How do voters in Virginia, New Jersey and New York City feel about the country, the economy and other issues? Here’s what we learned from ABC News exit polls, conducted by SSRS.
This story will be updated throughout the night as the poll numbers come in.
Virginia
The economy is by far the biggest issue for Virginia voters:
About half of Virginia voters said the economy was the most important issue facing the Commonwealth, while about 2 in 10 said health care was. Fewer (about 1 in 10) said immigration and education were the most important issues, while even fewer said crime.
More on how Virginia voters view the economy:
A majority of Virginia voters said federal government cuts are hurting their finances. About 6 in 10 Virginia voters said this year’s federal government cuts affected their family’s finances, including about 2 in 10 who said the cuts affected their finances “a lot.”
Most Virginia voters said Virginia’s economy is doing well, but few said their personal finances are improving. Nearly 6 in 10 Virginia voters said the state of the Commonwealth’s economy is “excellent” or “good,” while about 4 in 10 said the economy is “not so good” or “bad.”
But few Virginia voters said their families are “getting by” financially. Just over 1 in 10 said they were moving forward, while about 6 in 10 said they were “holding steady” and about a quarter said they were “falling behind.”
Many voters in Virginia are employed or were previously employed by the federal government or as federal contractors, many of whom are currently on leave.
Election Day marks the 35th day of the government shutdown. Many federal employees have been laid off; others have lost their jobs due to President Donald Trump’s deep cuts to the federal government. About 1 in 5 Virginia voters said they were currently or formerly employed by the federal government or as a federal contractor.
A voter fills out her ballot for the 2025 Virginia election at the Fairfax County Government Center voting center in Fairfax, Virginia, on Nov. 4, 2025.
Shawn Thew/EPA/Shutterstock
Other questions:
- Just over half of Virginia voters said the Trump administration’s actions on immigration enforcement have “gone too far.”
- About 6 in 10 Virginia voters said abortion should be legal in all or most cases.
- A slim majority of Virginia voters said support for transgender rights in society has gone too far.
What Virginia voters were looking for in a gubernatorial candidate:
About a third of Virginia voters said a candidate who shared their values was the quality that mattered most in deciding how they would vote for governor, followed by about 2 in 10 who said the candidate was honest and trustworthy and another about 2 in 10 who said the candidate would work for people like them. About the same proportion said they were looking for a candidate who would bring needed change, while fewer people said the most important thing was a candidate who had the right experience.
Virginia voters are mostly negative about the state of the country:
About 6 in 10 said they were dissatisfied or angry with the way things are going in the country today, including nearly 4 in 10 who said they were angry. About a third said they were excited or satisfied.
New Jersey
Taxes and the economy are the most important issues for New Jersey voters:
About 4 in 10 New Jersey voters said taxes were the most important issue facing New Jersey today, while about another third of voters said the economy was. Fewer mentioned health care, immigration or crime.
More on how New Jersey voters view the economy:
About 6 in 10 New Jersey voters said the state’s economy was “not so good” or “bad,” while about 4 in 10 said it was “excellent” or “good.”
About 6 in 10 New Jersey voters said their family’s financial situation was “remaining stable,” while about 1 in 10 said they were “ahead” and about a quarter were falling behind.
New Jersey voters are largely negative about property taxes, with about 7 in 10 saying they are “a major problem” where they live.
Additionally, about 6 in 10 New Jersey voters said electricity costs where they live were “a major problem.”
Voters arrive early at a polling place on Election Day in Montclair, New Jersey, on November 4, 2025.
Mike Segar/Reuters
Other questions:
- Just over half of New Jersey voters said the Trump administration’s actions on immigration enforcement have “gone too far,” while half said the next governor should cooperate with the Trump administration on immigration enforcement.
- More than 4 in 10 New Jersey voters said support for transgender rights in society has “gone too far,” according to a preliminary exit poll. About another quarter said they had not gone far enough and about a quarter said support for trans rights had been correct.
What New Jersey voters were looking for in a gubernatorial candidate:
About 3 in 10 voters in New Jersey said they were looking for a gubernatorial candidate who would bring needed change, while about a quarter said they wanted a candidate who shared their values and about 2 in 10 said they wanted someone who would work for people like them. Slightly fewer said they wanted a candidate who was honest and trustworthy, while fewer than 1 in 10 said they wanted a governor who was a strong leader.
Most New Jersey voters are negative about the state of the country:
About two-thirds of New Jersey voters said they were “dissatisfied” or “angry” about the way things are going in the country today, including about 4 in 10 who said they were angry. About a third said they were “excited” or “satisfied.”
Most New Jersey voters feel that political corruption is a big problem in the state:
About 9 in 10 New Jersey voters said they believe political corruption is a problem in New Jersey, including more than half who feel it is a “major problem.”
new york city
Cost of living is the most important issue for New York City voters:
More than half of voters in New York City said the cost of living was the most important issue facing the city, eclipsing the other issues measured in preliminary ABC News exit polls. Less than a quarter said crime was the most important issue, followed by about 1 in 10 who said immigration. Single-digit percentages said health care or transportation was most important.
New York City voters on cost of living and the economy:
- Nearly three-quarters of New York City voters said the cost of housing where they live is “a major problem.”
- About two-thirds of New York City voters said the city’s economy was “not so good” or “bad,” while only about a third said it was “excellent” or “good.”
- About 6 in 10 New York City voters said their families were “staying stable” financially, while about a quarter said they were falling behind and about one in six were doing better.
- About 6 in 10 New York City voters think raising city taxes would hurt the city’s economy the most. About a third said raising council taxes would improve the economy.
“I’m a future voter” stickers are available for children as people vote at a polling place in New York City on Nov. 4, 2025.
Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images
What New York City voters were looking for in a mayoral candidate:
New York City voters are fairly divided on the qualities of the candidates that mattered most to them. About a quarter said what they most wanted was a mayor who would bring needed change, while about 2 in 10 said what they most wanted was someone with the right experience or someone who would work for people like them. Fewer said they most valued a mayor who was honest and trustworthy or who was a strong leader.
Methodology
View the 2025 Exit Poll Methodology Statement on Scribd
