Election day 2025: From New York to California — key governor, mayor races, and poll timings to watch

Voters across the United States headed to the polls on November 4, 2025 for a series of state and local elections. While these contests were not as widespread as those held in presidential election years, they offered insight into party strength ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Here is a look at the key races and ballot measures in states holding elections in November 2025:

New Jersey

Governor race: Democrat Mikie Sherrill, a current US House member, and Republican Jack Ciattarelli, the 2021 GOP nominee, challenged one another to succeed term-limited Democratic Governor Phil Murphy, NBC news reported.Jersey City mayoral primary: Seven candidates ran in an all-party primary. If no candidate received a majority, the top two were to move to a runoff election scheduled for December 2.The voting time will be 6 am to 8 pm

Virginia

Governor race: Democrat Abigail Spanberger and Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears vied to replace term-limited Governor Glenn Youngkin. The winner was set to become the state’s first female governor.Lieutenant governor race: Democrat Ghazala Hashmi, a state senator, challenged Republican John Reid, a talk-radio host. Attorney general race: Incumbent Republican Jason Miyares faced Democrat Jay Jones, a former state delegate, in an intense contest.

The voting time will be 6 am to 7 pm

California

Proposition 50: This ballot measure proposed adopting new congressional maps for the next three election cycles. It could add as many as five Democratic-held seats to Congress and served as a response to aggressive map changes in states like Texas.The voting time will be 7 am to 8 pm

Colorado

Proposition MM: This measure proposed raising income taxes on households earning at least $300,000 annually.

The revenue would fund a programme to provide free meals for public-school students statewide.The voting time will be 7 am to 7 pm

Georgia

Atlanta mayor race: Incumbent Andre Dickens sought a second term in the officially non-partisan race. Four candidates qualified for the ballot, making this a competitive local contest.The voting time will be 7 am to 7 pm

Maine

Question 1: This measure proposed overhauling the state’s election rules by requiring photo ID for all voting, shortening the absentee voting period, and banning absentee ballot requests by phone.Question 2: This measure would have allowed family or household members to petition courts to temporarily restrict someone’s access to weapons if they were deemed a threat to themselves or others.For municipalities with a population of 500 or more, polls can open between 6 am and 8 pm; For municipalities with a population of less than 500, polls can open between 6 am and 10 am; All voting places close at 8 pm

Michigan

Detroit mayor race: With three-term incumbent Mike Duggan not seeking re-election, this open race determined the next leader of Michigan’s largest city.The voting time will be 7 am to 8 pm

Minnesota

Minneapolis mayor race: Incumbent Jacob Frey faced a challenge from state Senator Omar Fateh and others in a ranked-choice election, adding complexity to the city’s political future.The voting time will be 7 am to 8 pm

New York City

New York City mayor race: Democrat Zohran Mamdani and Republican Curtis Sliwa appeared on the ballot, while former Governor Andrew Cuomo ran as an independent after a loss in the Democratic primary.

Incumbent Eric Adams had dropped out but also remained on the ballot.The voting time will be 6 am to 9 pm

Ohio

Cincinnati mayor race: Incumbent Aftab Pureval ran for re-election against challenger Cory Bowman, the half-brother of Vice President JD Vance, in this officially non-partisan city race.The voting time will be 6:30 am to 7:30 pm

Pennsylvania

Supreme Court retention: Voters decided whether to retain three Democratic justices.

With Democrats holding a 5-2 majority, the outcome had the potential to shift the court’s ideological balance.Pittsburgh mayor race: Democrat Corey O’Connor, having defeated incumbent Ed Gainey in the primary, faced Republican Tony Moreno in the general election.The voting time will be 7 am to 8 pm

Texas

US House, 18th District special election: A special election was set following the sudden death of Representative Sylvester Turner.

If no candidate earned over 50 percent of the vote, the top two were to go to a runoff.Proposition 15: This constitutional amendment affirmed parents as primary decision-makers for their children and protected choice in education and child-rearing.Proposition 16: This measure proposed adding language explicitly requiring US citizenship to vote in Texas.The voting time will be 7 am to 7 pm