Skip to main content
4 min read

Concession gives Mejia upset victory in special NJ primary to replace Sherrill

Malinowski conceded after trailing Mejia and criticized outside-group ads that targeted him during the campaign.

SOURCE CHECK

TAP FOR WHY
Outlet credibilityGothamist77/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 10, 2026
Gothamist
Feb 10, 2026
tl;dr

Analilia Mejia took a narrow lead in the special Democratic primary for New Jersey’s 11th District, and Tom Malinowski conceded. Election officials were still counting ballots, and the Associated Press had not yet declared a winner.

Community verdict

VOTING CLOSED
How does this story look for
Tom Malinowski Former U.S. Representative (D-NJ)
NOT RATEDCLOSED

No good or bad look here

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

● INFORMATIONAL

People in this story

SWIPE →
Tom Malinowski
Former U.S. Representative (D-NJ)

Former representative and Democratic primary opponent who conceded

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Analilia Mejia
D · NJ-11

Democratic candidate who took the lead in the special primary

Mejia's version of this story ↗
Jay Webber
R · NJ

Republican defeated by Sherrill in the district in 2018

Rodney P. Frelinghuysen
Former U.S. Representative (R-NJ)

Former representative who did not run in 2018

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President whose policies were opposed by candidates in the race

Republican candidate for the seat in the special general election

Bernie Sanders
I · VT · SEN

Senator who endorsed Mejia

Democratic primary opponent

Democratic primary opponent

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

Governor whose former congressional seat is being filled

Representative who endorsed Mejia

Elizabeth Warren
D · MA · SEN

Senator who endorsed Mejia

ALSO MENTIONED  Andrew Cuomo, Former governor who ran against Mamdani; James Solomon, Jersey City mayor-elect cited as part of a broader trend; Jim McGreevey, Former governor defeated in Jersey City’s mayoral race; Zohran Mamdani, New York City democratic socialist cited as a recent electoral example

Part of a bigger story

11 OUTLETS
Tom Malinowski Concedes New Jersey Democratic Special Primary to Analilia Mejia

Outlets agree that Tom Malinowski conceded New Jersey’s Democratic special primary to Analilia Mejia; later reports say the AP projected her as the winner. Left-leaning outlets frame Mejia’s win as a progressive challenge to established political and financial forces, emphasizing outside spending and ads targeting Malinowski. Center outlets focus on the close result and Malinowski’s concession, with coverage also noting that Mejia still faces the special general election. Right-leaning outlets foreground Mejia’s left-wing positioning, especially her “Abolish ICE” statement and left-wing endorsements, while also reporting Malinowski’s concession.

Discussion · 0

What's your take?

Loading comments…