Analilia Mejia, progressive ally of Bernie Sanders, wins special New Jersey House primary

Progressive Candidate Mejia Secures Democratic Nomination in New Jersey Special Election

Analilia Mejia, a longtime progressive organizer with close ties to Sen. Bernie Sanders, has emerged victorious in the Democratic primary for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District. The Associated Press declared Mejia the winner on Thursday, a week after the February 5 special election concluded.

The 48-year-old progressive defeated former Rep. Tom Malinowski and approximately a dozen other candidates in what observers described as a closely contested race. Malinowski conceded shortly after the election, and Mejia has already consolidated support among key Democratic leaders in New Jersey as she prepares for the April 16 special general election against Republican Joe Hathaway.

Mejia’s victory signals a significant shift in the political landscape of New Jersey’s 11th District, which encompasses portions of Essex, Morris and Passaic counties and includes some of New York City’s more affluent suburbs. Once a reliable Republican stronghold, the district flipped to Democratic control in 2018 when Mikie Sherrill, now New Jersey’s governor, rode the anti-Trump wave to victory.

Rather than selecting a moderate replacement for Sherrill, primary voters opted for Mejia, who campaigned on a platform of populist economic policies and controversial positions including the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Republicans have already indicated they plan to portray her as too extreme for the moderate-leaning district.

Mejia brings substantial progressive credentials to the race. She previously served as director of the Working Families Alliance in New Jersey, where she became a familiar presence in Trenton advocating for left-leaning causes. Her national political experience includes roles as Sanders’ political director during his 2020 presidential campaign and as deputy director of the Labor Department’s Women’s Bureau under President Biden.

Her campaign garnered endorsements from progressive heavyweights beyond Sanders, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, creating a formidable coalition of support from the Democratic Party’s left wing.

The race was further complicated by the involvement of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), whose affiliated super PAC attempted to undermine Malinowski after he questioned unconditional aid to the Israeli government. These efforts appear to have backfired, potentially helping Mejia, who has taken controversial positions on the Israel-Gaza conflict, including statements that Israel committed genocide in Gaza.

Political analysts view Mejia’s victory as part of a broader trend of progressive candidates finding success in suburban districts that were once moderate or conservative strongholds. Her ability to mobilize grassroots support and articulate populist economic positions resonated with primary voters despite concerns about her electability in a general election.

The upcoming April 16 special general election will determine who serves the remainder of Sherrill’s term, which concludes in January 2025. However, voters in the district will return to the polls twice more this year – for the regular primary on June 2 and the general election on November 3 – to select their representative for the next full congressional term.

Mejia’s primary victory represents a test case for progressive candidates in swing districts during a contentious presidential election year. Democrats will be watching closely to see if her progressive platform can maintain the party’s hold on a district that has undergone significant political transformation in recent years.

Republicans, meanwhile, see an opportunity to recapture the seat by highlighting what they characterize as Mejia’s extreme positions on issues like immigration and foreign policy, particularly in a district with a history of supporting moderate candidates from both parties.