Charlotte Shields-Rossi | a&e editor

The Democrats have finally broken their losing streak, but they need to take notes on what worked. The outcome of last week’s elections are starting to show what it will require for the Democratic party to take back control of the White House in 2028.

After a crushing blow in the 2024 presidential election, the Democrats needed a win more than ever, and they got it. Democrats dominated the election last week with four notable successes: New York City’s mayoral race, New Jersey and Virginia’s gubernatorial races and the passing of California’s Proposition 50 — which allows California to redraw the state’s congressional map to create five more Democratic seats in the House of Representatives.

Young men, independents and voters most concerned about economic policy tend to be key in winning elections.

Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s mayor-elect, won 65% of the young male vote according to CNN exit polls. Abigail Spanberger, Virginia governor-elect won on economic issues and New Jersey Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill, won the independent vote. These various demographic wins are all reminiscent of Barack Obama’s victories in 2008 and 2012.

Could the Democratic party leave behind the nail-biting, teetering elections for something that more closely resembles Obama’s victories from over 10 years ago?

Obama dominated politics during his eight years in office. In 2008 he defeated John McCain, winning close to 68% of the votes. According to Pew Research Center, he made major headway in getting the same three voter groups. These factors seem to be the winning ticket for candidates, even now.

Mamdani won his election after beating both independent candidate Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. At only 34 years old, Mamdani has successfully sold himself as a cool and refreshing change to previous administrations. He has the “Obama effect” — with a look that’s easy on the eyes, thanks to his charm and rizz.

Not only did Mamdani succeed with a majority of the young male vote, he got back what the Democrats had lost in the previous presidential election.

Obama won the demographic both times, according to CNN Exit Polls. Additionally, Joe Biden in 2020 and President Donald Trump in 2024 both won the same groups.

In 2024, the Democrats lost the young male vote, but they could win it back. Mamdani didn’t focus his campaign on divisive identity politics. He focused on affordability in an expensive city, something young people, especially young men, care about. He also had a heavy social media presence that helped spread the word about his campaign among younger people.

The economy has stayed at the top of the list of voter issues nationally since the 2024 election, according to Pew Research Center. In the 2025 NBC News exit polls for the Virginia gubernatorial race, 63% of the economic voters checked the box for Spanberger. She is to succeed outgoing Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

Spanberger is a more centrist candidate than Mamdani, and unlike him she does not consider herself a socialist. Yet they share some key similarities that helped them win their elections. They are both young politicians, and both hope to make their respective jurisdictions more affordable for residents. Voters clearly connected with both.

A majority of Americans prioritize a strong economy and affordability over other political issues including abortion or climate change, according to Pew Research Center. A comprehensive campaign should include politicians’ views on the aforementioned topics; but the economy should be the main focal point.

Winning the independent vote is another key facet to winning elections. According to Pew Research Center, Trump won among independents in 2016, lost in 2020 and tied in 2024.

Sherrill defeated Republican Jack Ciattarelli in the 2025 New Jersey governor race. She received 56% of the independent vote, and 7% of the people who voted for Trump in the 2024 presidential election voted for Sherrill. The Republican party seems to be cracking at the seams.

Although every independent voter is different, and there is no way to please everyone, all recent Democratic winners made their issues and solutions clear.

“We know the difference between saying and doing — and New Jersey’s families deserve better than empty promises and superficial solutions,” Sherrill said on her campaign website.

In every issue she states on her website she includes a clear agenda on how she plans to fix the problem. Voters are tired of vague and empty promises from politicians, they are incentivized to vote for someone with clear solutions to their problems.

Let’s hope the Democrats take last week’s elections as a lesson in how to proceed in the presidential election two years from now.

Weeks ago, millions of people attended the  

“No Kings” protest in opposition to Trump, and according to The Economist his approval rating sits at 39%.

People are clearly not happy with his performance and this dissatisfaction has spread within the Republican party itself. Regretful Republicans and independents are sitting in limbo waiting for a good Democratic candidate to win their vote. The most recent election gave Democrats the momentum and knowledge for a clear path to victory, they should know what it takes to win. The question is will they walk the road they paved?

Charlotte Shields-Rossi can be reached at shieldsrossic@duq.edu