Name: One week to go in East Coast mayoral and governor races
Uploaded: 2025-10-28T00:03:54.016Z
Duration: 3 min 43 s
Description: With one week to go before Election Day, key contests in New York City, New Jersey, and Virginia are tightening as voters prepare to decide major local and state races.

With one week to go before Election Day, key contests in New York City, New Jersey, and Virginia are tightening as voters prepare to decide major local and state races.

New York

With election day approaching, key mayoral and governor races in states such as New York, New Jersey, and Virginia are drawing national attention. Early voting has begun in New Jersey and New York, where the New York City mayoral race features frontrunner Zoran Mamnani, supported by prominent progressives, and former governor Andrew Cuomo running as an independent. 

Both parties are deploying major political figures to campaign for their candidates, highlighting the importance of these races as indicators of public sentiment during President Trump's second term. In New Jersey and Virginia, the contests are considered close, with local and national leaders emphasizing the impact of gubernatorial leadership on issues such as personal freedoms and cost of living.

One week to go in East Coast mayoral and governor races

While we are years away from the next presidential election, we're just one week away from 2025's election day. It's not a general election or midterms, but several races could give us a clearer picture of how Americans are reacting to the first year of President Trump's second term. CBS News Political Director Finn Gomez joins us now with more. So, Finn, early voting underway in some places. Can you walk us through where things stand in some of these key races? Sure, absolutely. There are four major races that we're looking at really covering, and that's New Jersey, New York, Virginia, and the California special election. But, you know, early voting did kick off in two of these states this weekend that are holding these key electoral matchups, New Jersey and New York. In the Big Apple, we are seeing one of the most consequential mayoral races in years. The frontrunner in that race, Zoran Mamnani, got a boost from two of the left's most well-known leaders in Bernie Sanders and AOC, both of whom came out and rallied for the Democratic Socialist, who's running as a Democrat in the race for mayor. His main opponent, Andrew Cuomo, also held events this weekend. He's running as an independent, the former defenestrated New York governor. But he held weekends this weekend—he held rallies this weekend to galvanize Jewish support. Most polls show the 34-year-old assemblyman as leading the field by double digits. But Cuomo has led with Jewish voters, according to recent polls, and is hoping to narrow that lead, Mamnani's lead, with them. But it's just a week out, and both parties, in both respective campaigns, are bringing in their heavy hitters. Lindsey? Let's talk about the heavy hitters, because we saw a lot of people campaigning who aren't on the ballot. So, Pennsylvania's Josh Shapiro in Virginia, President Trump joining a teller rally for Jack Ciattarelli, who's running for governor. What does this signal to you? Yeah, yeah. Both parties are bringing in their respective ringers, these national figures who, you know, from—who want to do their part in efforting to galvanize their respective bases, their base voters, especially in this last week before the elections, because this is when, basically, those voters are really, really paying attention to in this last stretch, especially in New Jersey, where I was this weekend, where I covered both of the main party candidates here. And if you look—and I spoke to some of the local political experts and reporters who say that this race is much closer than some of the polls that we're seeing and could go either way. I did caught up with Governor Shapiro, who was campaigning for Mikey Sherrill in New Jersey and also for Spanberger in Virginia. But here is what the governor of Pennsylvania had to say on a very—on this—on the effort, on these campaigns by Sherrill and Spanberger. Is this the playbook that Democrats should use in 26, like Charlie said, but also beyond 26? Here's what I know to be true. Governors matter, especially in an era where you've got a president of the United States eviscerating our freedoms and trying to jack up costs on our residents. It matters who your governor is. If you wanted to be able to defend a woman's right to choose, if you want to be able to love who you love, if you want to be able to vaccinate your child the way you want them to be vaccinated, not the way RFK decides, it matters who your governor is. So, Shapiro is also considering a potential 2028 bid, Lindsey, in this popular governor from this key battleground state, with a centrist vibe. If both Spanberger and Sherrill win, this could actually help him with any future plans to 26 and beyond. Interesting. Finn Gomez, thank you.

FBI Director Kash Patel announced an operation that apparently "thwarted a potential terrorist attack" during Halloween weekend in Michigan. CBS News' Scott MacFarlane has more.

Dearborn

Patel says FBI stopped a potential "terror attack" in Michigan

Washington and Beijing are "in agreement on many things," U.S. President Donald Trump said after the face-to-face meeting that lasted nearly two hours, the first between both leaders in six years.

Busan

Global Tariffs

Trump announces deal with China after talks with Xi in South Korea

U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the resumption of nuclear weapons tests for the first time since 1992. A day earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia had successfully tested a nuclear-powered super torpedo.

Washington

Trump orders nuke tests after Russia tests nuclear-powered torpedo

Sudan and the UAE clash at the UN Security Council—Khartoum accuses Abu Dhabi of funding the RSF amid reports of atrocities.

UN Security Council meeting: Sudan and UAE trade heated accusations

U.S.-China tensions cast a shadow over the APEC summit in South Korea — Leaders debate trade, diplomacy, and the bloc’s mission of free trade.

Gyeongju-si

APEC summit: U.S.-China rivalry looms over trade and diplomacy

Microsoft, Meta and Alphabet recently reported their quarterly earnings and one thing is certain: the jaw-dropping investments in artificial intelligence are only just getting started. This all comes just days after Nvidia became the world's first-ever $5 trillion company.

California

Meta stock falls over 10% after commitment to raise AI spending

CBS News has confirmed that the Pentagon ordered all state National Guards to form what they're calling "quick reaction forces" available for rapid deployments to address potential civil unrest.

Pentagon orders state National Guards to form rapid response units

Taylor Taranto has been sentenced to time served plus 36 months of supervised release after being convicted of threatening former President Barack Obama. He was also pardoned on Jan. 6 Capitol rioting charges by President Trump earlier this year.

Taylor Taranto sentenced to time served for Obama threat

Authorities have charged five people in connection with the overdose deaths of three 19-year-olds, including Leandro De Niro-Rodriguez, the grandson of actor Robert De Niro.

Five arrested over overdose death of Robert De Niro’s grandson

Prince Andrew is being stripped of his royal titles and must move out of his mansion, Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday. Andrew has come under intense scrutiny over his friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

London

Prince Andrew stripped of royal titles over Jeffrey Epstein ties

French police have now detained seven people over the robbery at France's landmark museum on 19 October.

Paris

Louvre heist: Five new suspects arrested as search for jewels continues

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Thursday that China has approved a TikTok transfer deal. CBS News White House reporter Willie James Inman has more.

Treasury Secretary Bessent says China approved TikTok transfer deal

As Hurricane Melissa continues its trail of death and devastation through the Caribbean, Jamaica is taking stock. With over 75% of the country without power and $22 billion in damage, experts estimate recovery could take a decade.

Kingston

Jamaica reels as Hurricane Melissa leaves behind devastation

House lawmakers have been told their paychecks will be delayed until Congress passes a new funding bill. CBS News congressional reporter Taurean Small has the latest on the government shutdown.

House lawmakers' paychecks delayed until government reopens

Israeli planes and tanks pounded areas in eastern Gaza on Thursday (October 30), Palestinian residents and witnesses said, a day after Israel said it remained committed to a U.S.-backed ceasefire despite launching more lethal bombardments in the territory.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Israel strikes Gaza after asserting commitment to ceasefire

In the Netherlands, the centrist D66 party looks on course to beat the far right in the national election. Exit polls have predicted Rob Jetten's party will claim victory, which could lead him to become the country's youngest ever prime minister.

Amsterdam

Dutch centrist party wins big in election as far right loses support

President Donald Trump ordered the U.S. military on Thursday (October 30) to immediately resume testing nuclear weapons after a gap of 33 years, minutes before beginning a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Trump tells Pentagon to resume testing U.S. nuclear weapons

President Trump will hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. This is their first face-to-face since Mr. Trump returned to the White House. Jessi Mitchell anchors this Special Report.

Trump, Xi Jinping meet face-to-face in South Korea over trade

The Bank of Canada made a 25-basis-point cut to its key interest rate while governor Tiff Macklem suggested rates will hold where they are as long as inflation stays in the target range of two per cent.

Ottawa

Bank of Canada cuts key interest rate to 2.25%

After leaving Jamaica with widespread power outages and flooding, Melissa caused fatal flooding in Haiti that has killed 25 people and hit Cuba with a storm surge.

Port-au-Prince

Hurricane Melissa causes floods in Haiti, killing at least 25

Fentanyl production tops the agenda as the U.S. and China discuss curbing exports tied to the deadly opioid crisis.

Fentanyl crackdown central in U.S.-China talks

APEC members face economic uncertainty amid rising US-China rivalry—South Korea prepares for potential fallout from high-stakes talks.

U.S.-China trade tensions leave South Korea navigating APEC fallout

President Putin announced that the Poseidon super torpedo was successfully tested and cannot be intercepted, marking a new stage in Russia’s naval capabilities.

Moscow

Russia says its successfully tested nuclear-capable underwater drone

The Justice Department has put D.C. prosecutors on leave after they submitted a court memo describing those who attacked the Capitol on January 6, 2021 as "rioters." The filing was in a case involving Taylor Taranto, who was part of the Capitol riot and is currently facing unrelated weapons charges.

DOJ sidelines prosecutors over Jan. 6 'rioters' court filing

Sean Grayson, the former Illinois sheriff's deputy who shot and killed Sonya Massey in her home in 2024, was found guilty of second-degree murder.

Illinois

Ex-officer found guilty of murder in Sonya Massey shooting

President Donald Trump is sending America's largest aircraft carrier to the Caribbean to help stop small boats he says are transporting drugs to the U.S. Trump says the U.S. is in "armed conflict" with Venezuelan drug cartels.

U.S. masses more naval forces off coast of Venezuela

The U.S. Federal Reserve announced Wednesday that it will lower its benchmark interest rate by 0.25 percentage points in its second straight cut.

Fed lowers interest rates by 0.25 percentage points

The police operation was one of the most violent in Brazil’s recent history, with human rights organizations calling for investigations into the deaths.

Rio de Janeiro

Raid on Rio drug trafficking gang leaves at least 64 dead

Hurricane Melissa made landfall in Cuba on Wednesday after ripping through Jamaica. CBS News' Jarred Hill has more details.

Havana

Hurricane Melissa makes landfall in Cuba after slamming Jamaica

U.S. President Donald Trump landed in South Korea on Wednesday (October 29) for the final leg of his Asia trip, optimistic about striking a trade war truce with Chinese President Xi Jinping after summit talks with South Korea's Lee Jae Myung.

Breakdown