When it comes to CD-11, Monday's filing deadline just confused things.

Democrat Donald Cresitello is running against Analilia Mejia. But not until June. So is Justin Strickland, who ran unsuccessfully in the special February primary.

No one is running in June against Republican Joe Hathaway.

But of course Hathaway is running against Mejia in the April 16 special election.

Here are some questions - and hopefully, logical answers - about CD-11. This is Mikie Sherrill's old district covering parts of Essex, Morris and Passaic counties.

Mejia is the favorite in the special election, right?

Yes, the Democrats' registration advantage is more than 60,000. The district may seem more Republican than that, but keep in mind it became less Republican after the 2020 Census. And even pre-Census, Sherrill won the district rather easily dating back to 2018.

So, what is Hathaway's plan?

Simple - Mejia is a radical socialist, a woman whose views are better suited for Greenwich Village than Towaco.

What does Mejia say to that?

She shrugs off the criticism as GOP talking points. And she takes solace from the fact she unexpectedly won the 11-person primary by appealing to average voters, not party leaders.

Has Mejia done anything to give Hathaway an opening?

Funny you should ask. She declined a debate invite from the League of Women Voters, prompting pushback from fellow Dems. After all, no one these days confuses the League with Moms For Liberty.

Hathaway, playing this for all it is worth, said he would even take part in a debate run by Morris County Democrats. That offer was rejected.

But both sides have now agreed to an April 1 debate sponsored by the NJ Globe. It was originally set for 7 p.m., but then came the realization April 1 is the first night of Passover. So the debate was moved to 4 p.m.

The fact there will be a debate negates some of the criticism Mejia got for avoiding the League.

Unless, of course, all this is just an April Fool's joke.

Why are there two elections?

The April election is to fill the seat for the rest of 2026. The cycle that begins with the June primary is to fill the seat beginning in January, 2027.

Why are Democrats running against Mejia in June?

Who knows?

Presumably, they feel that if Mejia underperforms on April 16, there will be an opening for someone else.

Cresitello, the former mayor of Morristown, is a frequent candidate for a variety of offices. He also thinks Mejia is too left wing.

Strickland is looking at the math. He says that 71 percent of those voting in February did not vote for Mejia. Fair point. But Mejia did get the most votes.

Why are no Republicans running against Hathaway in the June primary?

One reason is that Hathaway is a good candidate - young, articulate and a man with government experience as a Randolph mayor and councilman.

More cynically, Republicans realize winning in this district is very tough - especially with a president presiding over a war that seems to be getting more unpopular every day.

And did we mention gas prices?