NBC News projects that Mejia, a progressive activist, defeated Republican Joe Hathaway in the State’s Democratic-leaning 11th District.
Democrat Analilia Mejia has won the special election to fill New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s seat in the U.S. House, NBC News projects, defeating Republican Joe Hathaway.
Mejia, a progressive activist backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., entered Thursday’s contest in the state’s 11th Congressional District as the favorite. Then-Vice President Kamala Harris won the district by 9 points in the 2024 presidential election, while Sherrill carried it by 15 points in her gubernatorial campaign last year. And Mejia had outraised Hathaway, a Randolph Township councilman, by a 2-1 margin.
Mejia will now fill the remainder of Sherrill’s term and narrow Republicans’ House majority to 218-214.
She had narrowly advanced from a crowded primary earlier this year that featured veteran Democrats such as former Rep. Tom Malinowski, former Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way and Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill.
While the 11th District had previously been represented by a more centrist Democrat in Sherrill, Mejia, a former Sanders staffer, ran on a progressive platform that included raising taxes on the wealthy and calling for universal health care and child care. She has also been fiercely critical of Israel, saying it had committed genocide in the Gaza Strip.
Given the Democratic leaning of the district and the party’s success in special elections since President Donald Trump regained office last year, the general election in the 11th District was relatively quiet.
Mejia raised just more than $1 million by the end of March, according to the latest campaign finance reports, more than half of which came from contributions of less than $200. Hathaway raised $500,000 during that period.
American Centerpoint, a super PAC which backs candidates who support Israel, tried to attack Mejia by tying her to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist who was elected last fall, in the closing days of the race in a digital ad.
Hathaway, who ran opposed in the Republican primary, largely avoided talking about Trump on the campaign trail. He said during a debate earlier this month that he would not be a “rubber stamp” for Trump, who did not endorse Hathaway.
There will be a regularly scheduled primary in June to serve a full term in the 11th District.
Democrat Analilia Mejia has won the special election to fill New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s seat in the U.S. House, NBC News projects, defeating Republican Joe Hathaway.
Mejia, a progressive activist backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., entered Thursday’s contest in the state’s 11th Congressional District as the favorite. Then-Vice President Kamala Harris won the district by 9 points in the 2024 presidential election, while Sherrill carried it by 15 points in her gubernatorial campaign last year. And Mejia had outraised Hathaway, a Randolph Township councilman, by a 2-1 margin.
Mejia will now fill the remainder of Sherrill’s term and narrow Republicans’ House majority to 218-214.
She had narrowly advanced from a crowded primary earlier this year that featured veteran Democrats such as former Rep. Tom Malinowski, former Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way and Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill.
While the 11th District had previously been represented by a more centrist Democrat in Sherrill, Mejia, a former Sanders staffer, ran on a progressive platform that included raising taxes on the wealthy and calling for universal health care and child care. She has also been fiercely critical of Israel, saying it had committed genocide in the Gaza Strip.
Given the Democratic leaning of the district and the party’s success in special elections since President Donald Trump regained office last year, the general election in the 11th District was relatively quiet.
Mejia raised just more than $1 million by the end of March, according to the latest campaign finance reports, more than half of which came from contributions of less than $200. Hathaway raised $500,000 during that period.
American Centerpoint, a super PAC which backs candidates who support Israel, tried to attack Mejia by tying her to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist who was elected last fall, in the closing days of the race in a digital ad.
Hathaway, who ran opposed in the Republican primary, largely avoided talking about Trump on the campaign trail. He said during a debate earlier this month that he would not be a “rubber stamp” for Trump, who did not endorse Hathaway.
There will be a regularly scheduled primary in June to serve a full term in the 11th District.
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