Progressive Analilia Mejía Wins New Jersey House Special Election

Democrat's victory adds to string of wins for progressives heading into midterms

Apr. 17, 2026 at 2:08am

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A dynamic, abstract painting featuring overlapping, fractured geometric shapes in shades of blue, green, and purple, conceptually representing the progressive energy behind Analilia Mejía's election victory.Mejía's progressive victory in the New Jersey special election adds to a string of wins for the Democratic Party's left wing.Passaic Today

Democrat Analilia Mejía won a special election for a U.S. House seat in New Jersey on Thursday, defeating Republican Joe Hathaway. Mejía, a former head of the Working Families Alliance, campaigned on a progressive platform of standing up to President Trump and defending liberal policies. Her victory keeps the 11th District seat in Democratic hands and is seen as a win for the party's progressive wing.

Why it matters

Mejía's victory is the latest in a string of wins for progressives, adding to momentum heading into the 2022 midterm elections. The 11th District has become increasingly Democratic in recent years, flipping from Republican to Democratic control in 2018. Mejía's win demonstrates the strength of the progressive movement within the party.

The details

Mejía, 48, defeated Hathaway, 38, on a message of standing up to Trump and defending progressive policies like better healthcare and education. She criticized Hathaway as being too far to the right. Mejía emerged from a crowded Democratic primary in February, winning the endorsement of figures like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Hathaway tried to use Mejía's progressive credentials against her, casting her as a socialist, but was unable to overcome her momentum.

  • The special election was held on Thursday, April 17, 2026.
  • Mejía will serve until January, filling the seat previously held by Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill.

The players

Analilia Mejía

A 48-year-old Democrat who won the special election for New Jersey's 11th Congressional District. She is a former head of the Working Families Alliance and had the support of progressive figures like Bernie Sanders.

Joe Hathaway

The 38-year-old Republican candidate who ran against Mejía. He tried to cast her as too progressive for the district.

Mikie Sherrill

The previous Democratic representative for New Jersey's 11th Congressional District, who left the seat to become governor.

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What they’re saying

“It is not radical to say that a worker who toils every day cannot make ends meet, that they deserve justice, that they deserve higher wages. That is not radical, that is good conscience. That is a good economy.”

— Analilia Mejía

“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.”

— Rob Berkowitz, Conservative voter

What’s next

Mejía and Hathaway could face off again in November's election for a full two-year term.

The takeaway

Mejía's victory in the New Jersey special election is the latest win for progressives within the Democratic Party, adding to momentum heading into the 2022 midterm elections. Her campaign focused on standing up to Trump and defending liberal policies, resonating with voters in the increasingly Democratic 11th District.