Democrat Analilia Mejia projected to win New Jersey House seat
The AP has projected Democrat Analilia Mejia as the winner of the special election in New Jersey's 11th Congressional District, a seat formerly held by Gov. Mikie Sherrill.
Updated on: April 16, 2026 / 8:47 PM EDT / CBS/AP
Mejia cruised to victory Thursday over Republican Joe Hathaway and independent Alan Bond.
She will serve out the remainder of Sherrill's term, which ends in January. The district encompasses parts of Essex, Morris and Passaic counties.
The seat was a longtime Republican stronghold, but has become increasingly Democratic since President Donald Trump's first term. Voter registration records show Democrats outnumber Republicans in the district by more than 60,000 voters.
Mejia is a progressive who is the former head of the Working Families Alliance. She emerged from a crowded Democratic field in February, when she held a very slim lead.