California is now the fifth state to redistrict ahead of the 2026 congressional elections
California became the fifth state to redraw its congressional districts ahead of the 2026 elections after voters approved Proposition 50 on Nov. 4. The new map makes five districts more favorable to Democrats according to 2024 presidential results. That could lower the net gains from redistricting in Republican-led states from nine districts to four nationwide.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) stated that California’s new map was a response to redistricting in Texas. Texas became the first state to enact new congressional district boundaries ahead of the 2026 elections on Aug. 29. That map shifts five Democratic districts toward Republicans according to 2024 presidential election results.
Since then, three other Republican-led states have enacted new congressional maps—two voluntarily and one due to a constitutional requirement. On Sept. 28, Missouri enacted a new congressional map that aims to net one Republican district by drawing parts of Kansas City into surrounding rural areas. North Carolina enacted a new map on Oct. 22 that makes the 1st District, currently represented by Democratic U.S. Rep. Don Davis, more favorable to Republicans. According to Inside Elections, President Donald Trump (R) would have won the district by 12 points in 2024.
No change in the partisan balance of the mayors of the 100 most populous U.S. cities
Eighteen of the 100 most populous U.S. cities held mayoral elections on Nov. 4, and so far, none of those elections resulted in a partisan change. That means this year is on track to be the first time since 2021 that no November mayoral elections resulted in a partisan change.
Looking at the November mayoral elections over the past four years, partisan changes occurred in four out of 23 cities in 2024, two out of 13 in 2023, three out of 16 in 2022, and none of the 17 in 2021.
As of Nov. 7 at 11:00 a.m. EST, winners have been called in 14 of the 18 cities. Democratic mayors will continue to lead all 14 of those cities. The mayoral election has not been called in Seattle, Washington, but a Democratic mayor currently leads Seattle and both candidates are Democrats.
The three other mayoral elections are headed to runoffs. That's because none of the candidates running in those elections met the required threshold for victory. Those runoff elections will take place in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Jersey City, New Jersey, and Miami, Florida. Miami is the only one of those cities that currently has a Republican mayor.
Click here to read more about the results of mayoral elections in the 100 most populous U.S. cities.
At least 15 Republican incumbents lost re-election in New Jersey and Virginia
At least 15 incumbents lost in the state legislative elections in New Jersey and Virginia, with six New Jersey contests still uncalled as of 11:00 a.m. EST on Nov. 7. That’s the most general election incumbent defeats in an odd year since 21 were defeated in 2011. All 15 defeated incumbents were Republicans.
Twelve Republican incumbents lost re-election in Virginia, where Democrats expanded their majority by 13 seats, going from 51 to 64 seats in the 100-member chamber. That tied 2017 for the most incumbents defeated in the chamber’s elections since 2011. This was the first time Democrats retained an existing House majority after the general elections since 1997.
At least three incumbents lost in New Jersey, where six races remain uncalled. At least one incumbent lost in every general election for the General Assembly since 2011, except in 2017. Five General Assembly incumbents were defeated in each of the previous two general elections leading up to 2025.
Twenty-three states have amended their absentee/mail-in voting laws so far this year
On Tuesday, Nov. 4, Maine voters defeated Question 1, which would have changed the state's absentee voting laws, limited ballot drop boxes, and required voter ID for individuals voting both in person and by absentee ballot. As of 11 a.m. EST on Nov. 7, the vote was 64.1%-35.9%, with 95% of votes in.
While Mainers rejected Question 1, lawmakers enacted three bills modifying the state’s absentee voting policies earlier this year, making Maine one of 23 states to amend its absentee/mail-in voting laws so far in 2025.
So far this year, state legislators have introduced 413 bills related to absentee/mail-in voting. Forty-three bills in 23 states have become law. Three states — Kansas, North Dakota, and Utah — moved up the deadline by which election officials must receive absentee/mail-in ballots in order for them to be counted. Two states, New Hampshire and Utah, passed new requirements for voters to present identification or provide an identification number when voting or requesting an absentee/mail-in ballot.