Mejia, a former leader of the Working Families Alliance backed by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, emerged from a crowded primary in February. She campaigned on a platform of opposition to President Donald Trump, criticizing his pardons of people convicted of Jan. 6-related crimes and faulting him for freezing funds authorized by Congress. Her platform included populist economic policies and pushing to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and she has criticized the Israeli government while stating she stands with Palestinian communities in their pursuit of peace and dignity.
The 11th District covers parts of Essex, Morris and Passaic counties in northern New Jersey's wealthy suburbs. It was long a Republican stronghold but has become increasingly Democratic since Trump's first term, with Sherrill first winning the seat in 2018's midterm elections when Democrats flipped dozens of seats to take control of Congress. In 2024, Sherrill won reelection by about 15 points, while Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, carried the district by nearly 9 points. Republican candidate Hathaway tried to use Mejia's progressive credentials to his advantage, as national Republicans cast her as a socialist. Mejia and Hathaway could go head to head again in November's election for a full two-year term.
I'm running to bring common-sense leadership to D.C & deliver results for our families, not push a far-left agenda.
Voter perspectives varied, with Saran Cunningham, an 86-year-old retired special educator, initially reluctant to support Mejia due to concerns her views were too far left but recently deciding to vote for her. Rob Berkowitz, 62, cast his early vote for Hathaway at the Denville polling station, describing himself as a conservative and giving Trump high marks on immigration, the economy, and the war in Iran. Mejia will serve until January.