NEW JERSEY WORKING FAMILIES PARTY STATEMENT ON NJ-11
NEW JERSEY WORKING FAMILIES PARTY STATEMENT ON NJ-11
NEW JERSEY — The New Jersey Working Families Party released the following statement on Analilia Mejia’s performance in the special election for New Jersey’s 11th congressional district, which is currently too close to call. The Party endorsed and supported Mejia, who is the former director of the New Jersey Working Families Party.
“While every vote must still be counted, Analilia Mejia’s performance is historic. Analilia shocked the New Jersey political establishment and did what so many people said she couldn’t,” said Antoinette Miles, State Director of the New Jersey Working Families Party. “Voters are hungry for working-class leaders, and tonight they showed it.”
Analilia started with SEIU and ran the WFP in New Jersey for several years, driving campaigns that won major victories for working people, including a $15 minimum wage, paid sick time, and lower barriers to voting.
In this race, on the coordinated campaign side, the WFP worked hand-in-hand with Analilia’s campaign, supporting its field operation. WFP also hosted weekly phone banks for Analilia and helped anchor a labor and community canvass.
The national WFP PAC ran a separate independent expenditure program, part of a coalition that spent significantly to support Analilia. With labor allies and the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC, WFP and the IE table spent nearly $400,000. This included a cable and digital ad buy, four mail pieces supporting Analilia, and direct Instagram ads highlighting Analilia’s position on abolishing ICE targeted to voters under 40.
The New Jersey Working Families Party has become a major player in state politics. Just a few months ago, the NJWFP helped elect Jersey City Mayor-elect James Solomon and a slate of city councilmembers who will move the city in a more progressive direction. The Working Families Party PAC and Make the Road Action IEC spent a combined $300,000 boosting Governor Mikie Sherrill among working class, Black, and Latino communities in the home stretch of a historic gubernatorial campaign. It also supported a number of state legislative candidates who won competitive primaries, like Katie Brennan and Chigozie Onyema. Finally, it endorsed Newark Mayor Ras Baraka in his second-place finish in a historic Gubernatorial primary.
Nationwide, the Working Families Party recently endorsed Mai Vang, who is challenging 20-year-incumbent Doris Matsui in CA-7; Brad Lander, who is challenging Rep. Dan Goldman in NY-10; Nida Allam, who is challenging Rep. Valerie Foushee in NC-4, and Randy Villegas who is running in the Republican held CA-22.
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