CNN Poll: “The Democratic Party’s ongoing internal image troubles may not necessarily translate into defections at the ballot box. Democratic-aligned voters remain far less fond of their own party (65% have a favorable view of the Democratic Party) than Republican-aligned voters (80% have a favorable view of the GOP), but even those Democratic-aligned voters with a negative view of the party are almost universally behind the Democratic candidate in their district (93%) and broadly motivated to vote (71% say they are extremely motivated).”

“All told, Democrats hold a 12-point advantage among those voters who say they are extremely or very motivated to turn out next year.”

“Democrats are significantly outspending Republicans on advertising for high-profile elections Tuesday in Virginia, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, which are being watched as a preview of the 2026 midterms,” Axios reports.

“The party’s spending — along with the states’ political makeup, persistent economic concerns and historical trends benefiting the party out of power nationally — is among the reasons Democrats are favored to win most of the key races.”

“Zohran Mamdani’s lead heading into the New York mayoral election has withstood a furious push from Republicans, establishment Democrats and a coalition of Wall Street dealmakers, leaving Democrats to face a familiar question should he win on Tuesday,” Bloomberg reports.

“If Mamdani can make it there, can he — or a candidate like him — make it anywhere?”

“After more than nine months of President Trump using the full force of the federal government to impose his will on the nation, elections across the country on Tuesday will offer the Democratic Party its biggest chance yet to assert its viability as a serious opposition party,” the New York Times reports.

Wall Street Journal: Election wins Tuesday won’t ease the Democratic Party’s troubles.

“Four years ago, Republican Jack Ciattarelli shocked New Jerseyans when he came within 3 percentage points of knocking off incumbent Gov. Phil Murphy,” the Wall Street Journal reports.

“If Ciattarelli prevails on Tuesday in his third run for governor, few would be surprised. A once-commanding lead for his opponent, Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill, has shriveled to single digits, according to a sampling of opinion polls. Some put the two candidates within the margin of error in a hotly contested race to Drumthwacket, the governor’s mansion.”

“In his path from obscurity to front-runner in the race for mayor of New York City, Zohran Mamdani has been propelled by raw political talent, an ambitious, progressive agenda and a diverse base of support,” the New York Times reports.

“But as Mr. Mamdani, the Democratic nominee, sprints toward Election Day on Tuesday, many New Yorkers are still struggling with a fundamental question about his candidacy: Is a 34-year-old state assemblyman who, until recently, managed a paid staff of only five, ready to lead the nation’s largest city?”

Politico: Zohran Mamdani winning would test how far New York City has come on inclusion.

“Barack Obama reprised his role as the Democrats’ closer-in-chief on Saturday, filling a void for his still leaderless party in the waning days of the closely watched gubernatorial contests in Virginia and New Jersey,” Politico reports.

“Former President Barack Obama called New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani on Saturday, praising his campaign and offering to be a ‘sounding board’ into the future,” the New York Times reports.

“The private, roughly 30-minute phone call, which has not previously been reported, was described by two people who participated or were briefed immediately on what had been said.”

“Mr. Obama said that he was invested in Mr. Mamdani’s success beyond the election on Tuesday. They talked about the challenges of staffing a new administration and building an apparatus capable of delivering on Mr. Mamdani’s agenda of affordability in the city.”

“Jay Jones, the embattled Democratic nominee for attorney general in Virginia, made a surprise appearance at a major Democratic campaign rally Saturday aimed at revving up the party faithful ahead of the high-stakes statewide elections Tuesday,” Politico reports.

“Jones — whose years-old violent text messages triggered a nationwide GOP backlash and a steady drumbeat of calls for Democrats to push him off the ticket — opened the event, where headliner former President Barack Obama energized voters in support of Abigail Spanberger, the party’s gubernatorial nominee.”

Andrew Cuomo said that in New York, “diversity is our strength, but it can also be a weakness,” the New York Times reports.

Said Cuomo: “You have to work very, very hard to make sure you’re always keeping people united, and there’s always flare-ups among different races, religions, creeds for one reason or another.”

“The Democrats running for governor in Virginia and New Jersey have brought in scores of high-profile lawmakers and potential 2028 presidential contenders to campaign for them in the run-up to Tuesday’s elections,” Axios reports.

“But they pointedly haven’t invited progressive leaders Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) or Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), who are two of the most popular figures among Democrats and attract big crowds across the country.”

“President Trump’s political operation is digging into its massive war chest to bankroll a multimillion-dollar voter turnout effort in the final days of the New Jersey and Virginia governor races,” Axios reports.

“Each state is getting a $1 million-plus microtargeting effort aimed at Trump supporters and other Republicans who usually skip off-year races.”

“Andrew Cuomo has repeatedly said that it would be difficult for him to win with Curtis Sliwa in the race. Sliwa, the Republican candidate, said in an interview that he was not going anywhere and was not interested in meeting with Cuomo or talking to him,” the New York Times reports.

Said Sliwa: “I would impale myself before I’d meet with him. If I saw him on the corner, I’d walk the other way. If he called me, I’d hang up.”

Bloomberg: “November 4 effectively marks the unofficial kick-off to the 2026 election season. That’s when three states and the biggest city in the US will go to the polls for the first major ballots since Trump was elected.”

“Together, they’ll form an early referendum on the president’s second-term, and a test of what campaign messages are moving voters in Trump’s second term when he isn’t on the ballot. Midterm elections historically tend to favor the party out of power, and polls entering the final weekend showed Democrats ahead in the night’s marquee elections.”

“Former President Barack Obama is expected to join Representative Mikie Sherrill Saturday night in Newark, the latest in a string of visits by Democratic Party leaders as New Jersey’s hotly contested governor’s race enters its closing stretch,” the New York Times reports.

“Three Democratic governors — Wes Moore of Maryland, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania and Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan — also swept into the state over the past several weeks, as did Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota…”

“The Republican nominee, Jack Ciattarelli, has had fewer reinforcements from his party show up, although several big names have jumped in to support his campaign in the final sprint before Election Day on Tuesday.”

Jonathan Martin: “The most revealing element of next week’s election is that President Donald Trump is all but ensuring defeat for Republicans, and his party is doing next to nothing about it.”

“The mere fact of his election last year handed Democrats a powerful turnout lever in blue-leaning New Jersey and Virginia, but Trump has further undermined GOP hopes in the two states with his conduct and has seemingly abandoned California Republicans.”

“Michael Bloomberg donated a combined $5 million to a couple of anti-Zohran Mamdani super PACs earlier this week, making the billionaire ex-mayor the general election cycle’s single largest political contributor,” the New York Daily News reports.