Mejia Wins NJ-11 Special, Elevating New Jersey's Progressive Wing

Analilia Mejia defeated Republican Joe Hathaway 60%–40% in the NJ-11 special election (about 77,620 to 52,122 votes), keeping the seat in Democratic hands and overperforming Kamala Harris’s district margin by roughly 12 points. The win signals a rise for the progressive movement in New Jersey, with Mejia likely to be sworn in soon and facing a June primary and a possible November rematch. Her victory also makes a majority of New Jersey’s federal offices held by people of color for the first time, and she succeeds Mikie Sherrill in a district that includes liberal towns like Montclair and Maplewood.