LITTLE FALLS - Republicans say they know all about Analilia Mejia.

She's a "radical socialist" who would put the safety and well being of CD-11 residents at risk if she gets to Congress.

Mejia, who rode the blessing of Bernie Sanders to a surprising win in February's special Democratic primary, seems intent on shrugging off the GOP's attacks.

"I'm a soccer mom that lives in Glen Ridge, New Jersey that pays attention to her 401(k) - just like everybody else," she said at a "meet and greet" with about 100 people Saturday afternoon at a local church.

All "soccer moms" do not run for Congress, and in doing so, Mejia offers a blunt message.

And it has to do with money in politics.

She condemned a system that, she said, allows those with big bucks to "dictate what decisions elected officials make and then those decisions benefit institutions and corporations and ... screw the rest of us."

The notion that the rich and powerful use money to get what they want is not exactly new in American politics.

Sanders has built up a big following on the Democratic left by saying precisely that. It is also a message that may be resonating further and wider than before during the second Trump Administration.

Mejia's primary success caught many observers off guard. She won an 11-person race, and in doing so, she beat Tom Malinowski, a former congressman, and Brendan Gill, who was endorsed by party leaders in both Essex County and beyond. Phil Murphy was in his corner.

The special election on April 16 will replace Mikie Sherrill in the House. Joe Hathaway, a Randolph councilman and former mayor, is the Republican candidate.

Mejia told the crowd just about all people are being hurt economically - at least on the margins. This is a theme that may be even more productive - politically - if gas prices continue to rise because of what the president calls an "action" in Iran.

Her pitch is more than economics. The district, which ranges over parts of Essex, Passaic and Morris counties, is by no means poverty stricken.

Mejia said that a "zip code" does not protect people from what she said is an increasingly authoritative regime. That's why a Democratic-controlled House is essential.

The Democrats' registration advantage here is a bit more than 60,000. The district actually became more Democratic leaning after the 2020 Census. In what seems like another era, it was once represented by such Morris County Republican stalwarts as Dean Gallo and Rodney Frelinghuysen.

Registration data aside, politicians always say they will take "nothing for granted." (When first said, it probably seemed profound).

Anthony DeNova, the one time Passaic County administrator, implored the crowd to talk to friends and neighbors about the election. That's needed because the election is in April and on a Thursday no less.

Passaic is the smallest part of the district. It includes a section of  Wayne plus Little Falls, Totowa and Woodland Park.

Nonetheless, DeNova said Passaic can still give Mejia a huge margin of victory.