By: Harleigh Walker
Earlier this month, several elections were held across the United States in places like New Jersey, Virginia and New York City. These elections saw landslide victories for the Democratic party, historic representation for women and a new idea of what is electable and what is not.
One of the most high-profile wins came from Mikie Sherrill, who secured a decisive victory in New Jersey’s gubernatorial race. Her focus on reproductive rights and middle-class economic issues drew broad support from urban and young voters alike.
In Virginia, Abigail Spanberger made history with a substantial victory in the state’s gubernatorial contest. A former CIA officer and centrist Democrat, Spanberger successfully built a wide coalition by emphasizing public education, job growth and bipartisan governance.
The elections of Spanberger and Sherrill set a new record for female representation in governorships in the United States. After they are sworn in, a record 14 women will be serving in these roles across the U.S.
The new record of women governors is also inspiring students at the University of Maryland.
“When I was a little girl, I always looked up to strong women as role models, and I truly believe that these women will inspire many young girls,” said freshman criminology and criminal justice major, MayaLuna Weaver-Cardona.
In New York City, Zohran Mamdani’s win in New York electrified progressive voters nationwide. A Democratic Socialist, Mamdani campaigned on ambitious policies including expanded public housing, free bus transit and government-owned grocery stores. His victory demonstrated that left-wing candidates can build youth-driven coalitions with enough strength to win big, challenging old assumptions about what is or is not electable.
“His progressive platform is something that excites me as a young voter and is something I hope more candidates will adopt,” said freshman sociology major Giovia Deputato.
These candidates, while running on different platforms with different backgrounds, shared one quality: breaking from tradition. Voters want change and they want it now.
“I think that this change is good,” said freshman government and politics and public policy major Savannah Anglemeyer. “I am tired of old, establishment politicians from either party not being in touch with the interests of young people.”
Going into the 2026 midterms, students and young voters across the country are mobilized and optimistic about the future of American Politics. This election is particularly important, as it will serve as a referendum on both the sitting administration and on the rapidly evolving political expectations of a new generation of voters.
Whether the shift of “disrupting the norm” endures remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: young voters are mobilized and eager to continue electing candidates that do not fit the previous assumption of what is “electable.”