Economic Concerns Propel Virginia Democrats to Victory in 2025 Elections

Sat Nov 15 2025 21:22:31 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a decisive election season, Virginia Democrats, led by Nicole Cole, capitalized on economic concerns to flip key legislative seats, signaling a shift in voter sentiment amidst rising costs of living.

Virginia Democrat Nicole Cole's campaign against soaring grocery prices resonated with voters, leading to significant wins for her party in the 2025 elections. The election results highlighted economic issues as pivotal in shaping voter preferences, particularly in competitive suburban districts. Notable victories by Democrats like Abigail Spanberger in Virginia and Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey showed a growing discontent among constituents regarding the economy and living costs, raising questions about Republican messaging during this election cycle.

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (AP) — Virginia Democrat Nicole Cole and her team spent much of their 2025 campaign for the state legislature standing in places like Weis Markets in Spotsylvania County, railing against prices that she said were too high: at least $3.79 for a dozen eggs, up to $7.99 for a pound of ground beef, $9.39 for coffee beans.

Her effort paid off when she ousted a 36-year Republican from his state House seat. She was one of 13 Virginia Democrats to flip competitive House seats and contribute to big election wins in her state and New Jersey, the only ones with governor’s races this year.

“We would greet them at the point of purchase,” Cole said. “That’s when it hurts most.”

The cost of living also may have led voters to signal that this is President Donald Trump’s economy now. Some prices have stabilized or even declined, and costs tend to be higher in New Jersey than Virginia. But economic concerns, which helped Trump return to power in 2024, appeared to weigh Republicans down in the two contests for governor in the first major election after they took control of the White House and Congress, according to the AP Voter Poll.

Democrats Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill, who won those races in Virginia and New Jersey, respectively, campaigned hard on economic issues and led a sweep for their party in both states.

The swings were especially dramatic in suburban and exurban areas like Spotsylvania and Morris County, New Jersey. Morris County is part of a traditionally Republican state legislative district where liberal Democrat Marisa Sweeney and one of two incumbent Republicans are so close in the vote count that The Associated Press considers the race, which will have two winners, too close to call.

“You go into the grocery store, you see what things cost, and it’s just not working,” Sweeney said.

Paying the bills

Over the past decade, places like Morris and Spotsylvania counties have become increasingly competitive, communities just beyond major metro areas where midterms are often won or lost. Morris County is about 30 miles west of New York City; Spotsylvania County is just south of Fredericksburg. Each is about two-thirds white, slightly wealthier than the national average, and at or above it in the share of residents with bachelor’s degrees.

Heading into 2025, both looked like they would be close. Cole’s district includes part of the Republican-leaning county, which Trump carried in 2020 and 2024, and GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin won it by more than 20 percentage points in between.

Still, Cole remained persuaded that she could flip her district, which includes part of Spotsylvania and Caroline counties. She developed a playbook focused on the cost of living and education.

Cole, who was elected to the Spotsylvania County School Board in 2021, emphasized that affordability was crucial. “You know you have to have heat and air, and a utility bill that has to get paid,” she said. “So then something else is a sacrifice. The quality of food that you’re able to buy for your kids is a sacrifice.”

Morris County also swung dramatically to Democrats. It was one of just four New Jersey counties to back both Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential race and Republican Jack Ciattarelli in the governor’s race the next year. This time around, Sherrill edged Ciattarelli there, reflecting a broader shift in moderate areas as economic issues took center stage.