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● InformationalElections / Campaigns

The next battle between establishment Dems and progressives? NJ's special election.

Mejia is presenting herself as a progressive organizer in a crowded contest for the vacant House seat.

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This article1 analysis · Oct 11, 2026
Gothamist
Jan 13, 2026
tl;dr

Analilia Mejia’s campaign for New Jersey’s vacant 11th District seat has drawn a high-profile endorsement from Bernie Sanders as she runs to the left of other Democrats. The crowded special election is being framed as a test of progressive strength against established party figures.

Community verdict

VOTING CLOSED
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Analilia Mejia D · NJ-11
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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

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Analilia Mejia
D · NJ-11

Democratic candidate in the special election for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District

PRIMARY SUBJECT

Democratic candidate for the vacant 11th District seat

Gill's version of this story ↗
Tom Malinowski
Former U.S. Representative (D-NJ)

Democratic candidate for the vacant 11th District seat

Malinowski's version of this story ↗

Democratic candidate, voting-rights attorney and Passaic County commissioner

Andy Kim
D · NJ · SEN

U.S. senator from New Jersey who supports Malinowski and brought a lawsuit over the county ballot format

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President of the United States, whose administration candidates say they would oppose

Republican candidate and mayor of Randolph, New Jersey

Bernie Sanders
I · VT · SEN

U.S. senator who endorsed Mejia

Democratic candidate and lieutenant governor of New Jersey

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

Former member of Congress whose resignation created the vacancy

Maine U.S. Senate candidate

ALSO MENTIONED  Britnee Timberlake, New Jersey state senator who endorsed Gill; Clarence Thomas, U.S. Supreme Court justice whom Mejia said should be impeached; James Solomon, Newly elected mayor of Jersey City; Jim McGreevey, Former New Jersey governor and defeated Jersey City mayoral candidate; Katie Brennan, Housing policy expert and progressive candidate elected to the New Jersey Assembly; Phil Murphy, Outgoing governor of New Jersey who endorsed Gill; Ras Baraka, Newark mayor and former gubernatorial-primary candidate; Ravi Bhalla, Hoboken mayor elected to the New Jersey Assembly; Renee Baskerville, Mayor of Montclair who endorsed Gill; Samuel Alito, U.S. Supreme Court justice whom Mejia said should be impeached; Steve Fulop, Jersey City mayor and former gubernatorial-primary candidate; Zohran Mamdani, New York City mayor

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