Sarah Smith
North America editor

Zohran Mamdani supporters at this “watch party” in Astoria are convinced that only his brand of politics can rescue the Democratic Party after its crushing defeat last year.

They argue that other Democrats offer nothing but opposition to Donald Trump. Only Mamdani, they say, has positive ideas to address the affordability crisis in New York. The party needs to learn from the excitement and enthusiasm Mamdani has generated in his campaign, according to his supporters, and adopt his type of progressive policies right across the US.

But it is worth remembering that New York City is not representative of the rest of America. What works in elections here is not necessarily the way to win in more conservative swing states.

Grace Eliza Goodwin
Reporting from New York

Standing outside of several voting sites in Manhattan and the Bronx today, I’ve seen a lot of friendly encounters between canvassers and passersby.

Many people walking down the street have called out their support for Mamdani or Cuomo.

Others have stopped to chat about their concerns for the city and which policies they're excited about from the candidates.

Some have stopped to introduce their dogs and let the canvassers pet them.

Still, I’ve seen a few heated encounters, with passersby heckling the people passing out candidates’ flyers.

Near a polling site on the Upper East Side, a man passing by yells out at several people canvassing for Mamdani.

“New York will never be a communist city!” he hollers as he crosses the street. “Put that in your pipe and smoke it!”

It is 21:00 ET and polls have now closed across the five boroughs of New York City.

As a reminder - if you’re just joining us - Democratic state assembly member Zohran Mamdani, independent candidate and former governor Andrew Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa, are facing off to be the next mayor of New York.

Stay tuned…

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from Brooklyn

Image source, Kayla Epstein / BBC

With minutes until the polls close, the press is packing into the Brooklyn Paramount theatre where Zohran Mamdani is holding his election night party.

There’s a big screen set up on stage playing NY1, the city’s local news station.

The public is still lining up outside, but the planners are clearly expecting to throw a party.

There’s a DJ booth set up on stage left.

The Talking Heads’ "This Must Be the Place" is blasting over the speakers. As results start to trickle in, we’ll find out if it was a fitting song choice or not.

The Democratic National Committee says that Abigail Spanberger's victory in Virginia's gubernatorial race is "another sign that voters are rejecting Donald Trump and his Republican allies’ extreme agenda".

Spanberger made history as Virginia's first woman governor and the DNC touted her as "a leader for all Virginians and [whol] will never be afraid to stand up to the chaos coming out of Washington as it harms Virginians".

"With tonight’s victory, Virginians also delivered a resounding rejection of the self-serving and corrupt Trump establishment," said DNC Chair Ken Martin.

"It’s time for Republicans to cherish their short time in power — because Democrats are going to keep winning, and we have a vision for this country that’s a lot bigger than building a ballroom.”

Nada Tawfik
Reporting from New York

Image source, Nada Tawfik / BBC

I’m now inside Zohran Mamdani’s election watch party, where the political world’s eyes will be focused tonight.

The stage is set and media are now filing in.

The DJ has already started spinning to get the party going at this palace-like music venue.

If you’re curious about all of the flags on stage, they are each of New York’s five boroughs flags and of course, the American flag.

Abigail Spanberger has just taken the stage after winning the Virginia governor race.

The Democrat thanks her supporters and her opponent, and says "tonight we sent a message to the whole world".

She says they chose their commonwealth of Virginia, "over chaos".

Spanberger says her leadership will not focus on division and partisan politics.

Anthony Zurcher
North America correspondent

New York City, New Jersey and Virginia have dominated early attention on this election night, but there was another noteworthy result a bit farther down the Atlantic coast.

Two Public Service Commissioner District races in Georgia weren’t on many people’s electoral cheat sheet tonight, but Democrats flipped both seats from the Republicans, marking the first time the party has won a statewide non-federal race since 2006.

Joe Biden, of course, narrowly won the state in 2020. And Democrats have won the last three Senate contests there. But this is another indication that this is shaping up to be good night for a party looking to vanquish the ghosts of 2024.

Grace Eliza Goodwin
Reporting from Manhattan

Charlton D’Souza, a coordinator for a polling site on the Upper East Side tells me the site has seen record voter turnout today.

“Poll worker team has gone above and beyond serving the voters,” he says.

D’Souza has been at the site all day long, after waking up at 2am. He says he wont get home tonight after 1am.

But, he says, he’s “honoured to serve the voters.”

Madeline Halpert
Reporting from Brooklyn

Image source, Madeline Halpert / BBC

We’ve still got about a half hour until the polls close here in New York, and bars across the city are packed with people.

At Wild East Brewing in central Brooklyn, over 100 people are cramped into the bar to watch the election results come in. Many are young Zohran Mamdani supporters, wearing shirts that say “Hot Girls For Zohran” and other apparel in support of him.

The scene is only likely to get more crowded as we inch toward the polls closing.

Anthony Zurcher
North America correspondent

The Virginia governor’s race was not expected to be particularly close – and it wasn’t. New Jersey, however, is supposed to be a different story.

There have been polls over the last month that have shown this contest within the margin of error. And unlike Virginia, a Democrat currently holds the governor’s mansion there. If exit polls indicating the mood of voters is “angry” are true – and they want to vote for change - then that could cut against Democrat Mikie Sherrill here.

On the other hand, if this race becomes a referendum on Trump and his stewardship of the economy – as Sherrill has tried to make it – then New Jersey could quickly follow Virginia into the Democrat’s column.

CBS News, the BBC's US partner, says the New Jersey governor's race is leaning Democratic.

Democrat Mikie Sherrill is up against Republican Jack Ciattarelli for the governor role.

Polls closed there about 20 minutes ago.

Max Matza
US reporter

Image source, Reuters

Democrat Abigail Spanberger has been projected as winning the race for Virginia governor after a closely-watched election which her party hoped could signal a national trend.

The former congresswoman and CIA officer defeated the state's Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, CBS News reported.

Virginia's leadership usually swings between Democrats and Republicans, meaning the outcome might serve as a bellwether for the electorate's mood going into next year's midterm elections.

Spanberger, a former CIA officer and three-term congresswoman, who campaigned alongside former President Barack Obama last weekend, will become the first woman to lead the state.

She will take over after four years under Republican Glenn Youngkin.

Virginia is bordered by the liberal-leaning Washington DC to the north, where many residents work in the nation's capital or for the federal government. But the state also has large pockets of conservative voters throughout its rural districts, and swing voters.

Spanberger had highlighted the economic impact of Trump's cuts to the federal government, which have impacted Virginia's employment, and ran on a platform of increasing affordability.

Read more: Democrat Spanberger wins race for Virginia governor

Kayla Epstein
Reporting from Brooklyn

Mamdani is having his party at the Brooklyn Paramount, a theatre that normally hosts major touring musical acts and other shows. (The Wombats and Damiano David will be swinging through in the coming weeks).

The press is already lined up around the block to get in, while supporters who scored a ticket are beginning to queue. It’s not too busy yet - but expect that to change after the polls close at 9pm.

It is 20:00 ET and polls have now closed in the New Jersey governor’s race.

Stay tuned as we wait to see whether Democrat Mikie Sherrill or Republican Jack Ciattarelli prevails in the garden state gubernatorial election.

Democrat Abigail Spanberger wins the Virginia gubernatorial race, the BBC's US partner CBS News reports.

The congresswoman for the state’s 7th district beat Republican Lt Gov Winsome Earle-Sears, becoming the state’s first female governor.

More follows…

Image source, Getty Images

Anthony Zurcher
North America correspondent

Only about a quarter of the Virginia vote is in, but at this point Democrat Abigail Spanberger has the upper hand over her Republican opponent, Winsome Earle-Sears.

I’m closely watching the results in Chesterfield county, a suburban and rural area that stretches south and west from state capital Richmond. Four years ago, Republican Glenn Youngkin carried the county by 4%. At the moment, Spanberger is ahead there by 14% with 44% of the vote in.

If Spanberger goes on to win, it won’t be a shock. The party out of the White House typically wins this off-year race. But it is a sign that those typical trends still matter.

What could be more important for politics in this battleground state is if Democrats expand their narrow majority in the state’s House of Delegates. Those results will take more time to come in, however.

Grace Eliza Goodwin
Reporting from New York

New Jersey: Polls will close there in about 10 minutes. Voters in the garden state will be deciding between Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli for the position of governor.

The race has high stakes for Democrats, who will be hoping that a win for their party will help set the stage for the 2026 midterm elections to tilt Congress in their favour.

Virginia: Polls there closed 50 minutes ago. Residents there were also voting for a new governor today. CBS exit polls lean towards Democrat Abigail Spanberger over her Republican opponent, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears.

California: In a race that could have a substantial impact on the makeup of the House at Congress, Californians will be voting in a special election on Proposition 50, a proposal to redraw the state’s congressional districts to benefit Democrats.

The prop is Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom’s answer to congressional redistricting in Texas that gives Republicans five more House seats.

New York: A heated campaign has been waged over the next mayor of the biggest city in the US. Democrat Zohran Mamdani faces off with independent Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa.

Back with the Virginia governor’s race, an exit poll from the BBC’s US partner CBS News shows Democrat Abigail Spanberger performing better with certain groups than Democrat Terry McAuliffe did in 2021 when he lost to Republican Glenn Youngkin.

In a race that will end with the state’s first female governor, Spanberger leads with women by double-digits, a voter group that McAuliffe won by just 7 points in 2021. Top of mind for women voters is the economy. Those who picked that as a key motivator in their decision are backing the Democrat.

She is also doing better with black voters and voters under 30.

Republican Winsome Earle-Sears is getting strong backing from White evangelical voters and conservatives.

Madeline Halpert
Reporting from Brooklyn

The polls have not even closed in New York, but already people around the city are lining up to pack bars for watch parties.

Here in Gowanus in Brooklyn, dozens are waiting in line to get into a “Gays and Girls for Zohran” watch party.

Natalie James is one of them. A member of the United Autoworkers union, which has endorsed Mamdani, James traveled an hour from Manhattan to go to the watch party.

“This is a monumentally important election, and I put a lot into it,” says the 45-year-old, who has canvassed for Mamdani.

Mamdani, she says, has the “political will and political backing” of New Yorkers to follow through on his plans.