Democrats sweep key governor races as Trump calls results ‘not good’
US President Donald Trump admitted on Tuesday that Democrats’ sweeping electoral victories reflected growing challenges for Republicans, describing the outcome as “not good” and partly blaming the party’s losses on the ongoing federal government shutdown — now in its sixth week and the longest in American history.
His remarks came after Democrats Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill secured decisive gubernatorial wins in Virginia and New Jersey, while Zohran Mamdani defeated Trump-backed Andrew Cuomo in the New York City mayoral race. In Virginia, Democrat Jay Jones also captured the attorney general’s office, overcoming a 2022 scandal.
Speaking to GOP senators at a White House breakfast on Wednesday, Trump said the election night “had not been positive for anyone,” adding, “We had an interesting evening, and we learned a lot.”
Shutdown becomes longest in US history as federal workers go unpaid
Trump said pollsters had identified the record-long government shutdown as a major factor hurting Republican candidates, while others blamed his absence from the ballot.
The shutdown, triggered after Congress failed to pass a funding bill before September 30, has left 1.4 million federal workers either on unpaid leave or working without pay. Essential services — from airport security to court operations — have been strained, with agencies warning of growing disruptions as the stalemate continues.
Airports are facing severe staffing shortages, and the White House has warned of potential travel chaos ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, with more than 60,000 TSA officers and air traffic controllers working without pay.
Health care dispute stalls negotiations
The main sticking point remains health care spending, with Democrats demanding that Republicans agree to extend insurance subsidies before funding is restored. Republicans, however, have refused to negotiate until the government is reopened.
Despite the impasse, a small bipartisan group of House members has proposed a compromise plan to reduce insurance costs, but Trump has rejected calls to soften his stance, insisting he “will not be extorted.”
Threats over welfare programmes spark outrage
Trump has also threatened to suspend a key food assistance programme that helps 42 million low-income Americans buy groceries — the first such move in over 60 years. The courts, however, blocked the measure, and the White House later clarified it was still processing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments “as much as possible.”
The prolonged shutdown has reignited debates over Washington’s political gridlock, with both parties trading blame even as public frustration mounts.
