Princeton students and other New Jersey residents took to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 4, electing Mikie Sherrill as the state’s next governor — and with it, a member of Princeton’s Board of Trustees. Democratic candidates, such as Zohran Mamdani in New York City’s mayoral race, also won significant victories in the first elections since the beginning of President Trump’s second term.
In interviews, students involved in campus political groups expressed a wide range of reactions to the results, as well as varying takes on their significance for future elections.
Turnout in the gubernatorial election among Princeton students recorded by Vote100 increased from 75 students in 2021 to between 300 and 400, according to Vote100 fellow Noah Barkan ’28.
Ian Mann ’28, another Head Fellow of Vote100, argued that the heightened student turnout was due to dissatisfaction with rising costs.
“Whether it’s going to Wawa or the prices at late meals, it is something that affects students,” he said. “From the voters I’ve talked to and my friends, the role of higher education in this election is also something which really drove people to the polls.”
Princeton College Democrats Communications Director Paul Wang ’27 attributed the turnout and enthusiasm “massive discontent with the Trump administration’s actions” across the nation.
“Most of us [the Princeton College Democrats] agree that this is a very important time to get involved, especially as the Trump administration starts to take more and more authoritarian stances,” Wang added.
Joshua Jen ’28 of Princeton College Republicans, meanwhile, argued that while the results in New Jersey indicated “some backlash against a Trump presidency,” they were not nationally representative.
“Just like the 2021 election results were not representative of the 2022 election results, I don’t think there are many implications from these election results,” Jen said in a statement.
In the lead-up to the election, students associated with Princeton College Democrats knocked on over 7,000 doors, more than they did during last year’s presidential election, Wang said.
“The results should really be a warning sign to any Republicans who are still going along with Donald Trump and his policies,” said Wang.
Democrats had another monumental victory in New York City, where democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani won the mayoral race with 50.4 percent of the vote, beating former Governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa.
“I think anyone who opposes the current state of affairs in Washington, D.C., including everyone who’s a member of Sunrise Princeton, is happy about the way the election went,” Isaac Barsoum ’28, co-coordinator of Sunrise Princeton, a progressive climate activism group on campus, told the ‘Prince.’
Barsoum is an Opinion columnist for the ‘Prince.’
“I think there’s been this kind of defeatism that’s pervaded even the most active members of the left of center on campus since last year’s election. And I think that this sort of injects a little bit of hope into the movement,” Barsoum added. “If you think that authoritarianism has defeated you, then it has.”
Mamdani’s election has not been as warmly greeted by campus conservatives.
“NYC to me represents a new wave of Democratic policies that embrace socialism and will be harmful for the city,” Jen wrote.
Similarly, Zach Gardner, president of The Princeton Tory, wrote in an email to the ‘Prince,’ “Mamdani’s election will spell trouble for a city I love. His ‘affordability’ policies (like increased rent freezing, free bus routes, subsidized grocery stores) will likely exacerbate the problems they are trying to solve.”
“Trying to subsidize your way to a better market will not fix the underlying issues of affordability. But, I do see it as a cry for recognition from disaffected young voters,” he wrote. “As with any loss, these races will certainly be a wake up call to Republicans and conservatives.”
Looking to next year’s midterms, organizations such as Vote100, College Republicans, and College Democrats have said they will continue their efforts to raise Princeton’s voter turnout. These midterms will measure their success.
Emily Murphy is a News contributor and staff Copy editor for the ‘Prince’ from New York, N.Y. She can be reached at emily.murphy[at]princeton.edu.
Christine Woods is a News contributor for the ‘Prince’ from New York City. She can be reached at christinewoods[at]princeton.edu.
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
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