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CNN This Morning
Democrats Rebuke Trump With Election Sweeps In NYC, NJ, VA & CA; 36 Days: Government Shutdown Now Longest In History. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired November 05, 2025 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[05:00:04]
ELEX MICHAELSON, CNN ANCHOR: For now, CNN THIS MORNING WITH AUDIE CORNISH starts right now.
AUDIE CORNISH, CNN ANCHOR: Democrat sweep in the first true test of President Donald Trump's second term in office.
But in Washington, Republicans still have an edge. And there is a long way to go until midterms. Can Democrats keep the momentum?
This is CNN THIS MORNING, America's Choice 2025.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR-ELECT ZOHRAN MAMDANI (D), NEW YORK: A city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants. And as of tonight, led by an immigrant.
GOVERNOR-ELECT ABIGAIL SPANBERGER (D), VIRGINIA: Virginia, I cannot wait to get to work for you.
GOVERNOR-ELECT MIKIE SHERRILL (D), NEW JERSEY; We take oaths to a Constitution, not a king.
GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM (D), CALIFORNIA: After poking the bear, this bear roared.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: Good morning, everybody. It's Wednesday, November 5th. I want to thank you for waking up with me. I'm Audie Cornish.
And here is where we begin. In races across the country, Democrats declaring victory and delivering an early review of Donald Trump's return to power. Moderate Democrats Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill swept the governors races in Virginia and New Jersey, and they did so by busting apart the coalitions assembled by Republicans just one year ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SPANBERGER: To those Virginians who did not vote for me, I want you to know that my goal and my intent is to serve all Virginians. SHERRILL: And as the president is backing away from this ideal,
cutting SNAP, ripping away health care, terminating Gateway, we here in New Jersey are bound to fight for a different future for our children.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: So, while those two future governors are considered moderate, that's not the case in New York City.
So Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani delivered a fiery victory speech to his supporters Tuesday night. He mentioned his opponent in the race, Andrew Cuomo, exactly once, and then turned his focus on the White House.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAMDANI: This is not only how we stop Trump, it's how we stop the next one. So, Donald Trump, since I know you're watching, I have four words for you -- turn the volume up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: Joining me now to talk about this, Sara Fischer, CNN senior media analyst and senior media analyst at "Axios", Joel Rubin, Democratic strategist and former deputy assistant secretary of state, and Dustin Olson, pollster and managing partner at American Pulse Research and Polling.
Now, we're going to dig into the data in just a moment. I want to come to you, Sara, because it was interesting hearing Mamdani speech, which felt a little Obama adjacent. And then also him directing it to Trump through the television.
Can you talk about sort of what is the image he is project -- he is projecting out of this win?
SARA FISCHER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA ANALYST: I mean, he's always been so anti billionaire anti-big power. That was his big message against Andrew Cuomo this entire time. So, of course, he's going to get to the podium and take a direct shot at the billionaire in the White House.
I also think the big thing about Mamdani win is that he has a big socialist agenda. And so, highlighting and underscoring how different that is from the billionaires in power, not just, by the way, in the White House, but just in New York. Look at who we've had as mayor in the past, the Bloombergs of the world. He wants to come up and say, in the past, money has led the city. Not anymore.
CORNISH: Okay. I want to come to you, Joel, because I know you and I were both going into this talking about generational divides, especially among Democrats in New York. Whether that's Jewish communities, Black communities.
And then when we looked at the turnout, I think youth was only like 11, 12 percent share. So, Mamdani had to win over some people who were not under the age of 30 or 35. What do you make as you started to look into what the coalition was?
JOEL RUBIN, DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST: Well, first of all, overall turnout was off the charts, right? The largest turnout since the late '60s. And that is a significant point --
CORNISH: The late '60s, that blew my mind because we were not in a midterm. Were not in a in a general election year.
RUBIN: I mean, this is a serious statement of not just enthusiasm, but also anxiety and anger about where the country is.
[05:05:03]
And people, for the first time since Donald Trump took power, have had a chance now to electorally express themselves. So, to me, that's a big win for democracy. It's a big win for the Democratic Party. The coalition sticks together. I think what you see is that the different pockets of New York came out. I am concerned about the Jewish vote, for example, going two to one for Cuomo and what that means for our debates inside the party. And that's going to be a continuing argument, but definitely what he was able to do by having that broader, older group come in, that means that a lot of people probably came in that weren't participating before. That's also very important and very valuable.
CORNISH: All right. President Trump actually has a theory of his own that he posted on social media where he basically says, look, Trump wasn't on the ballot and shut down were the two reasons that Republicans lost elections tonight. And then it says, according to pollsters, which is not the usual, frankly, social media posts we see from him.
Dustin, can you talk about what you see? I mean, you are a pollster and yes, it was a conversation last night about Democratic coalitions, but it also seemed to be a question about whether Trump's coalition of 2024 was a one-time thing.
DUSTIN OLSON, POLLSTER & MANAGING PARTNER, AMERICAN PULSE RESEARCH & POLLING: Yeah. Well, the New York City mayor's race, I thought, was the most interesting. It's also the race that we've done the most public polling, as well as internal polling on. And it's definitely, I would call it a mixed bag for Democrats. Obviously, it's a huge win. It's a -- I think Mamdani speech was ambitious, and I think he'll be if he does half the things, be transformative.
And that's probably for some Democrats within the party. They're not going to be excited about that. We're watching the transformation of that party.
One of the things that's interesting we saw in our polling is that people who lived in and around the city on 9/11, they were going for Cuomo. So that's definitely -- there's a generational divide. And you can see that playing out.
Also, you know, the policies that were unpopular that Mamdani has proposed and promoted defund the police you know, refusing to denounce, globalize intifada. These were not popular with New Yorkers as well. So there's a little bit of -- I think they don't necessarily agree with them on all policies, but they wanted to see some change. So they -- I think voters are actually pretty.
CORNISH: Can I ask you about the New Jersey question, though? Just the sense that you've had counties Trump had major swings with Latino voters. And, you know, this is in Arizona. This is in Texas. These are guys that people that the Republicans were like, look, this kind of thing puts New Jersey in play. Was that ever true?
OLSON: I think it's true if Donald Trump is on the ballot. Also, an off-year election following a presidential year, you have the party that didn't win the White House, you know, things swing towards that party.
CORNISH: So, no warning signs there?
OLSON: So, there is, but also in 2021, we saw a similar coalition. You know, more affluent voters who have moved away from Trump, Republicans. And you've had higher education, folks moving away from Trump, Republicans. They did. They voted for Ciattarelli last time as well. So there's been a bit of a demographic difference between these different kinds of --
CORNISH: Well, this was kind of a Rorschach test in that if you're a moderate Democrat today, you're like, yes. And if you're a socialist, you're like, this is great. And everyone thinks they've got a lesson.
But you guys stay with me because were going to talk a lot more about that. Coming up on CNN THIS MORNING, it was also a historic night for women. Two states electing their first female governors.
Plus, California sends a message to President Trump and the GOP.
And then tragedy in Louisville. A UPS plane crashes at takeoff. Officials warn that the death toll could rise.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Over the past week, as people came together to donate to area food banks to donate food to individuals that are going hungry, that are losing their SNAP benefits. I'm confident that once again, in this tragedy, Louisville will come together.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[05:13:36]
CORNISH: It's almost 15 minutes past the hour and here is your morning roundup.
California's Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom secured a major victory last night. His ballot initiative to redraw the state's congressional map won by a landslide. Newsom's efforts to redraw congressional maps ahead of next year's midterms was in direct response to red states, such as Texas redrawing their maps at the behest of President Trump to try and secure him and Republicans a midterm victory.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NEWSOM: People waiting up to three hours to cast their vote, to send a message to Donald Trump, no crowns, no thrones, no kings. That's what this victory represents, is a victory for the people of the state of California and the United States of America.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: This victory was crucial for Newsom as speculation mounts that the rising star within the party will mount a 2028 bid for president and Democratic congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, now the governor elect in New Jersey. Sherrill put opposition to Trump and his agenda at the center of her campaign.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERRILL: Liberty alone is not enough. If the government makes it impossible for you to feed your family, to get a good education, or to get a good job.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: She will become the first female Democratic governor in the state's history.
And the city of Detroit has its first female mayor.
[05:15:01]
City Council President Mary Sheffield defeated Solomon Kinloch last night by a two to one margin. She'll succeed Mayor Mike Duggan, who decided to run for governor as an independent rather than seek a fourth term.
And after the break on CNN this morning, the government shutdown, now the longest in U.S. history. Can a bipartisan bill end it any time soon?
Plus, in Virginia, a candidate survives a texting scandal to take one of the most powerful offices in the state.
And good morning to my hometown of Boston. Thanks for waking up with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOHN THUNE (R-SD): As the days roll by, the consequences and pain of the shutdown grow more severe for the American people.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[05:20:02] CORNISH: Thirty-six days in the government shutdown is now the longest in U.S. history.
This morning, President Trump will meet with GOP senators. He's got no plans with Democrats. But sources tell CNN a temporary stopgap bill could be reached this week. Some Democrats are concerned about caving on their health care premium demands.
Americans are still paying the price. It's been 36 days without paychecks for federal workers. Airport headaches because of staffing shortages. And now the threat of hunger for millions as food stamps funds run out. And the president says those funds will only continue once, quote, "the radical left Democrats open up government". Hungry families forced to wait.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Rather than myself having like a full plate of food along with my kids, I'm making sure that they have a full have a full plate of food and their bellies are full. And I may have either less or I may not eat what they are eating.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: The group chat is back.
I wanted to talk about this because I think past government shutdowns, the one I covered, the ones I covered back 2012, 2014, there was a sense of like, I don't know, the National Mall might not get mowed. Like it felt very kind of low stakes.
And this is not playing out that way. And I'm wondering, Dustin, why you think that is, why people are more acutely feeling it in a way that Republicans are not able to just, like, pin the blame on someone and make headway.
OLSON: Well, they don't control the media for one reason. You know, it's just whatever the narrative is in the media, we watch polling, we do the information flow. And if the coverage is one way, that's what people are going to believe.
That being said, you know, Maslow's hierarchy of needs, eating is pretty high on that -- that list. So, when it gets to that level, then people are -- they're not going to care. They just want something to get done. And I think we're watching that happen right now.
And also, I do think that the elections yesterday gave Democrats one of the best headlines that they've had for some time. We've had this parade of a lot of Trump wins, and now Democrats have a real win. And that hopefully gives everybody a reason to get together and make this happen.
CORNISH: There's another theory out there I want to play for you Delaware's Chris Coons who was talking about the presidents sort of, partial payments to SNAP benefits, right? I mean, between the courts and the public pressure, he's had to do some moving there. And here is how Coons talked about it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. CHRIS COONS (D-DE): It's being used as a weapon, as a tool in this moment to try and leverage the hunger of millions, to put pressure on us as a Senate to reopen. It's shocking that President Trump would say out loud his intention to defy court orders and to use whether or not to feed hungry children as leverage.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CORNISH: I don't know, Sara, Joel, how you've seen the line of attack change and adjust as the length of the -- are you seeing that as well? Like what are you hearing?
FISCHER: Both sides are basically saying that the other is holding them hostage, and they've been saying that the entire time. So, Donald Trump's message here, that is not necessarily that I'm going to withhold the food stamps until the Democrats do something. It's the Democrats are the reason that you are not getting fed because they are holding you hostage by not taking, you know, conceding on this health care mandate, each side going back and forth.
One quick point I want to make. We were talking before about why does this shutdown feel so much more intense?
CORNISH: Yeah.
FISCHER: There's also the furloughed workers aspect of this, which we did not have last time. The Trump administration coming out. Russ Vought basically saying we're going to use this as an opportunity to cut federal workers.
I do think that played into some of what we saw last night. There's a ton of federal workers in Virginia.
CORNISH: Yeah.
FISCHER: Some in New Jersey, that impacts the way that people think about.
CORNISH: To your point about the media, you don't have to come out and say stuff like that, right? Like that has its own impact.
RUBIN: But, you know, I want to add on to what Sara is saying, which is that the cruelty is the feature, not the bug of the administration's approach to this shutdown. What they are trying to do is essentially say we will punish the American people, we will punish the most vulnerable Americans in order to coerce Democrats into giving up their position. Donald Trump is not negotiating. He's not engaging in good faith. He's now calling Republicans together to essentially do the nuclear -- use the nuclear weapon --
CORNISH: End the filibuster in the Senate. Yeah.
RUBIN: End the filibuster. And that's not going to work because Senate Republicans understand they have to live there after Donald Trump. And so, what's his approach? Is it just more cruelty? It looks like that. And I think he owns that.
CORNISH: I would also say that two people who are going hungry, especially mothers like, the cruelty is bipartisan to them and that everyone saying, I feel your pain, I feel your pain. But -- that but is the killer for someone.
RUBIN: The courts told him he has the funds and he should release them. And instead of going all the way --
CORNISH: But still only partial.
RUBIN: -- he's saying partial.
CORNISH: Yeah. Do you think when he goes to the Hill it means something, or is he going to the Hill just to say, hey, lets start doing some procedural filibuster talk?
[05:25:03]
OLSON: First of all, I think it's unfair to say that Trump or the Republicans are being cruel. I can tell you nobody wanted it to get to this point. And part of the problem is in past shutdowns like the Obama administration and others, they would try to make people feel it really quick. The Trump administration, honestly, by making sure the military paid and making sure that we're now getting partial on the food stamps, they've kind of elongated this and -- because they're trying not to have people feel it so much, I think it probably was a strategic mistake.
CORNISH: And we've heard some criticism that that they're picking winners and losers about, like, who's going to suffer through the shutdown.
OLSON: Based on how much money is available.
CORNISH: Yeah, exactly. Okay. You guys stay with me. We have more to talk about.
Straight ahead on CNN THIS MORNING, it's a test of presidential power. Today, the Supreme Court is going to hear arguments on President Trump's tariffs.
Plus, Zohran Mamdani elected as New York's next mayor. And he's already facing the White House's wrath.
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