Democrat Analilia Mejia won the special election for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District on Thursday, filling the seat vacated by Gov. Mikie Sherrill. The Associated Press called the race shortly after polls closed, with Mejia leading Republican opponent Joe Hathaway by a significant margin.
Mejia, a progressive activist and former leader of the Working Families Alliance, campaigned on a platform opposing President Donald Trump and advocating for policies such as abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), raising the minimum wage to $25, and expanding universal healthcare and childcare. Her victory ensures Democrats retain the seat, which Sherrill held before becoming governor.
The district, which encompasses parts of Essex, Morris, and Passaic counties, has become increasingly Democratic since Trump’s first term. Voter registration records show Democrats outnumber Republicans by over 60,000 in the district. Mejia’s win narrows Republicans’ narrow House majority and adds to a series of recent Democratic successes in special elections ahead of the midterm elections.
Mejia emerged from a crowded Democratic primary in February, defeating more moderate candidates, including former Rep. Tom Malinowski. She received endorsements from progressive leaders such as Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Her campaign emphasized holding Trump accountable, taxing billionaires, and guaranteeing universal healthcare and childcare.
Republican ads during the campaign painted Mejia as a socialist, a label she rejected. She will serve the remainder of Sherrill’s term, which ends in January. The election results reflect the district’s Democratic lean, with former Vice President Kamala Harris carrying it by 9 points in the 2024 presidential election and Sherrill winning by 15 points in her gubernatorial race last November.
The special election was closely watched as a bellwether for the midterms, with Democrats hoping to build momentum ahead of the November elections. Mejia’s victory adds to a string of Democratic gains in recent special elections, including wins in Florida and Georgia.