Analilia Mejia, a progressive Democrat, pulled off a decisive win against a Republican opponent to serve the remaining term of a vacant New Jersey House seat.
The seat, representing New Jersey's 11th congressional district, was left empty after former Rep. Mikie Sherrill won the 2025 gubernatorial election. Mejia will remain in the seat for the next eight months, but that doesn't mean it's the end of her campaign efforts. To run in the November 2026 midterm election and nab a full two-year term in the seat, the progressive New Jersey organizer will need to win the Democratic midterm primary in June.
The race was primarily between Mejia and Republican Joe Hathaway, a councilmember of Randolph, New Jersey. Mejia was the frontrunner in the general special election, but faced a crowded and costly Democratic primary in February that saw millions in outside spending. Hathaway was unopposed in his primary.
Mejia's win further narrows House Republicans' tight majority in the U.S. House.