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NJ special election 2026: Analilia Mejia wins Democratic primary

Malinowski conceded the primary to Mejia after trailing in the vote count.

NJ special election 2026: Analilia Mejia wins Democratic primary
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This article1 analysis · Oct 10, 2026
WHYY
Feb 10, 2026
tl;dr

Analilia Mejia won the Democratic primary for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District special election, defeating former U.S. Representative Tom Malinowski, who conceded. Mejia will face Republican Joe Hathaway in the April general election.

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VOTING CLOSED
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Tom Malinowski Former U.S. Representative (D-NJ)
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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

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

Former representative and Democratic primary candidate who conceded to Mejia

PRIMARY SUBJECT
Analilia Mejia
D · NJ-11

Democratic primary winner and candidate in the New Jersey 11th District special election

Mejia's version of this story ↗

Republican candidate in the special general election and mayor of Randolph Township

Bernie Sanders
I · VT · SEN

Vermont senator who aligned with Mejia

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

New Jersey governor whose former seat is being contested

New Jersey representative who defeated Malinowski in 2022

New York representative who aligned with Mejia

Elizabeth Warren
D · MA · SEN

Massachusetts senator who aligned with Mejia

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.

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