Joe Hathaway Statement On General Election Results

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                  November 3, 2026

RANDOLPH, NJ - Joe Hathaway has released the following statement:

“Tonight, I congratulate Rep. Analilia Mejia on her victory and wish her well as she continues representing New Jersey's 11th Congressional District.

While tonight's result is not what we had hoped for, I could not be prouder of the campaign we ran, the people who stood alongside us, and the message we carried to every corner of this district.

But let me be very clear: Losing an election does not mean surrendering our principles. And it certainly does not mean giving up the fight.

The challenges facing our communities and our country are simply too great for us to throw in the towel. We cannot sit back while socialism gains ground in Washington, while government grows more intrusive, and while the common-sense values that built this country are pushed further to the sidelines. Those of us who believe in freedom, opportunity, personal responsibility, and the American Dream have an obligation to keep standing up and speaking out. And that starts with taking a hard look at our own party.

Despite the swirl of political rhetoric, the division, and the noise that too often defines our politics, I still believe the Republican Party can be the party of freedom, opportunity, and a better future for every American. We can be the party that welcomes new voices, builds coalitions, solves problems, and puts people ahead of politics.

But we need to wake up. It is time for the next generation of Republican leadership to step forward. Not tomorrow. Not in another election cycle. Right now.

Our party cannot simply rely on the battles of yesterday to win the fights of tomorrow. We need leaders who understand the challenges facing young families, who recognize that affordability is not a talking point but a daily struggle, and who are willing to stand on principle without being consumed by partisan politics.

We need a Republican Party that is not just against the radical policies of the left, but is unapologetically for something: freedom, prosperity, safer communities, stronger families, and a government that works for the people it serves.

That is the Republican Party I believe in. That is the Republican Party I ran to represent. And that is the Republican Party I will continue fighting to build.

To my wife Whitney, our children, and our entire family, thank you for your unwavering love, patience, and support. To our volunteers, supporters, donors, and every voter who believed in this campaign, I cannot thank you enough. You gave your time, your energy, and your faith to something bigger than any one candidate.

We may not have won tonight, but the values we fought for are worth fighting for tomorrow, and every day after that. As long as I am here, I will continue to fight for those values, for our communities, and for the future of this country.

Because this fight was never about one election, one candidate, or one political party. It was about the kind of country we want to leave to the next generation. And that is a fight I will never walk away from.”