In the wake of Tuesday night’s significant Democratic wins, former President Donald Trump was quick to deflect the focus from himself. Taking to social media, he attributed the Republican setbacks in states like Virginia, New Jersey, and New York City to two main factors: “I wasn’t on the ballot, and the shutdowns,” he wrote, referencing insights from pollsters.

When Zohran Mamdani, New York City’s newly elected mayor, took the stage in Brooklyn to celebrate his landmark victory, he made sure to address Trump directly. “Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I’ve got four words for you,” Mamdani announced, urging Trump to “turn up the volume” on his speech. This direct confrontation signals Mamdani’s readiness for the political challenges ahead, which he intends to face head-on. He also criticized Trump for his legacy as a New York City landlord, accusing him of amassing wealth at the expense of the vulnerable.

“The Donald Trumps of our city have grown far too comfortable exploiting their tenants,” Mamdani remarked, vowing to dismantle the “culture of corruption” that has allowed billionaires like Trump to dodge taxes and benefit from tax breaks.

After Mamdani’s win, Trump’s Truth social post was short and sweet, with the president ominously writing ‘…And So It Begins!’ As Trump and Mamdani drew their swords, Republicans began playing the blame game and pointing fingers at each other for their seismic losses across the board on Tuesday night.

Former Trump 2024 campaign manager Chris LaCivita noted on X that a ‘Bad candidate and Bad campaign have consequences – the Virginia Governors race is example number 1,’ following the loss of Republican gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears. Rich Baris, Director of the Big Data Poll said during a appearance of Steve Bannon’s War Room that the Republican party ‘don’t have a base. Fake conservatism doesn’t conserve anything.’ 

X user @_johnnymaga blasted Sears following her loss, noted that ‘Republicans need to stop nominating these non-MAGA candidates. This brand of conservatism is finished.’ Michael Flynn Jr., son of Trump’s former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn made his own X post about GOP losses, adding that ‘Democrats sweeping nearly every election tonight is 100% a sign of voter fatigue in the Republican Party.’

‘This is a historic repudiation of Trump. Democrats are overperforming across the country. We are not only sweeping every major race, but even in less talked about races like the Miami Mayors race Democrats are winning.’ ‘Republicans should think twice about their full unapologetic embrace of Trump’s divisive politics,’ Smith added.