Progressive candidate Analilia Mejia emerged victorious in the Democratic primary special election in New Jersey’s 11th district on February 10th.
On February 10th, Mejia, the progressive Democratic candidate in New Jersey, defeated her opponent, former Democratic US Congressman Tom Malinowski, to become the Democratic nominee for the special election in New Jersey’s 11th district set for April.
Mejia will be vying for the seat that was vacated by Governor Mikie Sherrill in the US House of Representatives. This district is located in the northwest part of the New York metropolitan area, covering Parsippany.
Malinowski previously represented New Jersey’s 7th district, and his congressional term lasted until 2023.
Following her victory, Mejia posted a GIF image of Puerto Rican rapper “Bad Bunny” at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards on social media to celebrate. She mentioned that her campaign team will make announcements from their headquarters in New Jersey soon.
After being elected as New Jersey’s 57th governor in November 2025, Sherrill officially resigned from her congressional seat on November 20, 2025. This vacancy led to the need for a special election to fill the seat. Sherrill assumed office as governor on January 20.
On April 16, Mejia will represent the Democratic Party in the special election, facing Republican candidate Joe Hathaway.
Mejia is a descendant of Colombian and Dominican immigrants, born and raised in New Jersey. She often speaks about witnessing her mother work multiple jobs to make ends meet during her childhood, leading her to prioritize labor and family issues.
Regarding immigration policy, Mejia advocates for the abolition or fundamental reform of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). On healthcare issues, she supports the establishment of universal healthcare and paid sick leave.
Mejia has garnered endorsements from various progressive political figures and organizations within the Democratic Party, including Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, as well as Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and several labor unions and progressive groups.
The midterm elections are scheduled for November 3, meaning that the winner of the special election on April 6 must run again this year if they seek to seek re-election in the 120th Congress for a full two-year term.
The primary elections for the midterm elections will take place in June.
(This article refers to reporting from The Epoch Times)