NJ CD-11 Special Election Day: Mejia vs. Hathaway 2026

New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District reaches a verdict today as voters choose between Democrat Milagros Mejia and Republican Hathaway in a special general election that has drawn national attention to a seat once held by Governor Milagros Sherrill.

Sherrill, who told reporters she speaks with President Trump “not often,” said she expects a strong result for Mejia. The governor stumped for Mejia in the district’s final campaign days, a signal of how much Democrats have invested in holding the seat.

InsiderNJ reported that the national spotlight has fixed firmly on CD-11, with both campaigns pressing every available hour before polls close.

The congressional race isn’t the only front where New Jersey Democrats are maneuvering. Sherrill’s national PAC has raised over $1 million, according to NJ Globe, as the governor builds a broader political operation while managing a state approval rating sitting at 45 percent. She signed nuclear power legislation this week, a move that could shore up her standing with moderate voters who back reliable baseload energy.

Elsewhere on the congressional map, the CD-7 primary is getting complicated. Make The Road Action endorsed Varela. A couple also complained that candidate Shah used their photo in a mailer without permission, according to NJ Globe. Meanwhile, candidate Bennett has leaned into her military background as the primary field looks for contrast.

In CD-2, Democratic primary candidates are set to debate, according to the Sandpaper.

Away from the campaigns, New Jersey health officials are in a dispute with a Hudson County hospital, according to NJ Monitor. The details of the standoff weren’t fully disclosed, but the conflict comes as state regulators have been more aggressive in asserting oversight authority over hospital systems.

Bergen County’s week of service kicks off next week, and the county’s long-standing blue laws are showing cracks, according to NJ101.5. Ocean County adopted its budget this week, according to Jersey Shore Online.

Drug-related deaths in Atlantic County dropped, the Press of Atlantic City reported. That’s real progress in a county that has seen years of sustained harm from the opioid crisis.

That’s real progress.

The state is also deep in final preparations for the World Cup. NJ Chamber of Commerce President Bracken told ROI-NJ that businesses are actively working through what the tournament will demand, from supply chains to staffing to hospitality capacity.

On schools, NJDOE Commissioner Laux said the state’s school funding formula needs to change, according to NJ Monitor. Laux didn’t specify a preferred replacement structure in the reporting, but the acknowledgment from the commissioner puts the issue squarely on the legislative agenda heading into budget season.

The nonprofit 180 Turning Lives Around hosted an event marking the launch of “Hope In Dark Light,” a student-led initiative. Sharon Levine was named director of the Start Strong NJ child care campaign, a program focused on expanding access to early education across the state.

Rep. Kean continued to miss votes due to an unspecified medical issue, according to NJ Globe. His office hasn’t detailed the condition or a timeline for his return.

A Rutgers-Eagleton poll found that New Jerseyans give below-average marks to both the national economy and the state economy. That kind of dual pessimism can complicate the picture for incumbents at every level, and it’s a number Sherrill’s team will be watching closely as she heads toward a re-election cycle.

Former Governor Christie got into it with a protester at a Rahm Emanuel forum at Drew University in Madison, according to Morristown Green. Christie didn’t back down.

Trout season is underway statewide, according to the Sandpaper. ELEC825’s Lalevee argued that natural gas isn’t a political issue but a practical one, according to BINJE. And New Jersey’s World Cup planning continues with the tournament months away and stadiums, transit corridors, and security logistics all still in motion.