Democrat Analilia Mejia won Thursday's special election in New Jersey's 11th Congressional District, defeating Republican Joe Hathaway and retaining the seat for Democrats. The Associated Press called the race for Mejia minutes after polls closed, and she addressed supporters in Montclair, describing herself as an "unbought, unbossed, sassy new member of Congress."

Mejia, 48, is a former head of the Working Families Alliance and onetime staffer for Sen. Bernie Sanders, who backed her campaign along with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. She ran on a progressive platform that included abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, raising taxes on the wealthy, and establishing universal health care and child care. She also positioned herself as a direct opponent of President Donald Trump, criticizing his pardons of Jan. 6 defendants and his administration's freezing of congressionally authorized funds.

The seat was vacated when Democrat Mikie Sherrill left Congress to become New Jersey's governor. Mejia emerged from a competitive February primary — winning with less than 30 percent of the vote — over a field that included former Rep. Tom Malinowski, former Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way, and Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill. She outraised Republican Hathaway, a Randolph Township Council member, by roughly two to one, collecting just over $1 million through the end of March, more than half from small-dollar donors.

Mejia's victory narrows the Republican House majority to 218-214 and adds to a string of Democratic wins in special elections since Trump returned to office. The 11th District, which then-Vice President Kamala Harris carried by 9 points in 2024 and Sherrill won by 15 points in her gubernatorial race, was considered a favorable environment for Democrats. Mejia will serve the remainder of Sherrill's term through January; a primary is scheduled for June to determine candidates for a full term beginning in 2027.