TRENTON, New Jersey (WABC) — Tom Malinowski conceded the NJ-11 special Democratic primary election for Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s former seat and congratulated Analilia Mejia on her upset win on Tuesday.
Mejia was the national political director for Sen. Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign in 2020.
She will face Republican Councilman Joe Hathaway from Randolph Township in a special 11th District election in April.
Malinowski released a statement saying:
“Analilia deserves unequivocal praise and credit for running a positive campaign and for inspiring so many voters on Election Day. But the outcome of this race cannot be understood without also taking into account the massive flood of dark money that AIPAC spent on dishonest ads during the last three weeks.”
He went on to say:
“I met several voters in the final days of the campaign who had seen the ads and asked me, sincerely: “Are you MAGA? Are you for ICE?…our Democratic Party should have nothing to do with a pro-Trump-billionaire-funded organization.”
“I think it is horrendous what AIPAC attempted to do in this race, I think that it is part of their brand to misconstrue facts, to confuse voters, and to try to create division,” Mejia said.
As the most progressive candidate in a crowded field, Mejia is embracing her underdog status and focusing on affordability and health care.
“People will say this district is not the kind of district where a progressive or a leftie can win, but it’s not about left or right, it’s about right and wrong,” Mejia said.
Political experts say the district leans heavily democratic, but expect Mejia to run to the middle in a hurry.
“You’re already seeing some early quotes from her saying some of her best friends are moderates, she definitely knows this district is not a super progressive district,” said Matt Hale with Seton Hall University.
The district covers parts of Essex, Morris and Passaic counties in northern New Jersey, including some of New York City’s wealthier suburbs.
The special primary and April general election will determine who serves the remainder of Sherrill’s term, which ends next January. There will be a regular primary in June and general election in November for the next two-year term.
Sherrill represented the district for four terms after her election in 2018. She won despite the region’s historical loyalty to the GOP, a dynamic that began to shift during President Donald Trump’s first term.
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