Welcome to the NewsHour. Voters are heading to the polls in steady numbers and closely watched state contests, from governor's races in New Jersey and Virginia to the choice for mayor in New York.

Today marks the first major election day since President Donald Trump's return to the White House and his policies are proving to be a defining issue in races across the country.

Liz Landers reports on what the candidates and voters are saying as votes are cast and counted.

In New York City, candidates made a final push to sway voters heading to the polls.

It is a day that we have been dreaming of for more than a year.

I'm still decided.

Democratic Socialist, Zeran Mamdani, the frontrunner in the race to lead America's

largest city, has energized some voters.

I'm very hopeful. It feels, I haven't felt this excited about an election since probably

2008 when Obama ran. But others are worried his policies are

too far left, uniting some of them behind former governor turned independent Andrew Cuomo.

Not necessarily we like. Right. Exactly. We have to. Oh, we had to live here through COVID,

so we know how important it is to have representation of police in the street.

In an 11th hour endorsement of Cuomo over the Republican Curtis Sliwa,

President Trump threatened to cut federal funds to his native city if Mondani wins.

Even as Trump attempts to make inroads in blue states,

Democrats out of power in Washington

see gubernatorial races as a crucial counterweight.

Virginia will elect its first female governor, with voters choosing between Democrat,

Abigail Spanberger and Republican, Winsome Earl Sears, in a state, often seen as a national

bellwether.

I definitely think it's a referendum on Donald Trump and just the direction the country's going in.

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