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Passaic Today
By the People, for the People
New Jersey's 11th District Holds Special Congressional Election
Voters in the Democratic-leaning district will choose a replacement for former Rep. Mikie Sherrill, now the state's governor.
Apr. 15, 2026 at 11:34am
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This special election in New Jersey's 11th District could impact the balance of power in the House of Representatives.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 councilman. The race has focused on issues like U.S. support for Israel and the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.
Why it matters
A Democratic victory would further narrow the slim Republican majority in the House, while a Republican win would maintain the status quo. The 11th District has trended Democratic in recent elections, but the special election could see lower turnout than a regular midterm.
The details
Mejia, who has 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 U.S. policy toward Israel, with Mejia criticizing the Israeli government and Hathaway voicing staunch support. Mejia has raised about $1.1 million, while Hathaway has raised $525,000.
- Polls close at 8 p.m. on election day, Thursday, April 17, 2026.
- As of April 1, there were about 603,000 registered voters in the 11th District.
- More than 68,000 ballots were cast in the Feb. 5 Democratic primary, and about 16,000 in the Republican contest.
- About 54,000 votes had already been cast as of Monday, with Democrats accounting for about 34,000 of those.
The players
Analilia Mejia
The Democratic nominee, a longtime progressive organizer and former Labor Department official.
Joe Hathaway
The Republican nominee, a member of the Randolph Township Council.
Mikie Sherrill
The former Democratic representative of the 11th District, who is now the governor of New Jersey.
Tom Malinowski
A former Democratic representative who ran in the primary but lost to Mejia.
Benjamin Netanyahu
The current Prime Minister of Israel.
What they’re saying
“I believe Israel committed genocide in Gaza.”
— Analilia Mejia, Democratic Nominee
“The U.S. should stand in lockstep with Israel and opposes putting conditions on aid to an ally.”
— Joe Hathaway, Republican Nominee
What’s next
The AP will declare a winner in the special election once it is determined there is no scenario that would allow the trailing candidate to close the gap. New Jersey does not have automatic recounts, but candidates and voters may request and pay for them, with the cost refunded if the outcome changes.
The takeaway
This special election in New Jersey's 11th District will be closely watched as it could impact the balance of power in the House of Representatives. The race has highlighted divisions over U.S. policy toward Israel, an issue that has become increasingly partisan.
