NEW JERSEY (WABC) — Today, voters will pick New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill’s replacement in Congress.
Progressive Analilia Mejia is the Democratic nominee, and Randolph Mayor Joe Hathaway is the Republican nominee.
Alan Bond is running as an Independent.
Sherrill had to relinquish the 11th District seat after being elected Governor.
“One of my big platforms is to freeze taxes for first-time homebuyers. You know, homeownership in New Jersey is more challenging than ever,” Hathaway said.
‘We lost the health care tax credits because of the Republican Party. And now health care costs are up 175% in one year. We lost energy tax credits. And that’s why energy prices are up,” Mejia said.
Partisanship is playing a role as the policies of the Trump Administration are under the political microscope.
“It’s about doing what’s right for the people of NJ 11. Now, if that means working with my party and with the president, obviously I’ll do that on issues that I think are good for New Jersey,” Hathaway said.
“If you are watching the actions of ice in horror, watching them shoot American citizens in the streets of America, then you have to know that a vote for Joe Hathaway is just a rubber stamp for Donald Trump,” Mejia said.
Mejia’s background includes working in the Bernie Sanders campaign, while Hathaway worked for Governor Christie and served as Mayor of Randolph.
The race doesn’t shy away from attacks.
One candidate says the opposition is antisemitic, the other is not backing down.
“It is laudable to fight Hamas and to fight extremism, the indiscriminate bombing of civilians, but it is a horror that we should fight against globally what we are watching,” Mejia said.
“The positions that my opponent has taken when it comes to Israel and it comes to the Jewish people of 11, I believe is reprehensible,” Hathaway said.
Election Day is on a Thursday in mid-April, which means voter turnout is critical.
“I’m about to send my son to college in a year. So the price of education’s a very big issue for me as well. And health care,” one voter said.
“Everything has gotten so expensive, and I’m living on a fixed income. And to me, that’s that is the most important issue,” another voter said.
The race may be a preview as both candidates could face off in the fall to a full two-year term in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.
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