The day so far
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Election day is happening. We’re bringing you the latest from some of the most pivotal contests, including the closely watched New York City mayoral race. Frontrunner and Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, former governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent, and Republican outlier Curtis Sliwa all cast their ballots earlier today. Outgoing mayor Eric Adams cast his vote for Cuomo this afternoon, while Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (who has failed to endorse Mamdani) declined to reveal whom he has voted for. Polls are set to close at 9pm ET, but more people have already voted in this election than in the entire 2021 mayor’s race, according to city election data. The first results will come in shortly after the polls close, and will continue to come in throughout the night. We’ll bring you the latest from our reporters on the ground.
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Earlier, Mamdani said he “will not be intimidated” by Donald Trump, as the president urges New Yorkers to vote for Cuomo. When asked by a reporter today about Trump’s comments on Truth Social that he plans to limit federal funds to the city if Mamdani wins, the Democratic nominee said that he will “will treat his threats as they deserve to be treated, which are the words of a president and not necessarily the law of the land”. Earlier, Trump also said that “any Jewish person that votes for Zohran Mamdani, a proven and self professed JEW HATER, is a stupid person!!!”
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Meanwhile, in another Truth Social post, Trump seemed to defy his administration’s agreement to abide by a federal judge’s order, and issue partial payments to the 42 million Snap beneficiaries across the country, using the program’s contingency fund. During a press conference, Karoline Leavitt said the administration is “fully complying” with the court ruling. “The president does not want to have to tap into this fund in the future, and that’s what he was referring to in his Truth Social post,” Leavitt said. “The best way to get the full amount of Snap benefits to those beneficiaries is for Democrats to reopen the government.”
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Also today, Leavitt said the president would continue to push Republican lawmakers to abolish the filibuster, as the government shutdown enters its 35th day, and is set to be the longest on record. Despite congressional GOP leaders refusing to scrap the filibuster, Leavitt was cryptic but hinted that Trump’s ambitions weren’t over. “I think you’ll see the president continue to engage very strongly and consistently with his friends on Capitol Hill,” she said. “You should stay tuned and keep your eyes on Truth Social on this matter, the president is making his position on it quite clear. And again, he is right. Republicans need to play tough.”
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Former US vice-president, Dick Cheney, died on Monday, aged 84, according to a family statement. Cheney, the vice-president to former Republican president George W Bush between 2001 and 2009, was a key architect of the so-called “war on terror” after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and an early advocate of the invasion of Iraq in 2003. “History will remember him as among the finest public servants of his generation – a patriot who brought integrity, high intelligence, and seriousness of purpose to every position he held,” Bush said in a statement today. Notably, Donald Trump – a noted Cheney adversary – has yet to issue an official statement following the former VP’s passing. Flags, however, are flying at half-staff at the White House today.
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And Democratic senator Alex Padilla announced earlier today he would not be running for California governor next year, ending months of speculation about the possibility of his looking to succeed Gavin Newsom. Padilla said that he appreciated the encouragement and support he had received from those who wanted him to run, but he would continue to serve in the Senate and fight Trump’s agenda in Congress. He told reporters on Capitol Hill: “I choose not just to stay in the Senate. I choose to stay in this fight because the constitution is worth fighting for. Our fundamental rights are worth fighting for. Our core values are worth fighting for. The American dream is worth fighting for.”
Key events
Polls close in Virginia
Polls have closed in Virginia, where Abigail Spanberger, the former Democratic congresswoman who is the party’s nominee for governor, and the Republican lieutenant governor, Winsome Earle-Sears, are locked in a competitive race.
Tuesday is a big night for California’s term-limited governor who has not been coy about his presidential ambitions.
The Republican-Democratic redistricting fight has catapulted Newsom on to the national stage, and observers believe his political fortunes are tied to the success of the initiative. Here’s our dispatch below:
Gavin Newsom, the California governor, is on the verge of a potentially massive political victory that, just a few months ago, didn’t exist.
In August, a group of Texas Democrats fled their state to block Republicans from approving a rare mid-decade gerrymander to redraw congressional districts at Donald Trump’s urging. Altering the maps in the GOP’s favor would make it even harder for Democrats to take back control of Congress in the midterm elections next year. The Texas Democrats hoped their standoff would be a national call to action.
Newsom answered that call. He and his allies raced to introduce a retaliatory gerrymander, pushing the new congressional maps through the state legislature before sending them to the ballot for a high-stakes special election on Tuesday.
“It took a lot of courage for Governor Newsom to actually push for this,” said Texas state representative Nicole Collier, a leader of the Democrats’ summer walkout. “He worked with his delegation and now they’re taking it to the people and that’s what it looks like to be your brother’s keeper.”
Chris Stein
Voters trickled in and out of the main public library branch in Virginia’s state capital Richmond on Tuesday afternoon, with several saying that they view the state’s elections as a way to send a message to leaders in Washington.
“Voting is one of the ways we can comment on the system, and this is how we can say, hey, we want change,” said voter Rich G, 32. He had voted entirely for Democratic candidates, including Abigail Spanberger, the former congresswoman who is the party’s nominee for governor.
“I think when it comes down to it, people are looking for a lot more competency,” he said, noting he’d like to see more state investments in public housing and education.
In addition to the governor’s race, Virginians are voting for lieutenant governor, attorney general, and members of the house of delegates, among other positions.
Miki Edwards, a 30-year-old anesthesiologist, described a feeling of “uncertainty” with the economy and the direction of the state that pushed her to come out and vote.
“It’s hard to invest right now, it’s hard to set money aside,” she said, adding that she didn’t like to travel abroad any more because of how Americans were being viewed.
An independent who had voted for Republicans in the past, she voted only for Democrats today as a way to send a message to Washington.
“I think most of us are hoping that we’re voting for someone that will stand up for their constituents,” she said. “It does seem like a scary time right now.”
Trump renominates Musk ally to lead Nasa
Donald Trump has announced he is re-nominating Jared Isaacman, an ally of Elon Musk, to head Nasa months after initially pulling his nomination after a “thorough review” of the private astronaut’s “prior associations”.
“This evening, I am pleased to nominate Jared Isaacman, an accomplished business leader, philanthropist, pilot, and astronaut, as Administrator of NASA,” Trump wrote on his social media platform, TruthSocial. “Jared’s passion for Space, astronaut experience, and dedication to pushing the boundaries of exploration, unlocking the mysteries of the universe, and advancing the new Space economy, make him ideally suited to lead NASA into a bold new Era.”
Isaacman, a tech billionaire who has led two private spaceflights, was pulled from consideration earlier this year after a fallout with Musk, who had led the White House’s controversial Doge effort to downsize the US government.
At the time, the White House did not specify what it mean by “prior associations,” though there was some suggestion it was a reference to donations he made to Democrats.
Abené Clayton
On a mild late-morning in Los Angeles, more than a dozen people of varying ages and races waited in line to vote in California’s special election. The streets around the Cochran Avenue Baptist church were active, with people looking for parking on the narrow residential streets. For the church’s pastor, Charles Johnson, the election allows him and other Californians to ensure that their votes aren’t diluted.
“It’s time for Americans to say, ‘This is not right and it’s not acceptable’. It’s like we’re going back to when they said we’re three-fifths of a person,” Johnson, who voted yes on Prop 50, said. “So if we really think [Texas redistricting] is an isolated incident, no, this is an attack. Donald Trump is saying, ‘I can do what I want, I can make myself king, and you’re gonna lie down and take it.’”
Another voter, Brandon, said he had grown jaded when it comes to the power of voting, but at the behest of his grandmother, he turned out to vote Yes on Prop 50.
“I’m very jaded in regards to the political system,” he said. “I vote with my heart and my mind and leave it like that.”
Still, he came to vote in-person to ensure that his vote was properly counted. The process, he said, was smooth, and he felt good knowing that he could see his ballot being received in real time.
“I don’t know what happens when you mail your vote in,” Brandon said. “I would much rather see it go in the machine and get counted in front of my face so I can go about my business.”
The day so far
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Election day is happening. We’re bringing you the latest from some of the most pivotal contests, including the closely watched New York City mayoral race. Frontrunner and Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, former governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent, and Republican outlier Curtis Sliwa all cast their ballots earlier today. Outgoing mayor Eric Adams cast his vote for Cuomo this afternoon, while Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (who has failed to endorse Mamdani) declined to reveal whom he has voted for. Polls are set to close at 9pm ET, but more people have already voted in this election than in the entire 2021 mayor’s race, according to city election data. The first results will come in shortly after the polls close, and will continue to come in throughout the night. We’ll bring you the latest from our reporters on the ground.
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Earlier, Mamdani said he “will not be intimidated” by Donald Trump, as the president urges New Yorkers to vote for Cuomo. When asked by a reporter today about Trump’s comments on Truth Social that he plans to limit federal funds to the city if Mamdani wins, the Democratic nominee said that he will “will treat his threats as they deserve to be treated, which are the words of a president and not necessarily the law of the land”. Earlier, Trump also said that “any Jewish person that votes for Zohran Mamdani, a proven and self professed JEW HATER, is a stupid person!!!”
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Meanwhile, in another Truth Social post, Trump seemed to defy his administration’s agreement to abide by a federal judge’s order, and issue partial payments to the 42 million Snap beneficiaries across the country, using the program’s contingency fund. During a press conference, Karoline Leavitt said the administration is “fully complying” with the court ruling. “The president does not want to have to tap into this fund in the future, and that’s what he was referring to in his Truth Social post,” Leavitt said. “The best way to get the full amount of Snap benefits to those beneficiaries is for Democrats to reopen the government.”
-
Also today, Leavitt said the president would continue to push Republican lawmakers to abolish the filibuster, as the government shutdown enters its 35th day, and is set to be the longest on record. Despite congressional GOP leaders refusing to scrap the filibuster, Leavitt was cryptic but hinted that Trump’s ambitions weren’t over. “I think you’ll see the president continue to engage very strongly and consistently with his friends on Capitol Hill,” she said. “You should stay tuned and keep your eyes on Truth Social on this matter, the president is making his position on it quite clear. And again, he is right. Republicans need to play tough.”
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Former US vice-president, Dick Cheney, died on Monday, aged 84, according to a family statement. Cheney, the vice-president to former Republican president George W Bush between 2001 and 2009, was a key architect of the so-called “war on terror” after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and an early advocate of the invasion of Iraq in 2003. “History will remember him as among the finest public servants of his generation – a patriot who brought integrity, high intelligence, and seriousness of purpose to every position he held,” Bush said in a statement today. Notably, Donald Trump – a noted Cheney adversary – has yet to issue an official statement following the former VP’s passing. Flags, however, are flying at half-staff at the White House today.
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And Democratic senator Alex Padilla announced earlier today he would not be running for California governor next year, ending months of speculation about the possibility of his looking to succeed Gavin Newsom. Padilla said that he appreciated the encouragement and support he had received from those who wanted him to run, but he would continue to serve in the Senate and fight Trump’s agenda in Congress. He told reporters on Capitol Hill: “I choose not just to stay in the Senate. I choose to stay in this fight because the constitution is worth fighting for. Our fundamental rights are worth fighting for. Our core values are worth fighting for. The American dream is worth fighting for.”
The outgoing New York City mayor, Eric Adams, cast his vote for Andrew Cuomo at 5pm at an elementary school in Brooklyn, according to the New York Times.
Speaking briefly to reporters outside after, Adams said:
My vote is clearly for Governor Cuomo. We can’t go backwards. This city’s not a socialist city.
He added:
The only message I can give to New Yorkers as I go to the next leg of my journey: I’m leaving you a good city. Don’t mess it up.
Schumer refuses to reveal whom he voted for in New York City mayoral race
Earlier today, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer declined to reveal whom he voted for in the New York City mayoral race.
At a news conference with other Democratic leaders at the Capitol, he was asked whether he had cast a ballot for Cuomo or Mamdani. Schumer, who voted early, told reporters:
Look, I voted and I look forward to working with the next mayor to help New York City.
While his House counterpart Hakeem Jeffries finally endorsed Mamdani last month and state governor Kathy Hochul gave the democratic socialist frontrunner her backing in September, Schumer has largely kept shtum on the mayoral race, declining to endorse a candidate.
Jake Wasserman
At the Sayreville Senior Citizen Center in New Jersey, Jessica Vant, 44, stood outside handing out pamphlets about the local school board election with her husband Eddie, 48. They both voted for Jack Ciattarelli for governor.
Vant, a realtor and substitute teacher, is running for the board in the Middlesex County town, and said her number one issue in the election concerns Policy 5756 – a statewide school policy to provide guidance on supporting transgender students – which she described was “erroneously” marked as mandatory when it was rolled out in 2017.
Parents have been challenging the policy both in court and in their own districts ever since, but Vant said that she’s running “in case we don’t have a governor like Jack.” At an August rally with the parental rights group Moms for Liberty in Jersey City, Hudson County view reported that Ciattarelli blasted the policy as “immoral,” “indecent,” “wrong,” and “dangerous”.
Senator Alex Padilla says he won’t run for California governor in 2026
Democratic senator Alex Padilla announced earlier today that he will not be running for California governor next year, ending months of speculation about the possibility of his looking to succeed Gavin Newsom.
“It is with a full heart and even more commitment than ever that I am choosing to not run for governor of California next year,” Padilla told reporters at an impromptu news conference on Capitol Hill.
He said while he appreciated the encouragement and support he had received from those who wanted him to run, he would continue to serve in the Senate and fight Trump’s agenda in Congress.
I choose not just to stay in the Senate. I choose to stay in this fight because the constitution is worth fighting for. Our fundamental rights are worth fighting for. Our core values are worth fighting for. The American dream is worth fighting for.
Recalling the time he was tackled to the ground and handcuffed by federal agents when he asked homeland security secretary Kristi Noem a question during a news conference about immigration enforcement in Los Angeles, an emotional Padilla said:
As alarming as that experience was, not just for me and our family, but for most people who have seen the video, countless people have told me, ‘I’m glad you’re fighting for us. I’m glad you’re there.’
Referring to Trump’s mass deportation agenda and tariff policy, he added:
I’ve tried to do my part in fighting against these attacks both here in Washington and back home in California. These are not normal times. We deserve better than this.
Pope Leo calls for ‘deep reflection’ in US about migrants’ treatment under Trump
Pope Leo has called for “deep reflection” about the way migrants are being treated in the US under Donald Trump’s administration and said the spiritual needs of those in detention needed to be respected.
Speaking to reporters in Castel Gandolfo, his residence outside Rome, the pope was asked about immigrants detained at a federal facility in Broadview, near Chicago, who have been refused the opportunity to receive holy communion, an important religious obligation.
Leo, who is originally from Chicago, cited Matthew’s gospel, chapter 25. “Jesus says very clearly at the end of the world, we’re going to be asked, you know, how did you receive the foreigner? Did you receive him and welcome him or not? And I think that there’s a deep reflection that needs to be made in terms of what’s happening,” the pontiff said.
“Many people who’ve lived for years and years and years, never causing problems, have been deeply affected by what’s going on right now,” he added.
Leo, the first American pope, has previously decried the federal government’s treatment of immigrants caught up in a hard-line crackdown that has roiled cities across the country.
In reference to the Broadview inmates, he said on Tuesday that the spiritual rights of detainees need to be considered. “I would certainly invite the authorities to allow pastoral workers to attend to the needs of those people,” he said. “Many times they’ve been separated from their families for a good amount of time; no one knows what’s happening, but their own spiritual needs should be attended to.”
Under Trump’s hardline approach in Chicago, the US Department of Homeland Security says more than 3,000 people have been held.
Here’s a recap of the day so far
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Election day is ongoing throughout the country. We’re bringing you the latest from some of the most pivotal contests, including the closely watched New York City mayoral race. Frontrunner and Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, former governor Andrew Cuomo who is running as an independent, and Republican outlier Curtis Sliwa all cast their ballots earlier today. Polls are set to close at 9pm ET, but more people have already voted in this election than in the entire 2021 mayor’s race, according to city election data. The first results will come in shortly after the polls close, and will continue to come in throughout the night. We’ll bring you the latest from our reporters on the ground.
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Earlier, Zohran Mamdani said he “will not be intimidated” by Donald Trump, as the president urges New Yorkers to vote for Andrew Cuomo. When asked by a reporter today about Trump’s comments on Truth Social that he plans to limit federal funds to the city if Mamdani wins, the Democratic nominee said that he will “will treat his threats as they deserve to be treated, which are the words of a president and not necessarily the law of the land”. Earlier, Trump also said that “any Jewish person that votes for Zohran Mamdani, a proven and self professed JEW HATER, is a stupid person!!!”
-
Meanwhile, in another Truth Social post, Trump seemed to defy his administration’s agreement to abide by a federal judge’s order, and issue partial payments to the 42 million Snap beneficiaries across the country, using the program’s contingency fund. During a press conference, Karoline Leavitt said the administration is “fully complying” with the court ruling. “The president does not want to have to tap into this fund in the future, and that’s what he was referring to in his Truth Social post,” Leavitt said. “The best way to get the full amount of Snap benefits to those beneficiaries is for Democrats to reopen the government.”
-
Also today, Karoline Leavitt said the president would continue to push Republican lawmakers to abolish the filibuster, as the government shutdown enters its 35th day, and is set to be the longest on record. Despite congressional GOP leaders refusing to scrap the filibuster, Leavitt was cryptic but hinted that Trump’s ambitions weren’t over. “I think you’ll see the president continue to engage very strongly and consistently with his friends on Capitol Hill,” she said. “You should stay tuned and keep your eyes on Truth Social on this matter, the president is making his position on it quite clear. And again, he is right. Republicans need to play tough.”
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Former US vice-president, Dick Cheney, died on Monday, aged 84, according to a family statement. Cheney, the vice-president to former Republican president George W Bush between 2001 and 2009, was a key architect of the so-called “war on terror” after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, and an early advocate of the invasion of Iraq in 2003. “History will remember him as among the finest public servants of his generation – a patriot who brought integrity, high intelligence, and seriousness of purpose to every position he held,” Bush said in a statement today. Notably, Donald Trump – a noted Cheney adversary – has yet to issue an official statement following the former VP’s passing. Flags, however, are flying at half-staff at the White House today.
Trump remains quiet about death of Dick Cheney
The president has yet to offer any comment – official or otherwise – about the death of Dick Cheney.
It’s worth remembering that Cheney became one of Trump’s sharpest critics. In the lead up to the 2024 election, the former vice-president said “there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our republic” that the current commander-in-chief.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt said today that she didn’t believe the White House would be involved with any of the funeral planning, but that Trump was “aware” of Cheney’s passing, and pointed to the US flags being lowered to half staff “in accordance with statutory law”.
Transportation secretary threatens to close off airspace if government shutdown continues
Sean Duffy, the Trump administration transportation secretary, has said the ongoing government shutdown could force him to close national airspace.
“You will see mass flight delays. You’ll see mass cancellations, and you may see us close certain parts of the airspace because we just cannot manage it, because we don’t have the air traffic controllers,” Duffy said at a press conference earlier, continuing to blame Democrats for the shuttered government.“We will restrict the airspace when we feel it’s unsafe.”
At the White House today, press secretary Karoline Leavitt said that air traffic controllers continue “to work unpaid”, and “every single major airline” in the country is “begging the Democrats to please reopen the government”.
