outright majority to have a mandate to lead New York. He notes that it’s hard to win 50 percent in a multicandidate field and that both Bill Clinton and Donald Trump didn’t win majorities but still governed aggressively as president.

Zohran Mamdani’s strong opposition to Israel’s military actions in Gaza is a critical element of his political success, according to Patrick Gaspard, a longtime Democratic operative who is advising the mayoral front-runner. In the latest edition of Right Now, Gaspard argued that Mamdani’s Gaza stances resonated with Democrats who were frustrated with party leadership over Gaza, the 2024 election defeat, and congressional Democrats’ refusal to stand up to Trump early in his second term. Gaspard likens the political effects of Mamdani’s Gaza position to Barack Obama having opposed the Iraq War, which many of his 2008 Democratic primary opponents initially supported. Gaspard, who served as Obama’s political director, says that Mamdani uniquely combines “moral clarity,” “curiosity,” “grace,” and an ability to be “nimble.” Polls suggest Mamdani may fall short of winning 50 percent of the vote. But Gaspard rejects the idea that Mamdani needs to win an outright majority to have a mandate to lead New York. He notes that it’s hard to win 50 percent in a multicandidate field and that both Bill Clinton and Donald Trump didn’t win majorities but still governed aggressively as president.

Democrats are even more furious about the government shutdown now that President Trump is using the impasse as a pretext to stop tens of millions of Americans from getting benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Minnesota Senator Tina Smith, in the latest edition of Right Now, argues that Trump refusing to fund Obamacare subsidies and now food stamps has strengthened her party’s resolve. But she says that Democrats can’t just be the anti-Trump party. She praises Zohran Mamdani for offering bold ideas that go beyond the status quo and aren’t super-complicated, as Democratic proposals often are. Smith, 67, also discusses her decision to not seek reelection next year. The senator says it’s critical for leaders in her party not to view themselves as indispensable and instead provide both mentorship and space for the party’s next generation.

Democrats are even more furious about the government shutdown now that President Trump is using the impasse as a pretext to stop tens of millions of Americans from getting benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Minnesota Senator Tina Smith, in the latest edition of Right Now, argues that Trump refusing to fund Obamacare subsidies and now food stamps has strengthened her party’s resolve. But she says that Democrats can’t just be the anti-Trump party. She praises Zohran Mamdani for offering bold ideas that go beyond the status quo and aren’t super-complicated, as Democratic proposals often are. Smith, 67, also discusses her decision to not seek reelection next year. The senator says it’s critical for leaders in her party not to view themselves as indispensable and instead provide both mentorship and space for the party’s next generation.

New Jersey Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Virginia’s Abigail Spanberger haven’t received the attention of New York’s Zohran Mamdani and have run less engaging campaigns. But they still will likely win key governorships next week. As Decision Desk HQ’s Geoffrey Skelley explains, there is nearly always a backlash against incumbent presidents in their first year in office, boosting the opposite party in the New Jersey and Virginia races. This year is no different, with Sherrill and Spanberger running against Trump as much as their actual Republican opponents. Skelley also discussed the redistricting happening across the country, including in Virginia. Democrats remain the favorites to win the U.S. House, according to Skelley, under there are truly dramatic changes made to the electoral map.

New Jersey Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Virginia’s Abigail Spanberger haven’t received the attention of New York’s Zohran Mamdani and have run less engaging campaigns. But they still will likely win key governorships next week. As Decision Desk HQ’s Geoffrey Skelley explains, there is nearly always a backlash against incumbent presidents in their first year in office, boosting the opposite party in the New Jersey and Virginia races. This year is no different, with Sherrill and Spanberger running against Trump as much as their actual Republican opponents. Skelley also discussed the redistricting happening across the country, including in Virginia. Democrats remain the favorites to win the U.S. House, according to Skelley, under there are truly dramatic changes made to the electoral map.

Several elite U.S. colleges, including Brown, Dartmouth, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, have all rejected a “compact” with the Trump administration, in which the schools might have received additional federal funding as long as they implemented a number of conservative policies on campus, such as restricting the rights of transgender students. This is a marked shift from earlier this year, when many universities cut deals with the administration. The schools’ rejection of the compact is a very positive development, said Ryan Enos, a professor of government at Harvard. In the latest edition of Right Now, Enos argued that colleges are finally realizing both that they must stand up for themselves and that they will be more effective in resisting Trump if they coordinate and collaborate with one another. Enos said that Trump’s demolition of the East Wing of the White House is alarming both because the president flouted laws and regulations to execute the project and it’s another sign that he doesn’t respect American traditions. Enos joined other scholars in saying that America today is best described as a “competitive authoritarian” regime, as opposed to a full-fledged democracy.

Thank you Vicki, Bradley Haist, MLR, ellmarree, Delores Whitman, and many others for tuning into my live video with Ryan Enos! Join me for my next live video in the app.

Several elite U.S. colleges, including Brown, Dartmouth, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, have all rejected a “compact” with the Trump administration, in which the schools might have received additional federal funding as long as they implemented a number of conservative policies on campus, such as restricting the rights of transgender students. This is a marked shift from earlier this year, when many universities cut deals with the administration. The schools’ rejection of the compact is a very positive development, said Ryan Enos, a professor of government at Harvard. In the latest edition of Right Now, Enos argued that colleges are finally realizing both that they must stand up for themselves and that they will be more effective in resisting Trump if they coordinate and collaborate with one another. Enos said that Trump’s demolition of the East Wing of the White House is alarming both because the president flouted laws and regulations to execute the project and it’s another sign that he doesn’t respect American traditions. Enos joined other scholars in saying that America today is best described as a “competitive authoritarian” regime, as opposed to a full-fledged democracy.

Thank you Vicki, Bradley Haist, MLR, ellmarree, Delores Whitman, and many others for tuning into my live video with Ryan Enos! Join me for my next live video in the app.