It’s Election Day and democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani may be hours from taking Gracie Mansion. Meanwhile, there are a number of other critical races to watch today, where the outcomes will have significant impacts on the political landscape from coast to coast.

With the U.S. Supreme Court poised to decimate the Voting Rights Act and President Donald Trump’s administration and its sycophants hinting at a flagrantly unconstitutional bid for a third term, today’s races will also provide the first real insight into where the public is headed under the thumb of Trump’s increasingly unpopular regime.

This list will be updated as results come in, and we encourage readers to keep checking www​.inthe​se​times​.com throughout the week for critical news and analysis on these races and other major political developments like the death of Dick Cheney. You’ll hear from Alberto Toscano, Hamilton Nolan, Eman Abdelhadi, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, Senior Editor Miles Kampf-Lassin, Bhaskar Sunkara, Palestine Editor Nashwa Bawab, and many others. We’ll also have a special original comic from Matt Bors and illustrations by Molly Crabapple and Margaret Vail Palmquist.

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From serious left challenges to incumbent mayors in Minneapolis and Seattle, to tight races against Trump-approved right-wingers in Virginia and New Jersey, to ballot measures in California, Texas and Colorado, here are In These Times’ top 10 races to watch.

1. New York City Mayoral Election

Queens Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani remained the frontrunner in the NYC mayoral election as polls opened this morning. The democratic socialist candidate urged his supporters to resist complacency and join the campaign’s massive volunteer army to get out the vote. Mamdani’s efforts are facing an eleventh-hour challenge from President Donald Trump and Elon Musk who, attempting to consolidate anti-Mamdani forces, endorsed his chief rival, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

2. California: Proposition 50

Also known as the Election Rigging Response Act, California Proposition 50 is a statewide ballot measure that would remap California’s congressional districts for the next three election cycles, potentially turning up to five U.S. House seats from Republican to Democrat. Californians already cast nearly 6.5 million ballots in early voting. According to a Public Policy Institute of California poll, 56% of likely voters approve of the constitutional amendment. 

3. Minneapolis Mayoral Election

With 15 candidates up for rank-choice voting in the Minneapolis mayoral election, an alliance has emerged running an ​“anyone-but-him” strategy hoping to oust the two-term incumbent, Jacob Frey. The coalition includes democratic socialist and clear challenger to Frey, Omar Fateh.

4. New Jersey Governorship

The tight gubernatorial race in New Jersey, which tends to lean blue, has Republican Jack Ciattarelli in spitting distance of moderate Democrat Mikie Sherrill, according to final polls.

5. Pennsylvania Supreme Court

Three justices are on the ballot in Pennsylvania where the choice is simple: yes or no. If they vote yes to retaining justices Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty and David Wecht on the Supreme Court, the judges will be set to serve 10 more years on the bench. If they vote no, it may leave an opening for Republicans who are vying for vacant seats coming out of this election, and then the next opportunity to elect full-time replacements would not be until 2027. 

6. Virginia Governorship

Democrat Abigail Spanberger is poised to claim Virginia’s governorship, leading the race by more than 10 points in Real Clear Politics’ polling average. The Trump administration’s scorched earth campaign against federal workers has had a pronounced impact on the state, especially in areas closest to Washington D.C. Both Spanberger and her opponent, Winsome Earle-Sears, would be the first female governor of the state.

7. Seattle Mayoral Election

Incumbent Bruce Harrell was seen bundled up and canvassing through the Central District in the 24 hours prior to today’s election. His opponent Katie Wilson, however, is hardly a newcomer to putting boots on the ground. The co-founder of the Transit Riders Union defeated Harrell in the August primary, and has championed affordable housing and a leadership informed by her organizing days. For his part, Harrell has emphasized his decades-long experience in Seattle City Hall. 

8. Texas: Proposition 16

On the ballot in Texas is an amendment to the state constitution attempting to clarify that only U.S. citizens can vote in elections. Proponents for Prop. 16 say it would safeguard against noncitizens voting, which is already a felony offense. Advocates against the amendment say it is redundant since citizenship is already a requirement to vote under state law. The proposition has been criticized by some for its potential to contribute to voter suppression and misinformation. 

9. Detroit Mayoral Election

After a decade, Detroiters can decide on a new mayor. Voters will choose between the current City Council President, Mary Sheffield, and Rev. Solomon Kinloch, Jr., the senior pastor of a 40,000-member megachurch in the area. Sheffield, the clear front-runner, has focused her campaign on addressing Detroit’s housing crisis. Her platform builds off her time in City Council where she pushed for eviction defense legislation and fixed water rates for low-income households. 

10. Colorado: Proposition MM

In Colorado, voters have the opportunity to either retain or expand on a 2022 measure that reduced income tax deduction limits on those earning $300,000 a year or more in order to provide free school lunches to all Colorado students. The program was even more successful than anticipated, and so on the ballot today is the option to increase the program’s funding to ensure no student goes hungry.