Off year votes test parties amid shutdown | JQJO

Voters in New Jersey, Virginia and New York City head to the polls Tuesday, while Californians weigh a Democratic plan to redraw the congressional map. The results are seen as a pulse check on the country and a preview of the 2026 midterms, as an ABC News Washington Post Ipsos poll finds two thirds say the nation is on the wrong track. Majorities blame President Donald Trump for inflation and disapprove of his economic handling, while many view both parties as out of touch. With the federal government shut down, ballots could signal pressure to end the stalemate.