January 1, Far-Left Democrat Shakes Up New Jersey Race

Wyatt’s Take

• Analilia Mejia upset a former congressman in a close Democratic primary.
• Mejia backed “Abolish ICE” and was endorsed by big-name progressive politicians.
• The result rattled traditional Democrat leaders and highlighted party divides.

Analilia Mejia, a far-left activist, pulled off a surprise win in the Democratic primary for New Jersey’s 11th congressional district. She beat out former Rep. Tom Malinowski, collecting 29.3% of the vote to his 27.6% with nearly all votes counted.

This district leans Democrat, making Mejia the heavy favorite over Republican Joe Hathaway in the April special election. The seat opened up after Democrat Mikie Sherrill resigned in November 2025.

Mejia’s campaign got endorsements from progressives like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. She championed positions like abolishing ICE, famously telling a crowd,

“I say abolish ICE now… You can’t reform that.”

She argued that Democrats need fighters, saying,

“In a moment of rising authoritarianism, of economic insecurity, of state-sanctioned violence, any old blue just won’t do.”

Malinowski conceded and threw his support behind Mejia for the April race. Former rivals like Tahesha Way are considering opposing Mejia again in June’s Democratic primary for the regular term.

Unions and big Democrat leaders split their support among candidates, showing divisions in the party. A wave of late ballots upended early predictions, forcing several media and election trackers to retract incorrect calls made on election night.

Mejia still faces an uphill fight to clinch the full-term Democratic nomination come November. Her victory has sparked debate over how far left the party is willing to go, raising new questions about the future of New Jersey politics.

Keep yourself informed about the growing rifts in the Democratic Party and what it could mean in your state.

Wyatt Matters

This election shows that the far left’s voice is growing, even in places that used to be more moderate. Folks in the heartland should pay attention—what happens in New Jersey today often comes to the doorstep tomorrow.

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