New Jersey 11th District Democratic Primary Remains Undecided After Tight Vote

New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District held a special Democratic primary on February 5, 2026, to fill the seat vacated by Mikie Sherrill after she became governor. The contest drew attention due to its close results and the ongoing ballot count.

Analilia Mejia, who received endorsements from Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Elizabeth Warren, held a narrow advantage over former Congressman Tom Malinowski as counting continued. The race remained uncalled by the Associated Press as of the morning of February 6, 2026.

Mejia campaigned on a platform that included abolishing ICE and organized events to inform residents about their rights during interactions with federal immigration agents. Outside groups, including a super PAC associated with AIPAC, spent substantial amounts on advertising targeting Malinowski, focusing on his 2019 vote related to ICE funding.

The winner of the Democratic primary will advance to face Republican Joe Hathaway, who serves as mayor of Randolph Township, in the special general election scheduled for April 16, 2026. This upcoming contest will determine who fills the congressional seat previously held by Sherrill.

What the numbers show

• The Democratic primary took place on February 5, 2026
• Mejia led by approximately 488 votes out of over 61,000 counted as of February 6
• The special general election is set for April 16, 2026

Ballot counting continued into February 6, with the margin between Mejia and Malinowski remaining narrow. The Associated Press had not declared a winner by that date, and the final outcome depended on the completion of the vote tally.

Outside spending played a notable role in the primary, with millions allocated to advertisements against Malinowski. These ads highlighted his previous congressional vote that included funding for ICE, an issue that became a focal point in the campaign.

Mejia’s campaign activities included “know your rights” sessions, aiming to provide information to constituents about dealing with federal immigration authorities. These events were part of her broader approach to immigration policy during the primary.

The special general election will feature the Democratic primary winner and Republican Joe Hathaway. The election is scheduled to take place on April 16, 2026, and will decide the next representative for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District.

* This article is based on publicly available information at the time of writing.