Women running on affordability powered Democrats’ night of victories

November 5, 2025

Democrats achieved significant victories across multiple states in recent elections, driven largely by women candidates who focused their campaigns on cost-of-living concerns and economic anxiety. In Virginia, Democrats expanded their House of Delegates majority by flipping at least a dozen seats, with women winning 10 of 13 flipped districts, while former Representative Abigail Spanberger became the state's first woman governor. The election results came amid a historic 36-day federal government shutdown, federal workforce cuts, and looming reductions to food assistance programs that created immediate economic stress for voters.

Who is affected

Federal workers in Northern Virginia and other communities experiencing government layoffs and working without pay during the shutdown
Families relying on federally funded food assistance programs (SNAP) facing potential loss of benefits
Working-class Virginians struggling with rent increases, home affordability, and grocery costs
Jessica Anderson's constituents in southeastern Virginia
Leslie Mehta's constituents in suburban Richmond
Republican incumbents who lost their seats (nine in Virginia alone)
Voters in New Jersey, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Georgia, California, and New York who elected Democratic candidates
Governor Glenn Youngkin and Virginia Republicans losing their political power

What action is being taken

New Virginia Majority knocked on more than 100,000 doors on behalf of Democratic candidates
Voters are donating to food banks to help neighbors potentially impacted by SNAP cuts
Democrats are transitioning into expanded majorities and preparing to govern with trifecta control in Virginia
Jessica Anderson is continuing to work as an administrative aide at a local elementary school while preparing to serve as a delegate

Why it matters

This election represents a significant political shift showing that voters prioritize immediate economic concerns and respond to candidates who demonstrate authentic understanding of working-class struggles. The success of women candidates—particularly those who shared personal experiences with economic hardship—signals a departure from traditional political messaging and suggests that personal connection and relatability are increasingly important factors in electoral success. The results also demonstrate that Democrats can outperform in areas that recently shifted toward Trump when they focus directly on voters' most pressing concerns like cost of living, rather than broader political narratives. Virginia's transformation from Republican minority status in 2021 to Democratic trifecta control illustrates how quickly political power can shift when economic anxiety dominates voter sentiment during times of governmental disruption.

What's next

Democrats in Virginia will transition from a one-seat advantage to a comfortable trifecta following Trump's first year in office
Abigail Spanberger will take office as Virginia's first woman governor
Leslie Mehta plans to continue advocating for strong health care policy in the House of Delegates
Democrats in California will work to combat Republicans' push to redraw U.S. House districts ahead of the 2026 midterm elections

Read full article from source: The 19th