While high-profile primary elections in New Jersey garnered national attention, special elections across the country continued this year’s trend of Democratic electoral overperformances. In six special elections last night, Democrats overperformed in five of them and won the only non-overperformance. 

In response to yesterday’s slew of Democratic overperformances and victories, DNC Chair Ken Martin released the following statement: 

“In 2025, Democrats are overperforming and winning elections across the country, and yesterday was no exception. While Republicans rubber stamp Trump’s deeply unpopular agenda that sells out the working class to enrich billionaires, Democrats are fighting on behalf of voters to create better opportunities in their communities. That’s exactly why Democrats or Democratic-aligned candidates have won or overperformed in a whopping 33 key elections this year. In the weeks and months ahead, Democrats will continue to meet the moment and organize everywhere to stop Republican attacks on health care, food access, and the economy. Winning elections isn’t just the strategic imperative of the DNC — it’s a moral imperative, too — because so much is at stake for working families.” 

In New Jersey, Rep. Mikie Sherrill clinched victory in the Democratic gubernatorial primary, and Democrats had historic primary turnout. 

New Jersey Monitor: “Rep. Mikie Sherrill won the Democratic primary Tuesday in her bid to become New Jersey’s next governor, the Associated Press projected, riding a wave of establishment and popular support that coalesced around her perceived electability in this fall’s general election.”

WHYY: “The Associated Press called the race for Sherrill at 8:39 p.m., with Sherrill leading the pack with 35.3% of the vote, with 41% of votes counted.”

NBC News: “Sherrill was winning more than one-third support with most of the expected Democratic vote tallied, holding a double-digit lead over Fulop, the next-closest Democrat. …

“Sherrill won around 43% of the mail-in vote, followed by Baraka at 24%, Fulop at 17%, Gottheimer at 10%, Spiller at 5% and Sweeney at 1%.” 

In legislative special elections in Oklahoma and Florida, Democrats overperformed in ruby-red districts and clinched victories. 

KOSU: “Democrat Amanda Clinton won decisively against Republican Beverly Atteberry in the race for Tulsa’s House District 71, earning just shy of 85% of the vote. …

“Democrat Aletia Timmons, who previously served as a district judge before stepping down to run for the legislature, won the race for House District 97 with 59% of the vote.”

Daniel Nichanian on X: “There were 6 legislative special elections today. No flips.

Five of them shifted toward Dem since November, with net shifts of 9 (FL), 11 (FL), 13 (OK), 21 (FL), and 50 (OK) percentage points.”  

Uncrewed on X: “Final results in two of Florida’s special legislative elections:

#SD19 (Trump+19.5):

Debbie Mayfield (R)- 54.5%

Vance Ahrens (D)- 45.5%

#HD32 (Trump+20):

Brian Hodgers (R)- 55.4%

Juan Hinojosa (D)- 44.6%

Around 10 point overperformances for Democrats in both!”

Uncrewed on X: “Final results in the Florida #HD03 (Trump+55) special election:

Nathan Boyles (R)- 67.5%

Dondre Wise (D)- 32.5%

20 point overperformance completes the trifecta of Democratic overperformances in Florida tonight!”