Virginia, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania hold key elections Tuesday

Voters across the country — especially in Virginia, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania — will head to the polls next month for an off-year election that could offer an early read on the strength of both parties heading into 2026.

Virginia races Includes the governorlieutenant governor and attorney general, has been thrust upon the national conscience by the murder text scandal surrounding Democratic attorney general nominee Jay Jones.

Virginia law now allows voters to register to vote on the same day as the election. If someone chooses this route, they will be asked to cast a provisional ballot; This means a ballot that is later supposed to be checked against the voter register and other information.

Every county from urban Arlington to remote Lee is also required to have at least one secure drop box. Voters can usually find them outside county offices, courthouses, or libraries.

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A Michigan voter inserts her absentee ballot into a drop box in Troy, Michigan on October 15, 2020. (AP Photo/Paul Sagna, File)

Early voting in Virginia continues until Saturday, November 1, before Election Day on Tuesday, November 4.

Key issues in the Virginia races include how candidates in the transgender bathroom debates and school sports will align with the Republican gubernatorial nominee. Winsome Earl Sears Democrat Abigail Spanberger is accused of failing to stand up for Virginia’s children.

This topic as well Jones’ scripts envision murder It led former GOP leader Earl Sears to repeatedly interject what she saw as Spanberger’s vague or indirect answers in their only debate, held in Hampton Roads.

Earl Sears warned voters in Smith County She said Thursday that Democrats would continue previous efforts to suppress fossil fuel development — which she said affects not only jobs in the coal- and gas-rich Southwest, but also every Virginian’s electric bill.

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On the lieutenant governor’s ballot, businessman and commentator John Reed criticized Democrat Ghazala Hashmi for refusing to debate him — with Reed creating an AI-powered version of the Chesterfield senator to try to get the public to see the stark differences in their policy proposals.

Jones remains embroiled in the scandal Prosecutor Jason Miyares In their own debate in Richmond, they focused on the contrast between the candidate who is trying to be the state’s top law enforcement official while carrying a criminal record and a temper on the script, and the candidate who has none of that baggage.

The federal government shutdown overshadows the election race, and is expected to help Democrats, who do not blame congressional leaders but the president. Donald Trump Because of the unique impacts the situation is having on the workforce there, nominally in Maryland and eastern West Virginia.

In New York, the future of the city’s political system is on the ballot in the elections for the far-left Rally Party. Zahran Mamdani Both are led by Democrats-turned-independents Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa.

The nation’s only two 2025 races for governor rocked for three weeks leading up to Election Day

Both Cuomo and Sliwa, usually political rivals, accused Mamdani of harboring “communist” policies that would make most city services free and weaken public safety through police reforms.

Sliwa, an outspoken Canarcian Republican who founded the Guardian Angels, said he is the only person who can guarantee New York’s safety and financial solvency.

But his third-place finish led to discussions with ideologically aligned colleagues such as fellow radio broadcaster Sid Rosenberg about his potential spoiler role. Last week, Saliwa suggested that he would not appear on 77WABC again after his colleagues abandoned him.

Cuomo has positioned himself as the moderate, relying on his trademark Queens wit to fend off attacks from both challengers. However, his resignation, pandemic-era controversies, and allegations of sexual misconduct continue to cast a pall over his campaign.

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Mamdani, who was born in Uganda, continues to face criticism for his far-left proposals, including free public transit, a rent freeze and closing Rikers Island.

Early voting in New York It runs until November 3.

And across the Hudson, New Jersey is shaping up to be Republicans’ best chance at flipping a blue state — like the former congressman. Jack Ciattarelli, R-Somerville, made gains over Rep. Mickey Sherrill, D-N.J.

Like other elections, affordability is at the top of the ballot, and Ciattarelli has picked up several endorsements in the aisles, including in solidly blue Hudson County — where Democrats like incarcerated Robert Menendez Sr. made his name.

A new poll in the key Virginia governor’s showdown suggests a single-digit race

President Donald Trump has endorsed candidates in New Jersey, but not the Virginia governor’s race. He has endorsed Miyares for attorney general.

Pennsylvanians face a unique off-year election with three Democratic Supreme Court justices Either keep them – or vote to keep them on the bench for another 10 years.

It is extremely rare for such elections to see a “No” column win – which would spark a new election for any judge who loses more than 50% of voters’ confidence.

Justices David Wecht, Christine Donohue and Kevin Dougherty face massive opposition from the right — particularly to their rulings to keep the state closed under the wishes of then-Gov. Tom Wolfe and his management during the coronavirus pandemic.

In the wake of the Pennsylvania shutdown — where Wolf enacted policies that often mirrored Cuomo’s — who continues to receive criticism is somewhat divided.

While Wolf was term-limited, many of his then-aligned colleagues, including then-Attorney General Josh Shapiro and Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding, remained at the highest levels of government. Shapiro has high approval ratings as the incumbent governor and is touted as a potential 2028 presidential figure — while Republicans have notably directed their anger at the justices for their role.

Counties have the option to use Drop boxeswhile larger counties, such as Philadelphia and Allegheny, must have multiple counties, according to reports.

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Pennsylvania’s electoral system It has been criticized for long counting times — which often stem from its policy that ballots received by mail in the county cannot be prepared (or “pre-counted”) for tabulation until 7 a.m. ET on Election Day.

Of all the major states that hold elections, Virginia is the only one with a real voter ID law.