Democrat Analilia Mejia has won the special election in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, defeating Republican Joe Hathaway and securing the remainder of Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s term in the US House of Representatives. The victory slightly narrows the Republican majority in the chamber and continues a trend of Democratic success in recent special elections.
Mejia was considered the favorite in the Democratic leaning district, which was carried by Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election and later by Sherrill in the 2025 gubernatorial race. Backed by Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, Mejia campaigned on a platform focused on universal health care and child care, higher taxes on the wealthy and abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement. She also strongly criticized Donald Trump and criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Her path to victory began with a crowded Democratic primary, where she edged out several well known rivals with less than 30% of the vote. Mejia benefited from outside spending by the United Democracy Project, aligned with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which targeted another candidate. In the general election, Mejia maintained a fundraising advantage and strong support, raising over $1 million compared with Hathaway’s roughly $500,000. Republican outside spending remained limited, though a late digital ad attempted to link her to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
The relatively low profile race still saw strong Democratic turnout, reinforcing the party’s momentum in special elections since Trump returned to the White House. Mejia will serve until the next full election cycle, with a primary already scheduled for June ahead of the 2027 term.
The result highlights the continued strength of progressive candidates in Democratic leaning districts and underscores how special elections are shaping the balance of power in Congress. As both parties prepare for upcoming contests, the outcome may signal broader political trends heading into future national races.
