The 2026 New Jersey's 11th congressional district special election was held on April 16, 2026, to fill the vacant seat in New Jersey's 11th congressional district. The winner will serve in the United States House of Representatives for the remainder of the 119th United States Congress.

The seat became vacant on November 20, 2025, when Mikie Sherrill resigned to become the governor of New Jersey. Outgoing governor Phil Murphy announced the special election scheduled for April 16, 2026. Early voting took place from April 6 to April 14. Voters had the option to cast their votes by mail.

Primary elections were held on February 5, 2026. Analilia Mejia, co-executive director of the Center for Popular Democracy, won the Democratic nomination. Randolph councilman and former mayor Joe Hathaway won the Republican nomination uncontested. Mejia would then go on to win the special election; her win was the best Democratic performance since 1982, the last time a Democrat won the district before 2018.https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-special-elections/new-jersey-house-results

Democratic primary Campaign Spending by AIPAC against former U.S. Representative Tom Malinowski became a major issue in the primary. Although Malinowski identified as a pro-Israel Democrat, the group funded negative advertising after he declined to unconditionally support foreign military aid. The ads may have inadvertently boosted eventual nominee Analilia Mejia, who has accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. Following his defeat, Malinowski sharply criticized AIPAC, calling its campaign "dishonest" and pledging to oppose any AIPAC-backed challenger to Mejia in the June primary for the full term.

Mejia has called for abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and has advocated resistance to what she describes as "rising authoritarianism".

The Associated Press and The New York Times called the race for Mejia on February 12, 2026, defeating Malinowski and former Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way.

Candidates Nominee Analilia Mejia, co-executive director of the Center for Popular Democracy

Eliminated in primary John Bartlett, Passaic County commissioner and candidate for this district in 2018 Zach Beecher, venture capitalist J-L Cauvin, attorney and comedian Cammie Croft, nonprofit executive and former White House deputy new media director Brendan Gill, at-large Essex County commissioner, husband of state assemblymember Alixon Collazos-Gill, and candidate for New Jersey's 27th assembly district in 2023 Jeff Grayzel, deputy mayor of Morris Township and nominee for New Jersey's 25th senate district in 2021 Tom Malinowski, former chair of the Hunterdon County Democratic Party (2024–2025) and former U.S. representative from the 7th district (2019–2023) Justin Strickland, Chatham Borough councilmember Tahesha Way, former lieutenant governor (2023–2026) and secretary of state of New Jersey (2018–2026) Anna Lee Williams, corporate social responsibility manager

Withdrawn Marc Chaaban, former congressional staffer (remained on ballot, endorsed Mejia) Dean Dafis, Maplewood Township committeeman and former mayor (remained on ballot, endorsed Gill)

Disqualified Donald Cresitello, former mayor of Morristown (1977–1981, 2006–2010) and candidate for U.S. Senate in 1982 and 2008

Did not file Kennedy Pivnick, former legal intern at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Declined Matthew Platkin, attorney general of New Jersey (2022–2026)

Endorsements

County conventions

Morris County Democratic conventionCandidateFirst ballotSecond ballotThird ballotFourth ballotFifth ballotSixth ballotSeventh ballotEighth ballotNinth ballot Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % 188 40.8% 189 41.0% 192 41.8% 195 42.5% 199 43.4% 205 44.7% 217 47.4% 220 49.1% 235 52.7% 110 23.9% 110 23.9% 110 24.0% 110 24.0% 110 24.0% 111 24.2% 117 25.6% 117 26.1% 131 29.4% 36 7.8% 36 7.8% 36 7.8% 36 7.8% 44 9.6% 47 10.2% 48 10.5% 62 13.8% 80 17.9% 28 6.1% 28 6.1% 28 6.1% 29 6.3% 31 6.8% 36 7.8% 41 9.0% 49 10.9% 31 6.7% 31 6.7% 31 6.8% 31 6.8% 32 7.0% 34 7.4% 35 7.6% 22 4.8% 23 5.0% 24 5.2% 25 5.5% 25 5.5% 26 5.7% 13 2.8% 15 3.3% 15 3.3% 17 3.7% 18 3.9% 8 1.7% 8 1.7% 8 1.7% 8 1.7% 7 1.5% 8 1.7% 8 1.7% 8 1.7% 7 1.5% 7 1.5% 7 1.5% 6 1.3% 6 1.3% 5 1.1% Total ballots 461 ballots 459 ballots 458 ballots 448 ballots 446 ballots

Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of January 16, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handJohn Bartlett (D)$465,705$394,510$260,855Zach Beecher (D)$504,638$293,417$211,221J-L Cauvin (D)$100,000$30,896$69,103Cammie Croft (D)$372,317$239,229$133,088Brendan Gill (D)$808,103$460,108$347,995Jeff Grayzel (D)$428,173$351,604$76,569Tom Malinowski (D)$1,161,127$756,929$404,197Analilia Mejia (D)$420,218$62,097$358,120Justin Strickland (D)$70,012$67,836$2,175Tahesha Way (D)$404,541$319,178$85,363Anna Lee Williams (D)$26,422$18,249$8,172Source: Federal Election Commission

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error BrendanGill TomMalinowski AnaliliaMejia TaheshaWay Other UndecidedGQR Research (D)November 19–23, 2025400 (LV)± 5.4%12%28%5%5%19%31%

Results

Republican primary Candidates Nominee Joe Hathaway, Randolph Township Council member and former mayor

Endorsements

Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of January 16, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handJoe Hathaway (R)$260,813$98,933$161,879Source: Federal Election Commission

Results

Third parties and independents

Candidates

Declared

Alan Bond (Hope For Tomorrow!), former money manager

General election Predictions SourceRankingAs of Sabato's Crystal Ball December 14, 2025

Post-primary endorsements

Debates and forums DateHostModeratorLinkDemocraticRepublicanKey: Participant  Absent  Non-invitee  Invitee WithdrawnMejiaHathaway1April 1, 2026New Jersey GlobeThe Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider UniversityJoey Fox YouTubeC-SPAN

Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof errorAnaliliaMejia (D)JoeHathaway (R) UndecidedGBAO (D)March 8–10, 2026500 (LV)± 4.4%53%36%11%

Results

By county County Analilia MejiaDemocratic Joe HathawayRepublican Alan BondIndependent Margin Total votes cast # % # % # % # %Essex (part) 35,496 71.41% 13,936 28.04% 275 0.55% 21,560 43.37% 49,707Morris (part) 40,547 54.29% 33,843 45.31% 295 0.39% 6,704 8.98% 74,685Passaic (part) 5,782 49.94% 5,741 49.59% 55 0.48% 41 0.35% 11,578Totals 81,825 60.18% 53,520 39.36% 625 0.46% 28,305 20.82% 135,970

See also 2026 United States House of Representatives elections List of special elections to the United States House of Representatives List of United States representatives from New Jersey 119th United States Congress

Notes

Partisan clients

References

External links Official campaign sites Alan Bond (I) Joe Hathaway (R) Analilia Mejia (D)