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Passaic Today
By the People, for the People
New Jersey's 11th District Holds Special Congressional Election
Tight race between Democrat Analilia Mejia and Republican Joe Hathaway to fill seat vacated by Gov. Mikie Sherrill
Apr. 15, 2026 at 4:18pm
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The special election in New Jersey's 11th District will be a closely watched political battle with national implications.Passaic TodayResidents of New Jersey's 11th Congressional District will vote in a special election on Thursday to fill the U.S. House seat most recently held by Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill. The major party nominees are Democrat Analilia Mejia, a progressive organizer, and Republican Joe Hathaway, a local council member. The race is seen as a key test for both parties as Republicans aim to maintain their slim majority in the House.
Why it matters
A Democratic victory in this Democratic-leaning district would further narrow the Republican majority in the House, while a Republican win would bolster the party's hold on the chamber. The race has also focused on foreign policy issues, with the candidates taking different stances on U.S. support for Israel.
The details
Mejia, who had the backing of prominent progressives, narrowly won the Democratic primary against a crowded field that included former Rep. Tom Malinowski. Hathaway ran unopposed for the Republican nomination. The candidates have clashed over Israel, with Mejia criticizing the Israeli government's actions in Gaza and Hathaway voicing unwavering support for the U.S. ally.
- Polls close at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, April 18, 2026.
- As of April 1, there were about 603,000 registered voters in the 11th Congressional District.
- More than 68,000 ballots were cast in the Feb. 5 Democratic special primary and about 16,000 in the Republican contest.
- About 394,000 votes were cast in the 2024 general election, with nearly half cast before Election Day.
- As of Monday, about 54,000 votes had already been cast in the special election.
The players
Analilia Mejia
The Democratic nominee, a longtime progressive organizer and former Labor Department official who had the early backing of prominent progressives like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Joe Hathaway
The Republican nominee, a member of the Randolph Township Council who has voiced unwavering support for Israel and opposes putting conditions on U.S. aid to the country.
Mikie Sherrill
The former Democratic congresswoman who vacated the 11th District seat after being elected governor of New Jersey.
What they’re saying
“I believe Israel committed genocide in Gaza. Netanyahu is a war criminal.”
— Analilia Mejia, Democratic Nominee
“The U.S. should stand in lockstep with Israel and not put conditions on aid to an ally.”
— Joe Hathaway, Republican Nominee
What’s next
The AP will provide vote results and declare a winner in the special congressional election. If the race is close, a recount may be requested, but the AP will declare a winner if it determines the lead is too large to be overcome.
The takeaway
This special election in New Jersey's 11th District is a key test for both parties as they vie for control of the House. The candidates' divergent views on U.S. support for Israel have also made foreign policy a central issue in the campaign.
