Editor's Note: Here and there in CD-11 three days before Thursday's special election.

This is a home game for Mikie Sherrill.

And the governor certainly had that in mind Sunday evening when she spoke at a GOTV (Get Out The Vote) rally for Analilia Mejia in Glen Ridge.

She took the crowd of about 150 in Christ Episcopal Church back to 2018 when she first ran for Congress in the very same CD-11.

Sherrill, who lives in nearby Montclair, said she was told she had no chance against Rodney Frelinghuysen, the 24-year incumbent.

"But the people of the 11th District have never taken no for an answer," she said.

We know what happened. Frelinghuysen gave up his reelection bid. Sherrill won in 2018 and was reelected three times before becoming governor.
Reiterating a central theme, Sherrill said Mejia is needed to help Congress check and fight against an "out of control" president.

Mejia is well aware that Republican candidate Joe Hathaway has labeled her an out-of-touch radical.

She responded to some of that by asking what's "radical" about believing health care is a "human right" and that working people need a decent wage?

Mejia said she expects to win and that when she gets to Congress:

"I know I will have this incredible group of people at my back - pushing me," she said.

The reference was to the many union members and other supporters in the audience.

LeRoy Jones, the state Democratic chair, also spoke and stressed the need for unity. Not a bad point, considering that Mejia won an 11-person primary two months ago.

Unity does seem to be happening.

Tom Malinowski, who finished second in the primary, has endorsed him.

And so did Brendan Gill, who finished fourth.

Gill, who was on hand Sunday night, said that when he saw he would not win on Election Night, he downed a glass of Scotch, apparently to compose himself, and then quickly endorsed Mejia.

* * *

If you are looking for some of the top Republicans in New Jersey Monday night, Randolph in Morris County is the place to be.

Christine Hanlon, the state chair, and most of New Jersey's 21 county chairs, are scheduled to convene at the Grove at the Randolph Diner to give a last-minute financial and moral boost to Hathaway.

Hanlon had this to say:

"New Jersey Republicans are unified in support of Joe Hathaway for Congressional District 11.  The choice could not be clearer: Joe is a proven mainstream leader, with an excellent record of delivering results for his town of Randolph as Mayor and Councilmember.  Our County Chairs are all united in this fight because Mejia's socialist vision for America is wrong for America, New Jersey and this district. Joe Hathaway, on the other hand, will make an excellent congressman, setting aside partisan politics to deliver results and make life more affordable for New Jerseyans."

* * *

Republicans know they need to do better with mail-in ballots.

In fact, they have known this for a long time.

They are trying. Jack Ciattarelli, going back to his 2021 campaign, urged supporters to vote early by mail, dismissing fears of fraud.

It just does not seem to be working.

So far in CD-11, almost 48,000 have voted by mail or early at the polls.

About 30,000 of them have been registered Dems and 11,000, Republicans. The rest are unaffiliated.

The problem is obvious. Falling constantly behind in mail-in voting is like losing every football game by two touchdowns after the first quarter. Hard to make-up.