A year after Donald Trump swept to power, Republicans face their first major test at the polls, with voters in two of the most populous US states set to deliver their verdict on the president's return to the White House.Â
The high-profile mayoral contest in New York City may be grabbing the headlines, but the races for the governor's mansions in New Jersey and Virginia -- home to a combined 18 million people -- offer a sharper preview of next year's midterm elections.
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