What we covered here
• Tomorrow’s elections: Candidates were making closing arguments tonight ahead of a set of elections that are seen as a test for President Donald Trump and Democrats looking to oppose him. Here are the races we’ll be tracking.
• CNN poll: The elections come as a new poll shows the Democratic Party holds a sizable enthusiasm advantage as views of Trump dip further. Roughly 31% consider the federal government shutdown a crisis and 61% disapprove of Trump’s handling of it.
• Day 34 of the shutdown: Meanwhile, the administration said it will provide partial food stamp benefits for November by tapping into the program’s contingency fund. Recipients will not see the payments immediately.
Our live coverage has ended. Get the latest here.
Earle-Sears makes closing arguments for VA Gov. after Trump does not endorse
Republican Virginia gubernatorial candidate Winsome Earle-Sears made her closing arguments late Monday night in Manassas as the president and the party seemingly turned stronger support to Jason Miyares, who is running for reelection as attorney general.
Earle-Sears hammered issues such as the car tax, energy, immigration, crime and job creation while attacking her Democratic opponent, former Rep. Abigail Spanberger.
The rally came hours after President Donald Trump called in to an election eve tele-rally in support of the Virginia Republican statewide ticket. Despite reiterating that there were “great Republican candidates, up and down the line,” Trump did not formally endorse Earle-Sears.
“I will stand up for you … Please vote for us,” the Virginia lieutenant governor said to an enthusiastic crowd.
A good portion of Earle-Sears’ final address focused on affordability and characterizing Spanberger as insincere with “a backbone of pasta.”
“If you want to keep more money in your own pocket that you worked so hard for, vote for me,” Earle-Sears said.
Cuomo dismisses Trump’s endorsement: “He's not endorsing me. He's opposing Mamdani”
Andrew Cuomo tonight dismissed President Donald Trump’s election eve endorsement in the New York City’s mayoral race, insisting that the president was simply interested in opposing Zohran Mamdani.
When pressed by a reporter whether Trump’s support will hurt him in the election, Cuomo said, “He’s not endorsing me. He’s opposing Mamdani.”
Trump earlier on Monday urged New Yorkers to vote for the former Democratic governor, who is running as an independent, saying he has a “Record of Success.”
“Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him, and hope he does a fantastic job,” the president wrote on Truth Social, adding that Cuomo “is capable of it” and that Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani “is not!”
