NJ Congressional Races Heat Up: CD-11 & More in 2026

The race to fill New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District seat is getting uglier by the day, and Trenton’s own legislative chamber is generating its own kind of heat as the state’s political calendar enters a busy spring stretch.

In CD-11, Democrat Mikie Sherrill-aligned candidate Yvonne Mejia and Republican Tom Hathaway have sharpened their attacks heading into the special election. A Politico NJ analysis found that while Hathaway has shown some willingness to distance himself from President Trump, that posture alone may not move the district. Mejia, meanwhile, has worked to counter Republican narratives framing her candidacy. Both candidates marched in a St. Patrick’s Day parade over the weekend, keeping up the retail politics grind even as their campaigns trade sharper blows through the press.

The CD-11 race isn’t the only congressional contest drawing attention. In CD-2, Democrat Alexander picked up an endorsement from Ocean County Democrats. In CD-4, Peace earned the same Ocean County backing. In CD-7, Morris County Democrats held candidate screenings while Varela secured an endorsement from the Sussex County Democratic organization. Separate reporting notes that protesters have continued to push to confront Rep. Tom Kean Jr. at public events, and candidate Bennett locked up the Hunterdon County Democratic committee’s support. These primaries are shaping up to be competitive across multiple districts, and the endorsement season is moving fast.

Back in Trenton, Governor Sherrill’s budget proposal is already drawing scrutiny. Public hearings are scheduled to begin this week in the Legislature, and debate over the spending plan is intensifying. Sherrill, who has only been in the governor’s office a matter of weeks, delivered her budget address last week and, by most accounts, did not soft-pedal her priorities. The Sherrill administration followed up by highlighting favorable press coverage of the speech. Whether that budget survives contact with the Legislature intact is a question Trenton will be wrestling with through the spring.

Sherrill’s political brand is getting early attention, too. The NJ Herald characterizes her as building a new kind of pragmatic Democratic identity. Separately, she appeared at the HINJ forum to promote the state’s life sciences sector, a key piece of New Jersey’s economy and one that has significant federal funding exposure given ongoing debates in Washington over research and health spending.

On the Hill, Rep. Josh Gottheimer announced legislation focused on lowering utility costs for New Jersey residents. No details on the specific mechanism were available in Tuesday morning’s briefings, but utility affordability has been a persistent concern for the state’s working and middle-class households.

Closer to home, a dispute inside the State Assembly is pulling some attention. Assemblyman Bergen filed an ethics complaint against Assemblywoman Brennan over her introduction of a bill she titled the “F*ck ICE Act.” Bergen argued in his complaint that using official legislative instruments to advance what he called “vulgar messaging” undermines public confidence in deliberative governance. Brennan pushed back sharply, saying Bergen was wasting time on a bill’s name while she and colleagues were focused on protecting New Jersey residents from what they describe as masked immigration enforcement agents operating in the state.

The exchange captures a broader tension running through New Jersey politics right now. Immigration enforcement activity has generated real anxiety in communities across the state, particularly in cities with large immigrant populations. Democrats in the Legislature have been racing to position themselves as a check on federal ICE operations, and the “F*ck ICE Act,” whatever its fate, reflects how charged that issue has become.

On the local front, an Ocean County College dean faces serious allegations after being accused of paying a child for sex, according to the Press of Atlantic City. And a NJ.com report raised questions about Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway, who reportedly turned down the school’s historic hilltop presidential residence but allowed his daughter to live there rent-free.

The NJGOP held its annual Freedom Gala over the weekend, and Mercury public affairs named Juan Melli as a new partner.

Spring is arriving with a full plate for New Jersey politics, and none of it is slowing down.