Trump's shadow looms large over heated races one month before Election Day

His name isn't on the ballot, but President Donald Trump's unprecedented second-term agenda and the federal government shutdown are top of mind on the campaign trail with one month to go until Election Day 2025. In the spotlight this November are New Jersey and Virginia, the only two states to hold gubernatorial contests the year after a presidential election. The races, which traditionally grab outsized national attention, are viewed as crucial early tests of Trump's popularity and agenda, and key barometers ahead of next year's midterm showdowns for the U.S. House and Senate.Also in the poli