With less than a week to go until Nov. 4, elections are heating up nationwide.

The contests are regarded as possible referendums on President Donald Trump and his administration.

Here are the races to watch.

New York City Mayor

Zohran Mamdani, a self-described democratic socialist, is all but guaranteed to win this race.

Mamdani has run on a platform of city-run grocery stores, free buses, rent freezes for stabilized tenants, free child care, a minimum wage of $30 per hour by 2030, a tax on those making more than $1 million annually, and a department of community safety.

He’s also running on “Trump-proofing” New York City.

This includes strengthening New York’s status as a sanctuary city for illegal immigrants.

Mamdani has come under fire for not condemning the phrase “Globalize the Intifada,” which is a call for violence against Jews, only to state that he discourages the saying.

He also said that while Israel has a right to exist, he has declined to say whether that is as a Jewish state.

Mamdani’s opponents include former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat who is running as an independent.

Cuomo’s platform includes increasing affordable housing, increasing the size of the New York Police Department, expanding access to mental health services, and combating anti-Semitism.

The Republican candidate is Curtis Sliwa, chief executive of the Guardian Angels, a crime-fighting nonprofit.

He has a platform that includes converting commercial spaces into housing, implementing a tough-on-crime agenda, expanding housing for seniors and working families, and hiring more police officers.

Eric Adams, the current mayor, ended his reelection campaign on Sept. 28.

Mamdani has been leading in the polls by double-digits.

Virginia Governor

In the race for Virginia governor this year, Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears, a Republican, will face off against Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) in a race that Democrats are currently favored to win.

The state has trended toward Democrats in recent decades, voting for then-Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, after backing Joe Biden in the 2020 election.

Spanberger has consistently led in polls, with many showing her having a double-digit lead, maintaining an 8 percent advantage in the most recent polling.

Virginia’s four-year gubernatorial cycle means that the election for governor always falls in November of the year after a presidential election.

Historically, the state’s demographic makeup and proximity to the capital have meant that its results are sometimes viewed as a reflection of national sentiment on the president’s first year in office.

In 2021, the race pointed to growing dissatisfaction with Biden’s performance as Republican Glenn Youngkin achieved a surprise victory over Democrat Terry McAuliffe.

New Jersey Governor

Observers are also watching the gubernatorial election in New Jersey.

Though historically a blue state, New Jersey came within 6 points of backing Trump over Harris in 2024.

This year, Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) is facing off against former state Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli, a Republican, in a gubernatorial race that has drawn record-breaking infusions of cash from both parties—more than $72 million.

Sherrill is a former Navy pilot and four-term congresswoman. Ciattarelli ran for New Jersey governor in 2021 but lost to incumbent Gov. Phil Murphy.

In his second bid for the governor’s mansion, Ciattarelli has criticized Murphy, representing himself as a “Jersey guy” focusing on core kitchen-table issues. Trump has endorsed Ciattarelli.

As in Virginia, Democrats have a baked-in advantage in the blue-leaning state. However, polls show that Democrats are in a less favorable position in New Jersey.

Though Sherrill maintains a lead, the most recent poll released in the state shows that her lead has shrunk to 1 percent—well within the margin of error and rendering the race a toss-up.

Virginia Attorney General

Usually, attorney general races do not get national attention.

But Virginia’s is different since the National Review published a story about the Democratic nominee, Jay Jones, who wrote a text message to a former Republican state legislator about shooting former Virginia House of Delegates Speaker Todd Gilbert.

During a debate on Oct. 16, Jones apologized to Gilbert.

“Let me be very clear: I am ashamed, I am embarrassed, and I am sorry. I am sorry to Speaker Gilbert, I am sorry to his family, and I am sorry to every single Virginian,” he said.

The incumbent Republican attorney general, Jason Miyares, has criticized Jones’s controversial message, saying that he lacks “the experience or the judgment to serve as the top prosecutor.”

“Jay Jones is a criminal first, victim last, politician,” Miyares said.

Pennsylvania Supreme Court

Three Democratic members of the commonwealth’s highest court are up for reelection: Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty, and David Wecht.

But instead of facing an opponent, voters will simply decide whether they should remain on the bench.

The state’s governor, Josh Shapiro, has called for them to be retained.

As Pennsylvania is a swing state, the state supreme court could play a vital role in election-related matters.

Additionally, Donohue has highlighted that the court has “protected access to abortion.”

Millions of dollars have been poured into the race on both sides.

The court has been controlled by Democrats since 2015.

Were the justices to be retained, they would serve another 10 years.

Proposition 50

Voters across multiple states will also consider key ballot measures, including several of national interest.

The most-watched of these will be California’s Proposition 50, which asks voters to temporarily override the state’s independent congressional districting commission to allow Democrats to flip as many as five House seats.

Gov. Gavin Newsom, a leading advocate of Proposition 50, has said the measure is necessary to respond to redistricting in Texas that could allow Republicans to take up to five House seats.

If approved by voters, the new maps drawn by the California legislature would remain in effect until 2030, at which point control would be returned to the independent commission.

Other Ballot Measures

Ballot measures will also be considered in Maine and Texas.

In Maine, voters will consider Maine Question 1, which would require voters to present a valid photo ID to vote.

In Texas, voters will be asked to vote on Proposition 16, which would require that an individual be a citizen to vote.

Voting by illegal immigrants is already outlawed in all 50 states, including by existing Texas statutes, and in federal law.