Analilia Mejia has won the NJ-11 special election, defeating Republican Joe Hathaway by a 20-point margin, with about 95% of precincts reporting.
In a breakdown of each county’s turnout, Mejia beat Hathaway in his home county of Morris, where she received roughly 54% of the vote. In her home county of Essex, Mejia decisively earning 71% of the vote. However, Passaic County was the only county that went for Hathaway, who carried the county by about one point. Out of the 4 towns in the district, Wayne and Totowa helped secure the county for Joe.
Mejia, 48, from Glen Ridge, will now become one of the most progressive members of Congress. Mejia now becomes the second woman ever to represent New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District and becomes the first woman in NJ political history to succeed a woman in Congress. She will now serve in Congress until Sherrill’s term expires next year on January 3.
With the special election now in the rear-view mirror, both candidates will take part in their respective parties’ primary elections. Joe Hathaway is the presumptive Republican nominee since he is running unopposed, while Analilia Mejia faces challenges from 3 other Democrats.
Hathaway currently has approximately $52,000 in cash on hand, while Mejia has nearly $421,000 as of the end of quarter 1 reporting.
Note: This piece was updated on April 20 to reflect how the race went.
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