Voters in New Jersey’s 11th congressional district are heading to the polls today in a special election that could tighten the Republican House majority to its absolute limit, pitting progressive Democrat Analilia Mejia against Republican Joe Hathaway in a district that Democrats carried by 9 points in 2024.
Summary
- The NJ special election fills the seat vacated by Governor Mikie Sherrill, who resigned from Congress in November 2025 after winning the governorship; Democrats hold a 65,000-voter registration advantage in the district.
- A Mejia win would leave House Speaker Mike Johnson able to lose just two GOP votes on party-line legislation, down from the current razor-thin margin of 218 Republican seats plus one independent.
- Mejia, backed by Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren, ran on taxing billionaires and holding Trump accountable; Hathaway positioned himself as a moderate Republican who would not be a “rubber stamp” for the president.
New Jersey voters are deciding today which party fills the vacant House seat in the 11th congressional district, a race that has drawn national attention because of its direct impact on the GOP’s already razor-thin House majority. Progressive Democrat Analilia Mejia faces Republican Joe Hathaway in a district with roughly 65,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans.
The seat opened when Mikie Sherrill resigned in November 2025 after winning the New Jersey governorship. Cook Political Report rated the race “Solid D,” and a March GBAO poll had Mejia leading 53% to 36%.
Republicans currently hold 218 House seats plus one independent who caucuses with them. Democrats hold 213, with four seats vacant. A Mejia win would reduce the GOP margin further, leaving Speaker Mike Johnson able to lose just two Republican votes on any party-line legislation without Democratic support.
That thinning margin has already been felt in 2026. As crypto.news reported, House Republicans are currently deadlocked over FISA reauthorization and budget reconciliation, consuming legislative bandwidth at the exact moment the CLARITY Act needs Senate Banking Committee attention before midterm politics close the window. A narrower majority makes every defection more consequential.
Who the Candidates Are
Mejia, 48, is a progressive activist and former national political director for Senator Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign. She won a crowded February primary by narrowly defeating former Congressman Tom Malinowski, whose campaign was broadly seen as damaged by a $2 million ad blitz from a super PAC aligned with AIPAC that backfired with Democratic primary voters. Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez endorsed Mejia. Her platform centers on taxing billionaires, universal healthcare, holding Trump accountable, and affordability.
Hathaway, 38, is a Randolph Township councilman and former mayor. He ran as a self-described “commonsense, independent” Republican, repeatedly distancing himself from Trump. “I won’t be a rubber stamp,” he said at an April debate. Trump has not endorsed Hathaway. Hathaway raised $500,000 by end of March versus Mejia’s roughly $1 million, with 70% of his donations coming from $1,000 contributions or higher.
Broader Midterm Implications
Beyond the immediate math, the race is being closely watched as a signal of Democratic voter energy heading into November’s midterms. Special elections in recent years have shown Democrats consistently outperforming their expected margins in suburban districts, and political scientists are watching whether Mejia’s margin tracks or exceeds the district’s historical lean.
The race also tests how effective a progressive candidate can be in an affluent suburban district, with Newsweek noting that her performance could shape Democratic candidate strategy in similar districts across the country heading into the midterm cycle.
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