Mejia Wins in CD-11, Trounces Hathaway
MONTCLAIR - Former union organizer Democrat Analilia Mejia tonight prevailed in her special CD-11 general contest with Republican Joe Hathaway.
The election ended early.
But the party just began.
Unlike the primary, there was no confusion, no uncertainty.
The race was called by the AP as soon as the polls closed.
The crowd at the Montclair Museum is jpyous and the speeches have just began.
One presumes Analilia Mejia will be here soon to claim victory.
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LeRoy Jones, the state Democratic chair, was in fine rhetorical form as he addressed the crowd.
He said Mejia's win will reverberate across the nation and that she will stand up to Donald Trump, who he called the "anti-Christ."
Hathaway released the following statement:
“I want to congratulate Analilia Mejia on her victory in this special election and wish her well as she prepares to represent New Jersey’s 11th District.
We fought a spirited campaign, and I’m proud of the race we ran. From the very beginning, our campaign focused on bringing people together around a simple idea: that our district deserves common sense, practical leadership that puts families first, not a political party, not a president, and certainly not a squad.
Along the way, we built a coalition of supporters from across the political spectrum who believe in that mission, and that is something worth continuing.
While the result tonight is not what we hoped for, our work is only just beginning. I will continue fighting for affordability, public safety, accountable government, and I will continue to stand up for the families of NJ-11. We will also be watching closely and holding Congresswoman-elect Mejia accountable for the votes she casts and the policies she supports, and how they impact our NJ-11 communities.
This was a unique and, frankly, unusual election. The structure and timing, set by a partisan Democratic governor, produced exactly the kind of low-turnout environment that benefits one party. We saw heavy vote-by-mail participation, limited Election Day turnout, and far too many Republican and unaffiliated voices left out of the process. The result is that Analilia Mejia has now won two elections decided by a small share of the overall electorate, 3.2% of the total electorate in the primary, and just north of 10% of the total electorate tonight.
I still believe the broader electorate in NJ-11 is looking for balanced, pragmatic leadership, not the kind of far-left policies embraced by Ms. Mejia. That conversation is not over.
I’ve said from the beginning that we’re running through the tape, and I mean it. I’m looking forward to the rematch in November, when more voices will be heard and the full electorate will have its say.
Finally, I want to thank my wife Whitney and my family for their unconditional love and support throughout this campaign.
And to every supporter, volunteer, and financial contributor who stepped up, knocked on doors, made calls, invested in this campaign, and helped us build something real, I am deeply grateful. You didn’t just support a campaign, you helped build and strengthen a movement for common sense leadership in NJ-11, and we are just getting started. This is not the end, it’s the start of the next chapter.”
New Jersey Democratic State Committee Chairman Leroy J. Jones, Jr. released the following statement congratulating Analilia Mejia on her victory in tonight’s special election to represent New Jersey’s 11th congressional district:
“Analilia Mejia has always been on the frontlines fighting for our Democratic values as a volunteer, an organizer and a believer in what we can accomplish when Democrats stand together. Her victory tonight is a testament to what can happen when we believe in ourselves and remain true to our values, and when we simply refuse to back down. Analilia will be a welcome addition to the fight against the oppressive and dangerous policies put forward by the Trump White House and MAGA Republicans and we look forward to seeing all she can accomplish as a valued member of our New Jersey congressional delegation.”
In response to Mejía’s victory, DNC Chair Ken Martin released the following statement:
“Rep.-elect Analilia Mejía is a proven leader whose grassroots campaign spoke to hard-working New Jersey families. While Republicans like Joe Hathaway continue to be dragged down and defeated by Trump’s unpopular agenda and broken promises, Democrats like Rep.-elect Mejía are notching big wins because they have real plans to lower costs, protect health care, and tackle the affordability crisis head-on.”
A reminder: In New Jersey alone, more than 390,000 people are at risk of losing their health care because of Trump’s Big Ugly Bill and refusal to extend the ACA tax credits, while families are paying hundreds of dollars more for the basics, including $260 more on electricity and over $4 per gallon of gas at the pump.
Following Analilia Mejía’s decisive win in the special election for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, EMILYs List President Jessica Mackler released the following statement:
“EMILYs List congratulates Analilia Mejía on her win in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District. She ran a campaign grounded in the priorities of working families, and she now takes that fight to Washington. We are confident she will be a strong voice in Congress for pushing for policies that raise wages, lower costs, and expand health care.”
| More Labor celebrating:
The New Jersey State AFL-CIO is proud to announce that tonight we have sent another union member to Congress to represent our one million members and their families, as Analilia Mejia (SEIU) has won her special election in CD-11. Analilia Mejia will be the second union member in New Jersey following our union brother, Congressman Donald Norcross, (CD-1) (IBEW 351) to serve in Congress. With two union members in Congress, our state is the first to achieve this impressive feat for working families. Many of our unprecedented achievements are made possible by the success of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO's Labor Candidates Program and our Central Labor Councils which have resulted in the election of 1,355 union members to date. “Increasing worker political power is directly linked to electing working people through our labor candidates program,” said New Jersey State AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech. “Our Labor Candidates Program recruits and elects union members to all levels of government, from school board to Congress, so working people have a seat at the table when policy decisions are being made,” he concluded. Tonight we are proud to celebrate yet another significant victory, as we look towards the future of our labor movement. With roots in our labor movement as a union organizer, Analilia Mejia will continue the work to expand the rights of working people in our state. Through her experience in the U.S. Department of Labor and work on campaigns fighting for higher wages and paid sick leave, Analilia Mejia has proven herself to be a fierce advocate for working people. Her support of investments in roads, bridges, public transportation, prevailing wages, project labor agreements and the right to join or form a union, will go a long way as we work together to raise the standard of living in New Jersey. Congratulations again to our union sister Analilia Mejia! We look forward to working with Congresswoman-elect Mejia to amplify the voice of working people! Nedia Morsy, Director of Make the Road Action New Jersey, issued the following statement on behalf of the organization’s nearly 7,000 members: “Tonight, we are sending one of our own to Congress. Together, we have done the steady work of organizing to grow a movement that delivers for all of us. With Analilia, we not only forcefully called the question of whether or not we should spend billions on a masked paramilitary that separates our families while we cut healthcare funding but we also articulated a vision of what a country that welcomes immigrants can do. Make the Road Action members are proud to have knocked on 25,100 doors and drive 151,571 calls to beat back the influence of big money and build the power needed to shape our future. Tonight’s victory is more than a testament – it is a call to action to do away with outdated playbooks that favor the billionaire class and power the authoritarianism regime. Progressive power is building every day in New Jersey and across this country. We look forward to ushering in a New Jersey alongside our new Congresswoman where we guarantee the rights and protections of all people including immigrants, strengthen our shared economic and civic life, lifts wages, and counter corporate exploitation.” Make the Road Action helped deliver a decisive win for Mejia. Since December 2025, Make the Road Action members have engaged thousands of voters, making 151,571 phone calls and knocking on 18,160 doors. Throughout this massive outreach effort spanning four months, voters expressed strong support for Mejia’s platform: abolish ICE, healthcare for all, billionaire and corporate accountability, affordable housing, and lower utility and grocery prices |
