TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Tom Malinowski, a former congressman, has conceded defeat in the tightly contested Democratic primary for New Jersey’s U.S. House special election to Analilia Mejia, a prominent progressive activist. Mejia previously served as the political director for Senator Bernie Sanders and has been a long-time advocate for progressive causes.
The special election is necessitated by the recent resignation of Mikie Sherrill, who stepped down to take on the role of governor. In a statement, Malinowski expressed his support for Mejia, saying, “I look forward to supporting her in the April general election.”
Analilia Mejia garnered a narrow lead over Malinowski on election night, although the Associated Press has yet to formally call the race. Election results are still pending as all three counties within the district reported outstanding mail-in ballots that have yet to be processed. Additionally, mail-in ballots postmarked by election day can still be counted if they arrive by Wednesday.
Mejia received endorsements from notable progressive figures, including Senator Bernie Sanders, who is an independent from Vermont, and U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. At 48, Mejia is a well-established figure in New Jersey politics, having previously served as the director of the Working Families Alliance. She also held the position of deputy director of the Labor Department’s Women’s Bureau under President Joe Biden during his administration.
The upcoming special general election, scheduled for April 16, will see Mejia facing Republican Joe Hathaway, who ran unopposed in his primary. Other prominent Democrats in the primary contest included Brendan Gill, an elected commissioner in Essex County, and Tahesha Way, who was lieutenant governor and secretary of state for two terms until last month. The ballot also featured several other candidates, including John Bartlett, Zach Beecher, J-L Cauvin, Marc Chaaban, Cammie Croft, Dean Dafis, Jeff Grayzel, Justin Strickland, and Anna Lee Williams.
This congressional district encompasses parts of Essex, Morris, and Passaic counties in northern New Jersey, which includes some of the wealthier suburbs of New York City. Mikie Sherrill successfully represented the district for four terms, having first won election in 2018. This victory was particularly notable given the region's historical alignment with the Republican Party, a trend that has been shifting since the early years of President Donald Trump’s administration.
The outcome of this primary sets the stage for a crucial general election where issues surrounding progressive policies and the changing political landscape in New Jersey will be at the forefront. Mejia's strong progressive stance and her connections within the party may play a significant role in the upcoming election as she seeks to secure her place in Congress.
