Democrat Analilia Mejia has won the special election in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, NBC News projected Thursday, defeating Republican Joe Hathaway and trimming the GOP’s narrow House majority.
Mejia, a progressive activist backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, will fill the remainder of the term vacated by Gov. Mikie Sherrill. Her victory reduces the Republican edge in the House to 218-214.
The race unfolded in a district that has consistently favored Democrats in recent years. Then-Vice President Kamala Harris carried the district by nine points in the 2024 presidential election, while Sherrill won it by a wider margin in her successful gubernatorial bid last year.
Mejia entered the general election as the clear favorite after narrowly emerging from a crowded Democratic primary field that included prominent figures such as former Rep. Tom Malinowski, former Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way and Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill. She secured the nomination with less than 30% of the vote.
Her campaign embraced a progressive platform, including proposals to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement, raise taxes on high earners and expand access to universal health care and child care. Mejia also ran as a vocal critic of President Donald Trump and Israeli policy in Gaza.
Financially, Mejia held a significant advantage over Hathaway, outraising him roughly two-to-one. Campaign filings show she brought in more than $1 million by the end of March, with a majority of donations coming from small-dollar contributors, while Hathaway raised about $500,000.
The general election remained relatively low-key, with limited outside spending. One super PAC, American Centerpoint, attempted to link Mejia to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani in late-stage digital ads, but the effort had little apparent impact on the race.
Hathaway, a Randolph Township council member who ran unopposed in the Republican primary, largely avoided focusing on Trump during the campaign and said he would not serve as a “rubber stamp” for the president.
Mejia’s victory continues a pattern of strong Democratic performance in special elections since Trump returned to office, particularly in districts with a clear partisan lean.
The win also underscores the growing influence of progressive candidates within the Democratic Party, even in districts previously represented by more centrist lawmakers.
A regularly scheduled primary will take place in June to determine who will compete for a full term representing the district beginning in 2027.
