Democrat Analilia Mejia wins New Jersey special election to fill Gov. Mikie Sherrill's House seat

BREAKING NEWSApr. 17, 2026, 12:25 AM UTC2026 Election2026 ElectionDemocrat Analilia Mejia wins New Jersey special election to fill Gov. Mikie Sherrill's House seatNBC News projects that Mejia, a progressive activist, defeated Republican Joe Hathaway in the Democratic-leaning 11th District.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Add NBC News to GoogleDemocrat Analilia Mejia projected winner in New Jersey House race02:37Get more newsLiveonShareAdd NBC News to GoogleBy Owen Auston-BabcockDemocrat Analilia Mejia has won the special election to fill New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s seat in the U.S. House, NBC News projects, defeating Republican Joe Hathaway.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Mejia, a progressive activist backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., entered Thursday’s contest in the 11th Congressional District as the favorite. Then-Vice President Kamala Harris won the district by 9 points in the 2024 presidential election, while Sherrill carried it by 15 points in her campaign for governor last year. And Mejia had outraised Hathaway, a Randolph Township Council member, by a 2-to-1 ratio.Mejia will fill the rest of Sherrill’s term and narrow Republicans’ House majority to 218-214. She narrowly advanced from a crowded primary this year that featured veteran Democrats such as former Rep. Tom Malinowski, former Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way and Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill. While the 11th District had been represented by a more centrist Democrat in Sherrill, Mejia, a former Sanders staffer, ran on a progressive platform that included raising taxes on the wealthy and calling for universal health care and child care. She has also been fiercely critical of Israel, saying it has committed genocide in the Gaza Strip.Given the Democratic leaning of the district and the party’s success in special elections since President Donald Trump regained offic...