Democratic primary for N.J. Gov. Mikie Sherrills old House seat too close to call
3 minute readPublished: Friday, February 6, 2026 at 4:46 am
Tight Race in New Jersey's 11th Congressional District
The Democratic primary for New Jersey's 11th Congressional District is too close to call, with no clear winner declared as of late Thursday night. The race, to fill the unexpired term of Governor Mikie Sherrill, has pitted former U.S. Representative Tom Malinowski against progressive advocate Analilia Mejia in a neck-and-neck contest.
With 91% of the vote counted, Mejia held a narrow lead of 486 votes over Malinowski. Two other candidates, former Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way and Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill, trailed behind the frontrunners. The final outcome hinges on the remaining ballots, and a recount is possible.
Both Malinowski and Mejia secured high-profile endorsements. Mejia, a former national political director for Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign, received support from Sanders and other progressive figures. Malinowski, a former diplomat, was backed by U.S. Senator Andy Kim and local leaders.
The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican Joe Hathaway in a special election on April 16th. The district is considered to lean Democratic. The special election winner will serve the remainder of Sherrill's term, which ends in January 2027. A separate primary in June will determine the candidates for the November midterms.
The crowded field of candidates, numbering over a dozen, was partly attributed to the elimination of the county line system, which previously gave party-backed candidates an advantage. The race saw significant spending, with outside groups investing over $4.3 million to influence voters.
BNN's Perspective: The close nature of this primary highlights the dynamic political landscape in New Jersey. While the eventual Democratic nominee is favored in the general election, the tight race underscores the importance of every vote and the evolving preferences of the electorate.
Keywords: New Jersey, Democratic primary, Mikie Sherrill, Tom Malinowski, Analilia Mejia, election, U.S. House, special election, Joe Hathaway, county line, endorsements, Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Elizabeth Warren, Andy Kim, Brendan Gill, Tahesha Way, Rodney Frelinghuysen, political race, vote count, recount, campaign finance.