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● InformationalElections / Campaigns

New Jersey's special Democratic primary too early to call

Mejia held a narrow lead over Malinowski while mail ballots remained to be counted.

New Jersey's special Democratic primary too early to call
Image · South Carolina Public Radio

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This article1 analysis · Oct 10, 2026

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Republished from NPR, with credit to the original publisher.

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111 stories · 88–89 · updated Oct 11, 2026

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tl;dr

New Jersey’s special Democratic primary remained too close to call, with Analilia Mejia leading former Rep. Tom Malinowski by 486 votes as mail ballots remained outstanding. The winner will face Republican Joe Hathaway in the April 16 special election.

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

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Analilia Mejia
D · NJ-11

Democratic candidate in the special House primary

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

Democratic candidate in the special House primary

Malinowski's version of this story ↗

Democratic candidate in the special primary

Democratic candidate in the special primary

Andy Kim
D · NJ · SEN

Senator who endorsed Malinowski

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President mentioned in background on the district’s political history

Democratic candidate in the special primary

Former president whose Labor Department employed Mejia

Republican candidate for the House seat

Bernie Sanders
I · VT · SEN

Senator and former political employer of Mejia

Democratic candidate in the special primary

Dean Dafis
D · NJ

Democratic candidate in the special primary

Democratic candidate in the special primary

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

Governor whose election left the House seat vacant

Democratic candidate in the special primary

Candidate in the special Democratic primary

Representative who endorsed Mejia

Democratic candidate in the special primary

Democratic candidate in the special primary

ALSO MENTIONED  J-L Cauvin, Candidate in the special Democratic primary; Phil Murphy, Former governor mentioned in connection with candidates

Part of a bigger story

13 OUTLETS
Analilia Mejia Wins New Jersey 11th District Special Democratic Primary

Analilia Mejia narrowly led Tom Malinowski in the special Democratic primary for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District as ballots were still being counted. Center outlets connect the close count to outside spending and AIPAC’s influence, with later coverage also profiling Mejia’s progressive platform after her win. Right-leaning outlets emphasize the narrow, unresolved count and the withdrawal of early projections.

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