Republicans look for lessons in election dominated by Democratic wins

No one thought Tuesday was going to be Donald Trump’s election night, but there were even fewer silver linings than many Republicans had hoped.

No one thought Tuesday was going to be Donald Trump’s election night, but there were even fewer silver linings than many Republicans had hoped.

Democrats attacked Trump’s agenda to help score victories in Virginia, where former Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger quickly defeated Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears. They also prevailed in the attorney general’s race — where their candidate had been wrapped up in a texting controversy — and made double-digit gains in the state Legislature.

Democrats won in New Jersey, where Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill beat Republican Jack Ciattarelli in a race for governor considered the best Tuesday night upset opportunity for the GOP. Democrats also won redistricting efforts in California and got their preferred candidate in the New York mayor’s race. Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, a favorite of the left and boogeyman of the political right, beat Trump-endorsed former Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.