NJ-11: Democrat leads in NJ special election ahead of debate. Here's what to watch for.
Early voting numbers appear to show Democrat Analilia Mejia has a sizable advantage over Republican Joe Hathaway ahead of their one and only debate Wednesday in a special election on April 16 to fill the congressional seat vacated by New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherill through the rest of 2026.
According to vote-by-mail ballots that have already been counted, Democrats are out-returning ballots 3-1 compared to Republicans. Mejia, a progressive backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, pulled off a stunning upset in February over several better-funded and well-established Democrats in the primary.
The largely suburban North Jersey district is considered safe for Democrats. But voters in the state’s 11th Congressional District have also historically favored moderate candidates, and political experts say Hathaway will likely use the debate to try to position himself as a centrist.
“If [Hathaway] can paint [Mejia] as super progressive, far left on a whole range of issues, and at the same time promote himself as a moderate, not-Trumper, middle of the road, that to me makes it potentially a much closer election,” said Seton Hall political professor Matt Hale.
https://gothamist.com/news/democrats-lead-in-nj-special-election-ahead-of-debate-heres-what-to-watch-for
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