Democrat Analilia Mejia and Republican Joe Hathaway Compete for NJ House Seat

Mejia looks to expand Democratic momentum as the two vie for the U.S. House seat vacated by Mikie Sherrill.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 10:36am

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A serene, photorealistic painting of a lone campaign sign or podium in a dimly lit urban setting, with warm sunlight casting dramatic shadows across the scene, conveying a sense of quiet contemplation and the weight of political change.As the political landscape shifts, a special election in New Jersey's 11th District could reshape the balance of power in Congress.Passaic Today

Analilia Mejia, a former head of the Working Families Alliance, and Republican Joe Hathaway, a council member in suburban Randolph, are competing in a special election on Thursday to fill the U.S. House seat vacated by Mikie Sherrill when she was elected New Jersey governor. The contest will decide which party controls the seat in the closely divided House, with the midterms of President Donald Trump's second term on the horizon.

Why it matters

The 11th District, which covers parts of Essex, Morris and Passaic counties in northern New Jersey's wealthy suburbs, was long a Republican stronghold but has become increasingly Democratic since Trump's first term. The winner will serve out the final months of Sherrill's term, and the two could meet again in November.

The details

Mejia, who has support from Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, emerged from a crowded Democratic primary in February, while Hathaway, a former Yale University football player who has worked in health care and finance, was unchallenged. Mejia has cast the race as a fight for democracy and criticized the president over pardoning Jan. 6 insurrection participants and freezing funding Congress has authorized. Hathaway has seized on Mejia's progressive credentials, and national Republicans have cast her as a socialist.

  • The special election is on Thursday, April 16, 2026.
  • The winner will serve out the final months of Sherrill's term, which ends in January.

The players

Analilia Mejia

A former head of the Working Families Alliance who has support from Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders. She emerged from a crowded Democratic primary in February.

Joe Hathaway

A council member in suburban Randolph who was unchallenged in the Republican primary. He is a former Yale University football player who has worked in health care and finance.

Mikie Sherrill

The former U.S. House member whose seat is now vacant after she was elected New Jersey governor.

Donald Trump

The former president whose second term is on the horizon, with the midterms coming up.

Saran Cunningham

An 86-year-old retired special educator who initially was reluctant to support Mejia but now plans to vote for her.

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What they’re saying

“The people here are ready to do something about it. We're not here to write strongly worded letters. Congress has real power.”

— Analilia Mejia, Candidate

“I'm running to bring common-sense leadership to D.C & deliver results for our families, not push a far-left agenda.”

— Joe Hathaway, Candidate

“I think we've been tilting a little bit more to the right lately, which worries me. I think that we need people in Congress who will fight for things that will help people as opposed to hurting them.”

— Saran Cunningham, Retired special educator

“They want borders wide open. They don't want to enforce existing immigration laws. It's an extraordinary thing to watch.”

— Rob Berkowitz, Conservative voter

What’s next

The winner of the special election will serve out the final months of Sherrill's term, and both Mejia and Hathaway are also running for the next two-year term that begins in January.

The takeaway

This race is a key battleground in the fight for control of the House, with the two candidates offering starkly different visions for the district and the country. The outcome could have significant implications for the final years of the Trump presidency.