Skip to main content
5 min read
● InformationalElections / Campaigns

Ballot box shocker: Progressive upsets favorite in Dem congressional primary

Mejia won the Democratic primary for the New Jersey seat and is set to face Republican Joe Hathaway in the special election.

Ballot box shocker: Progressive upsets favorite in Dem congressional primary
Image · Fox News

SOURCE CHECK

TAP FOR WHY
Outlet credibilityFox News69/100 MEDIUM
This article1 analysis · Oct 10, 2026
Fox News
Feb 10, 2026
tl;dr

Analilia Mejia defeated former Rep. Tom Malinowski in the Democratic primary for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, an upset the article describes as an early test of the party’s progressive and mainstream wings. Malinowski conceded the race on Tuesday.

Community verdict

VOTING CLOSED
How does this story look for
Analilia Mejia D · NJ-11
NOT RATEDCLOSED

No good or bad look here

This story reports what happened without casting Mejia in a good or bad light, so readers don’t rate it and it doesn’t count toward Mejia’s record.

● INFORMATIONAL

People in this story

SWIPE →
Analilia Mejia
D · NJ-11

Democratic candidate who won the primary for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Tom Malinowski
Former U.S. Representative (D-NJ)

Democratic candidate who lost the primary after previously representing a neighboring New Jersey district

Malinowski's version of this story ↗
Doug LaMalfa
Former U.S. Representative (R-CA)

Representative whose death left a California House seat vacant

Representative and former chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, listed as a Mejia supporter

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President who endorsed Clay Fuller in a separate Georgia congressional race

Republican candidate scheduled to face Mejia in the special election

Bernie Sanders
I · VT · SEN

Senator who backed Mejia and headlined a virtual rally for her

Clay Fuller
R · GA-14

Republican candidate in the Georgia special election, endorsed by Trump

Mikie Sherrill
Former U.S. Representative (D-NJ)

Governor of New Jersey whose departure from the House left the seat vacant

Marjorie Taylor Greene
Former U.S. Representative (R-GA)

Former representative whose departure left a Georgia House seat vacant

Kamala Harris
Former U.S. Senator (D-CA)

Former vice president, cited for her 2024 result in the district

Representative who backed Mejia

Elizabeth Warren
D · MA · SEN

Senator who endorsed Mejia

Ro Khanna
D · CA-17

Representative who endorsed Mejia and praised her in a social media post

ALSO MENTIONED  Barack Obama, Former president whose administration Malinowski served as an assistant secretary of state; Harry Truman, Former president shown in the newspaper photograph Mejia used in a social media post; Zohran Mamdani, Mayor of New York City, cited as a recent example of progressive primary success

Discussion · 0

What's your take?

Loading comments…