Mamdani and Other Younger Democrats Are No Longer Waiting Their Turn

One is a democratic socialist and immigrant from New York City’s most diverse borough, a state lawmaker who inspired an army of volunteers and proved to be a social-media star. Another is a former C.I.A. officer from a purple state who offered outspoken criticism of efforts to pull her party to the left in Congress. A third is a suburban mother and former Navy helicopter pilot who presented herself as ready to run “toward the fight.”

As different as these politicians are, these winners of the three most important Democratic primary elections of 2025 have something important in common: For a party that is desperate for fresh leadership, they promise it.

In New York, a 33-year-old assemblyman from Queens, Zohran Mamdani, outpolled former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Tuesday to all but officially win the Democratic nomination for mayor. In Virginia, former Representative Abigail Spanberger, 45, cruised unopposed on June 17 to capture the party’s nomination for governor. And in New Jersey, Representative Mikie Sherrill, 53, defeated six prominent and well-funded candidates on June 10 to become the Democratic nominee for governor.

As Democrats grapple with how to rebuild a party demoralized after the victories by President Trump and Republicans last year, the results of the campaigns this month suggest a party reorienting itself not so much along ideological lines as toward a fundamental desire for generational change.

Democratic strategists, lawmakers and officials say their party’s voters are seeking leaders who were forged by the Trump era and can chart a path for their party in a political environment remade by the president.