Mejia Wins NJ 11th District Special Election by 20 Points

Analilia Mejia won the 11th Congressional District special election Thursday, defeating Republican Joe Hathaway by nearly 20 percentage points to claim the seat left open when Mikie Sherrill became governor.

With 94% of the vote counted, Mejia held 77,620 votes, or 59.5%, against Hathaway’s 52,122, or 40%, according to the Associated Press. She carried Essex County by more than 40 points and flipped Morris County, a longtime Republican stronghold, by roughly 8 points. She even won Hathaway’s home base of Randolph. Hathaway led by less than 1% in the Passaic County portion of the district.

The margin drew immediate attention from state party leaders on both sides.

Senator Bramnick blamed the loss on broader anti-Trump sentiment rather than any failure specific to Hathaway. “Joe Hathaway was a terrific candidate,” Bramnick said, as reported by InsiderNJ. “He suffered a ‘Jack type loss.’ This was another example of passion against the Trump administration. The ‘Jack type losses’ will continue until voters are convinced we are ‘the New Jersey Republican Party’ with our historic principles.”

NJDSC Chairman Jones went further, saying Mejia’s victory would reverberate across the country. Jones labeled President Trump the “anti-Christ” in his remarks touting the win.

Mejia didn’t pull punches in her own victory speech. “We find ourselves living in the most trying times,” she said, adding that she “did not come to play” and “came to fight.” She also addressed Hathaway directly, saying he “spent his whole campaign calling me names” and labeling her a “radical.”

Hathaway congratulated Mejia but questioned the “structure and timing of the process” set by what he called a “partisan governor.”

Democratic overperformance showed up across much of the district. One notable exception: precincts with the largest Jewish populations swung sharply against Mejia, according to NJ Globe reporting on the results. The shift didn’t cost her the race, but it’s a signal both camps will read carefully heading into the fall.

Mejia won’t get long to celebrate. She faces primary challengers in June before the general election rematch against Hathaway in November. Both candidates are already preparing for round two.

The CD-11 result lands in the middle of a crowded New Jersey political calendar. Governor Sherrill is pushing a sales tax increase during the 2026 World Cup games, framing it as a tourism fee, according to NJ Monitor. NJ Transit is wrestling with how to move tens of thousands of fans to and from matches, with capacity and scheduling concerns still unresolved. Democrats who campaigned on affordability now find themselves explaining why FIFA’s arrival means higher costs for residents and visitors.

American Dream, the Meadowlands complex that spent years promising to become a destination, is opening a 3,000-seat performing arts center, according to NJ Biz. Whether it delivers is something East Rutherford and Bergen County residents have heard before.

Lt. Governor Caldwell told NJ Globe that the state’s elections are secure, pushing back on safety concerns circulating ahead of the fall cycle.

Gambling trends continue to shift. In-person play at Atlantic City casinos is falling behind online wagering, according to the Press of Atlantic City. The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement tracks those numbers closely, and the gap has been widening.

Former Governor Chris Christie reportedly bought a $1.5 million co-op in New York City, according to reporting cited in Thursday’s morning briefing. No comment from Christie’s office was available.

The NJ Hall of Fame announced 60 nominees for a public vote, giving residents a say in who gets recognized next.