The outcome is seen as a shot across the bows of the Trump administration. The victory of mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani in the president's hometown is particularly hard-hitting, even though his victory had been predicted. The 34-year-old socialist ran a fiercely anti-Trump campaign with a left-wing populist message of lowering the cost of living. He vowed to oppose the White House's policies, particularly regarding the deportation of undocumented immigrants.

Video: Zohran Mamdani slams Donald Trump in speech.

Trump had urged voters to vote for Andrew Cuomo, the former governor who was running as an independent in New York after losing the Democratic nomination to Mamdani, a member of the left wing. The recommendation from Washington proved ineffective and may even have backfired. Cuomo therefore tried to suppress the endorsement from the White House. According to the preliminary results, he received 41 percent of the vote, compared to just over 50 percent for Mamdani. Republican Curtis Sliwa was stuck at a hopeless 7 percent.

Young voters in New York fall for 'talk' from 'left-wing Trump' Mamdani

Wall Street is holding its breath with Mamdani's inauguration, as he wants to raise taxes on businesses and high-income earners to finance his plans. The son of Indian immigrants, Mamdani campaigned on a rent freeze, free bus transportation and childcare, and government-run supermarkets to control the cost of living. The plans have largely been dismissed as pie-in-the-sky plans, as the newly elected mayor has no control over the fulfillment of many of the promises, nor over the intended funding.

Mamdani addressed President Trump directly in his victory speech. The 34-year-old Democrat emphasized in his address that New York is a city of immigrants."And if you target one of us, you have to go through all of us."

In his speech, he called the 47th US president a despot and said that New York had shown the country how to defeat Trump."In this moment of political darkness, New York will be the light," he promised his supporters.

Governorship

In Virginia and New Jersey, two Democratic candidates also won the governorship race on Tuesday. In Virginia, Abigail Spanberger won by a wide margin, defeating Republican Winsome Earle-Sears. Incumbent Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin was barred from running for reelection under state rules. Trump's party thus lost a state.

In New Jersey, the outgoing Democratic governor was also denied a second term. Fellow party member Mikie Sherrill, however, won by a wide margin over Republican rival Jack Ciattarelli.

Midterm elections

The results are seen as a signal ahead of next year's midterm elections for Congress. This will clarify whether Trump can continue to count on carte blanche for the second half of his term, with a majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

With the upcoming, crucial election in mind, Republicans and Democrats are tweaking district boundaries in several states where they hold majorities. Through these artificial interventions, the parties hope to achieve a more favorable outcome per district and thus gain more seats. In California, this required the approval of the citizens.