On Nov. 5, Pennsylvania voters visited the John and Joan Mullen Center for the Performing Arts to cast votes.

Although the line did not snake around the Mullen Center quite like it did during last year, voters still recognized the importance of Election Day in 2025.

Along with Pennsylvania residents, students at Villanova University are eligible to register to vote in the Pennsylvania elections.  Representatives from #Let’sVoteNova hosted a table outside the Mullen Center to help.

“We were sitting outside greeting voters, and making sure if they had questions, we were there to answer them,” said Megan Lawn, sophomore volunteer with #Let’sVoteNova. “Some people were just checking their registration to see if they were active and coming up with questions for mail-in ballots as well. We weren’t working inside, just outside helping.” 

Pennsylvania

This year, three Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justices were running for a retention vote. PA voters voted “yes” or “no” to retain Justices Kevin Dougherty, Christine Donohue and David Wecht. 

Each Justice received a sweeping majority “yes” vote, and each will continue to serve for another 10-year term. With this retention vote, the Democrats maintain their 5-2 majority in the Court.

New Jersey

The race for New Jersey governor was contentious. Democratic candidate Mikie Sherrill won by a large margin over Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli. 

​ Sherrill is the second-elected female governor of New Jersey. Prior to running for governor, she served in Congress as a representative in the United States House of Representatives for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District since Jan. 2019. Prior to that, she worked in the United States Attorney’s office in New Jersey. She also served on active duty with the United States Navy for about 10 years. 

​ Sherrill’s victory speech outlined her hopes for New Jersey. She credited Ciattarelli for calling her after conceding the election. 

She concluded her victory speech with a quotation from Bruce Springsteen: “The future is now. Roll up your sleeves, let your passions flow. The country we carry in our hearts is waiting.”

​ Sherrill’s speech resonated with senior Kaitlin Gibson. 

“I heard that, and I was, like, ‘yeah, you’re right, Mikie,’” Gibson said. “Towards the end, she talks about the Statue of Liberty and New Jersey being a promise for freedom and hope…I thought, it made me very proud of my state.”

Virginia

​ Democratic candidate Abigail Spanberger won by a large margin over Republican opponent Winsome Earle-Sears. Spanberger is the first-elected female to serve as governor of Virginia.

Prior to running for governor, Spanberger served as a representative in the House of Representatives for Virginia’s 7th Congressional District from Jan. 2019 until Jan. 2025. She also worked as a case officer for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.

Spanberger and Sherrill were roommates during their first year as members of Congress in the House of Representatives. Spanberger’s victory speech highlighted her mission to be an advocate for all Virginians, regardless of political affiliation. 

“And to those Virginians who did not vote for me, I want you to know that my goal and my intent is to serve all Virginians,” Spanberger said. “And that means that I will listen to you. I will work for you and with you.”

Spanberger’s platform and style of campaigning appealed to senior Maddie Cadin.

“I think she really does a good job of listening to what people are, like, asking for and wanting,” Cadin said. “She really, like, sits with it, and thinks about it, and tries to come up with a solution for everybody, and to take in both sides. I think she really is for the people, which is what the role of governor, or anyone in politics, should be.”

California

​California voters had to vote in favor or against Proposition 50, a measure that would redraw the state’s Congressional district lines. 

This proposition was devised in response to the redistricting in Texas that flipped five seats from Democrat to Republican. Proposition 50 would negate those five seats by redistricting to the Democrats. 

The new California district map was drawn and passed by the Democratic-majority state Legislature. California Governor Gavin Newsom also advocated for it. Proposition 50 received a sweeping majority of “yes” votes.

Election Day in 2025 is considered a “Democratic sweep” regarding the influental Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, California, and also the New York City mayoral race.