Americans Vote

Across the country today, voters are casting ballots in the first major elections since President Trump returned to the Oval Office.

The results will dictate the leadership of two states, as well as America’s largest city. And they will offer both Republicans and Democrats a crucial gauge of strength before next year’s midterms. This evening, I have a brief rundown of what to watch for as the night progresses:

Virginia’s governor’s race

This is likely to be the first major race called. The contest typically serves as a rejection of the party in the White House, and it appears that pattern will continue: Former Representative Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat, has held a consistent advantage over Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, a Republican.

A texting scandal could make the state’s race for attorney general much tighter. Follow here for results.

New Jersey’s governor’s race

At 8 p.m., polls in New Jersey will close. It is considered far more competitive than Virginia’s race for governor, even though New Jersey’s candidates have starkly different visions for the state. One big thing to watch is whether Jack Ciattarelli, the Republican candidate, can maintain Trump’s gains with Latinos in the state. Mikie Sherrill, the Democrat, has attacked Ciattarelli by tying him to Trump.

Check here for results.

New York City’s mayoral race

Polls close at 9 p.m. in New York, but one thing is already clear: Turnout is really high. As of 3 p.m., about 1.45 million New Yorkers had cast their votes, surpassing the totals in every mayoral election since 2001. And it’s not hard to see why there’s so much interest.

The front-runner is Zohran Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist whose leftist views have excited his young base and angered critics. His closest rival is Andrew Cuomo, a three-term governor and lifelong Democrat who was endorsed by Trump. If Mamdani is elected, it will cap an extraordinary rise from relative obscurity and make him the first Muslim to hold the office.

Follow all of the latest updates here, and check here for results. While you’re waiting, take this quiz to see which candidates align most with your views.

California’s ballot measure

In the long run, the outcome of this vote could be the most influential. The state is deciding whether to redraw its voting maps to benefit Democrats, in response to Trump’s effort to redistrict Republican-led states. It appears likely to pass, and other blue states may follow. Polls close at 11 p.m. Eastern, and we’re following the results here.

Trump is weighing options for attacks on Venezuela

The Trump administration has developed a range of options for military action in Venezuela. One would involve airstrikes against military facilities; another envisions sending U.S. forces to seize control of Venezuela’s oil fields.

Trump has yet to make a decision on how, or even whether, to proceed. Officials said he was reluctant to approve operations that might place American troops at risk. But some of his top advisers are pressing for one of the most aggressive options: sending Special Operations forces to capture or kill Venezuela’s leader, Nicolás Maduro.

In other foreign policy news, Nigeria denied that there was an “existential threat” to Christians in the country, as Trump has claimed.

Trump pressures Congress as shutdown becomes longest ever

When the clock strikes midnight, the government shutdown will reach its 35th full day — the longest lapse of federal funding in American history.

Rather than trying to negotiate, the president appears more interested in ramping up the pain to force Democrats to capitulate. He threatened to deny food stamp payments, despite a court order; his transportation secretary said he might close parts of the national airspace; and White House officials again suggested they might deny back pay for furloughed workers.

A largely forgotten moment of TV history

Fifty years ago, ABC’s “Barney Miller” was a hit sitcom about seen-it-all cops and kitchen-sink criminals. It won three Emmys. It also made often-overlooked history: One episode introduced audiences to Darryl and Marty — one of the first openly gay couples in mainstream American television not depicted as deviants or criminals.

Ray Stewart, now 93, played Darryl. He told The Times that he hadn’t realized how innovative the episode was. Now, he’s proud of it — “We really were the Wright Brothers in a sense” — and he came to his own realization, late in life, that, as he put it, he’s “basically gay.”

Rural America welcomes you

Roughly 97 percent of the country is rural, yet those areas hold just 20 percent of the population. That means there’s plenty to explore, and many small towns have upgraded their amenities to attract tourists up for a road trip.

Some of the most enticing spots include the Driftless Area in Wisconsin, where you can hike, fish and eat fresh farm-to-table fare, and White Pine County in Nevada, where you can take a steam train to biking trailheads.

Saxophones are taking over weddings

When Tiffany Yamasaki booked a saxophonist for her wedding in March, she viewed it as an inventive way to add a touch of live music to the reception. But she quickly realized it wasn’t unique: The saxophone was played at two other weddings she attended in the months after.

In general, it’s a good time to be a saxophone — the global market is growing steadily. And at weddings in particular, musicians and planners have noticed a significant uptick in interest. “Everyone wants an element of surprise with their wedding,” one planner said.

Have an electrifying evening.

Thanks for reading. I’ll be back tomorrow. — Matthew

Philip Pacheco was our photo editor.

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