Progressive organizer Analilia Mejia, a former senior aide on Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign, has won the Democratic primary for a special U.S. House election in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, positioning her as the favorite in the heavily Democratic seat ahead of an April general election.
Analilia Mejia, a progressive political organizer and co-executive director of the Center for Popular Democracy, won the Democratic primary for the special election in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, defeating former U.S. Rep. Tom Malinowski and a large field of other candidates.
The special election was scheduled after Rep. Mikie Sherrill resigned the seat following her election as governor of New Jersey. Gov. Phil Murphy set Feb. 5, 2026, as the date of the special primary and April 16, 2026, for the special general election.
Mejia’s victory was widely described as an upset in a fractured contest. The Associated Press reported she won with about 29% of the vote, and other outlets similarly characterized her win as unexpected given the crowded field.
Mejia is expected to be favored in the April 16 special general election in a district that has leaned Democratic in recent cycles. She is set to face Republican Joe Hathaway, the Randolph mayor, in the special election to serve out the remainder of Sherrill’s term.
Outside groups also drew attention in the race. Several reports focused on advertising by a super PAC aligned with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) that targeted Malinowski; multiple accounts said the spending appeared to backfire or otherwise became a central issue as Malinowski argued the ads misrepresented his positions.
Mejia has run on an agenda that includes populist economic proposals and support for abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Her views and potential influence within the Democratic caucus have also drawn scrutiny: Axios reported that, after her primary win, she declined to commit to supporting House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in a future leadership vote.
A separate, regularly scheduled primary and general election later in 2026 will determine who holds the seat for the next full term.
