Democrat Analilia Mejia defeated Republican Joe Hathaway Thursday in the New Jersey special election to replace Gov. Mikie Sherrill in Congress.
Mejia, a former top campaign aide to democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders, was projected by the Associated Press to win the race for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District shortly after polls closed at 8 p.m.
With more than half of votes counted, Mejia led Hathaway by a 33 percentage point margin – eclipsing Sherrill’s 15-point victory in the 2024 election.
Sherrill also won her current gig by 15 points in last year’s gubernatorial vote.
The Garden State’s 11th District, a former Republican stronghold that has shifted left since President Trump’s victory in 2016, has been rated solidly Democratic by the nonpartisan The Cook Political Report.
“We did the impossible, and we won,” Mejia told supporters at her victory party, describing herself as an “unbought, unbossed, sassy new member of Congress.”
She will serve out the remainder of Sherill’s term, which expires in January 2027.
Mejia was endorsed by “Squad” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and lefty Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass). She backs so-called “Medicare for all” and abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The incoming congresswoman has also been critical of Israel, accusing the Jewish State of carrying out a genocide in Gaza.
Hathaway, a former Yale University football player, aide to ex-Gov. Chris Christie and mayor of the town of Randolph, tried to use Mejia’s progressive credentials to his advantage.
“I’m running to bring common-sense leadership to DC & deliver results for our families, not push a far-left agenda,” Hathaway said in a recent social media post.
Hathaway and Mejia could square off again in November’s election for a full two-year term.
Mejia’s victory follows her upset win in February’s special House Democratic primary, where she defeated former Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-NJ).
Malinowski, who represented the neighboring 7th District from 2019 through 2023, had been so heavily favored in the race that multiple outlets erroneously projected him as the winner on primary night.
With Post wires
