Former President Barack Obama was as close as North Jersey but still only talked by phone with New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani over the weekend — and withheld endorsing him.

A Democratic Socialists of America leader says New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani offers a "powerful way forward" for Democrats — but some moderates worry he'll hand the GOP "a pretty potent set of weapons" in next year's midterms.

While Tuesday's elections don't involve the presidency or control of Congress, there are plenty of intriguing statewide and local races and ballot measures to watch.

The New York City mayoral candidate's anecdote about an aunt who faced Islamophobia after 9/11 prompted accusations that he fabricated the story.