Dead heat in New Jersey; big GOP wins in Virginia

Youngkin declares victory and pledges "transformation on day one"

From CNN's Josiah Ryan

Republican Glenn Youngkin declared victory in Virginia's high-stakes governor's race shortly after CNN projected he would win the state’s highest office, saying he would bring transformation to the state.

"Together we will change the trajectory of this commonwealth, and friends, we are going to start that transformation on day one," he said. "There's no time to waste. Our kids can't wait. We work in real people time, not government time."

Youngkin, a Virginia businessman, then quickly moved on to the topic of education, a hot-button issue which helped propel him to victory over Democrat Terry McAuliffe.

McAuliffe has still not called Youngkin to concede the Virginia governor’s race, a campaign aide tells CNN, and said he is unlikely to do so yet tonight.

"We're going to restore excellence in our schools," he said. "We will invest the largest education budget in the history of the commonwealth... We're going to introduce choice within our public school system."

"We're going to embrace our parents, not ignore them," he said, referencing a comment made by McAuliffe in September in which he suggested parents ought not to tell schools what to teach.

Youngkin then moved on to the cost of living which has worried many Virginians as inflation rises, saying he would lower prices across the state and lower taxes.

"This stopped being a campaign long ago," he continued. "This is the spirit of Virginia coming together like never before. The spirit of Washington and Jefferson and Madison and Monroe standing up and taking our commonwealth back."

CNN's Jeff Zeleny contributed reporting to this post.

Democrat Phil Murphy and Republican Jack Ciattarelli locked in tight New Jersey governor's race

From CNN's Gregory Krieg

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is locked in a closer-than-expected race that remains too close to call as he tries to become the first Democratic governor in more than four decades to win reelection in the Garden State.

Like Virginia — where Republican nominee Glenn Youngkin won Tuesday night — New Jersey has trended reliably blue in federal and local contests but has a history of voting in the party out of the White House in its off-year gubernatorial races.

On top of their loss in Virginia, the close race in the Garden State -- where President Joe Biden also won by double digits in 2020 — is a warning sign to Democrats looking to maintain their congressional majorities in next year's midterms.

With 84% of the vote in, Murphy was tied with Republican Jack Ciattarelli.

Murphy's lead over Ciattarelli in a number of late polls had appeared to be at or near double digits, giving Democrats confidence about the outcome and shifting some focus to the eventual margin -- and what it could portend for next year's midterm elections.

Murphy's campaign acknowledges it's been a tougher evening than they had expected, but they maintain that they will pull it out in the end, believing that the outstanding votes will break for them, a Murphy adviser said.

Read more about the New Jersey mayoral race here.

CNN Projection: Michelle Wu will make history as first woman and person of color elected as Boston's mayor

From CNN's Ethan Cohen, Lauren Dezenski and Rachel Janfaza

City Councilor Michelle Wu will become Boston's next mayor after her more moderate challenger conceded, making her the first woman and person of color elected to the top post in the city's history, CNN projects.

"From every corner of our city, Boston has spoken. We are ready to meet this moment. We are ready to become a Boston for everyone," Wu said to a crowd of supporters Tuesday night. "I want to be clear, it wasn't my vision on the ballot, it was ours, together."

Wu is set to succeed acting mayor Kim Janey, Boston's first Black and female mayor. Janey, then-City Council President, was next in line to lead the city when Boston Mayor Marty Walsh was named President Biden's Labor secretary in January.

Wu, whose parents came from Taiwan, grew up in Chicago and attended Harvard College and Harvard Law School, where she was a student of then-professor Elizabeth Warren — the Massachusetts senator whom Wu calls one of her personal heroes and her biggest backers .

She was just 28 years old when she was elected to the Boston City Council in 2013, later serving as council president.

CNN's Maeve Reston contributed reporting to this post.

CNN Projections: Minneapolis, Albuquerque mayoral races and Cleveland police ballot measure

From CNN's Ethan Cohen

The Minneapolis mayor race will head to ranked-choice tabulation after no candidate received a majority of first choice votes, CNN projects. That tabulation will take place tomorrow. Incumbent Mayor Jacob Frey has the lead among first choice votes.

CNN can project that Albuquerque, New Mexico, Mayor Tim Keller will win a second term and avoid a runoff.

CNN can also project that voters have approved Issue 24 in Cleveland, a ballot measure that will restructure police oversight.

CNN Projection: Democrats win mayoral races in Seattle and Detroit

From CNN's Ethan Cohen

Incumbent Mike Duggan will be reelected to a third term in Detroit, CNN projects.

In Seattle, Bruce Harrell will be the next mayor, CNN projects.

Biden lands in Washington after a tough election night for Democrats

President Biden just landed in Washington, DC, from his Europe trip after a rough election night for Democrats.

CNN projected that Republican Glenn Youngkin will win Virginia's high-stakes governors race, while incumbent Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy is facing a tight race against GOP candidate Jack Ciattarelli.

The election results come while Democrats in Congress are still working to garner enough votes in the Senate to pass Biden's Build Back Better agenda.

CNN Projection: Atlanta mayoral race goes to runoff

From CNN's Adam Levy

The Atlanta mayoral election will go to a runoff, CNN projects.

Atlanta City Council President Felicia Moore, who currently leads the race against more than a dozen other candidates, will be a candidate for the runoff election on Nov. 30.

She will face either Kasim Reed or Andre Dickens. As of early Wednesday morning, CNN cannot project the second place winner who will face Moore.

Youngkin addresses supporters after winning Virginia governor's race

icRepun Virginia gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin is speaking to supporters now.

CNN has projected he will be the winner of the race.

Earlier this evening before the race was called, Democratic challenger Terry McAuliffe thanked his supporters at his campaign headquarters and said "the fight continues."

Watch the moment:

CNN Projection: Sears will be Virginia's first Black, female lieutenant governor

Republican Winsome Sears will be Virginia's first Black, female lieutenant governor, CNN projects.

Moments ago, CNN projected businessman Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, will become Virginia's next governor.