Analilia Mejia Triumphs in New Jersey House Primary, Defeating Tom Malinowski

Analilia Mejia emerged victorious in the special primary for New Jersey's 11th District, defeating former Congressman Tom Malinowski and a diverse group of Democratic challengers, according to projections. By Thursday evening, Mejia garnered 29.3% of the vote, edging out Malinowski, who received 27.6%.

With endorsements from influential progressive figures like Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Mejia's campaign gained significant traction among the 11 candidates vying for the nomination in the February 5 primary.

Five days post-election, Malinowski conceded, acknowledging Mejia's win as the Democratic Party gears up to face Republican Joe Hathaway, the mayor of Randolph Township, in the upcoming special general election scheduled for April 16.

Mejia, a former staffer for Sanders, rallied alongside him in January. Sanders praised her as a “great organizer,” emphasizing the need for leaders willing to “stand up and fight” in Washington.

In her campaign ads, Mejia asserted, "I am not the candidate with the political machine," positioning herself as an organizer committed to resisting entrenched political norms. "We have an opportunity to send a message: We resist machine politics that tell us to settle," she declared.

The primary race was notably influenced by millions spent on attack ads targeting Malinowski from the United Democracy Project, a super PAC associated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). These ads suggested Malinowski supported federal immigration enforcement policies he has publicly opposed.

The motivation behind these ads stemmed from Malinowski's advocacy for conditional U.S. aid to Israel, as reported by The New York Times. However, this strategy inadvertently benefited Mejia, who has been vocal about her criticisms of Israel's actions in Gaza.

In his concession statement, Malinowski commended Mejia for her positive campaign approach while criticizing AIPAC's tactics. He expressed concern that their "dishonest ads" led voters to question his political alignment in the campaign's final days.

"My convictions — including my support for Israel as a democratic and Jewish state — don't change because of who supports or opposes me," he stated. He further emphasized that the Democratic Party should distance itself from organizations demanding unwavering loyalty to extreme positions.

Malinowski pledged to oppose any AIPAC-backed candidates in the upcoming June primary for a full term in this district.

Mejia attributed her success to a robust ground operation while condemning AIPAC's influence on the primary. "I think it is horrendous what AIPAC attempted to do in this race," she remarked, asserting that while they played a role, they did not secure her victory.

Endorsed by the Working Families Party, which invested $194,000 in her campaign, Mejia also received backing from local chapters of the Service Employees International Union and Communications Workers of America.

In the campaign's closing days, she showcased support from national progressives like Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Pramila Jayapal. Representative Ro Khanna even traveled from Washington, D.C., to attend one of her events.

Former Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill held the seat until her resignation after winning the governorship in November. Sherrill was well-regarded, having won her last election by a significant margin.

Affordability emerged as a central issue during the primary, with candidates leveraging it to express their opposition to former President Donald Trump. His administration's cancellation of funding for the Gateway tunnel project became a local point of contention in suburban communities.

This primary marked a significant moment in the 11th District's political landscape, previously held by Republican Rodney Frelinghuysen for over two decades before Sherrill's victory in 2018.

The special general election on April 16 will fill Sherrill’s remaining term, with the seat also contested later this year during regular midterm elections.