The AOC wing of the Democratic Party sees New Jersey’s special election as its next chance to show it’s not just winning primaries — it’s reshaping where the national discussion is headed.
That hope is pinned on Analilia Mejia, a Democrat and longtime ally of democratic socialist Sen. Bernard Sanders. She was endorsed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a leader of Congress’ far-left “Squad.”
Ms. Mejia is facing moderate Republican Joe Hathaway in the race to fill the remainder of Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s term in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District.
For socialist-leaning Democrats, a Mejia victory would signal that the left’s policy vision — on health care, immigration, and foreign policy — is gaining traction in the suburbs, not just in deep‑blue cities.
Mr. Hathaway is navigating a different political reality. He’s running in a district where President Trump’s approval rating is deep underwater and where the administration’s foreign‑policy decisions are feeding into the affordability concerns that have helped Democrats in recent elections.
Mr. Hathaway is pitching himself as a centrist problem‑solver focused on moderation, local governance, and a more traditional approach to national security.
For voters, it is shaping up to be a stark choice.
Ms. Mejia, the daughter of immigrants, not only served as national political director for Mr. Sanders’ presidential campaign but now leans heavily on his policy playbook.
The 48‑year‑old mother backs Medicare for All and has urged impeaching Mr. Trump or invoking the 25th Amendment to remove him from office. She also wants to abolish and replace ICE, which she argues gives a “despotic, authoritarian‑leaning, corrupt leader” an unaccountable police force drawn from “the edges of society.”
She supports a ban on offensive weapons sales to Israel and has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of committing war crimes in Gaza. She recently named Rep. Pramila Jayapal, the former chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, as a political role model — another signal of the ideological direction she hopes to take the party.
Mr. Hathaway has cast himself in the mold of Rep. Mike Lawler of New York — a Republican who has survived in a blue‑leaning district by presenting himself as an independent‑minded moderate.
The 38‑year‑old father calls single‑payer health care “socialized medicine” that would cost trillions, and supports ending sanctuary‑city laws to allow closer coordination between local and federal law enforcement.
Potentially forging inroads with Jewish voters, Mr. Hathaway has offered a full‑throated backing of Israel, rejecting any conditions on military aid, while accusing Ms. Mejia of espousing antisemitic views.
She has pushed back, saying, “I believe that criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu and his administration is not anti‑Israel any more than criticism of Donald Trump is anti‑American.”
Mr. Hathaway has also tried to localize the race, arguing that Congress needs someone who has wrestled with municipal budgets, housing mandates and infrastructure shortfalls.
“If we had a representative in Washington who had served as a mayor, that would be such a huge boost for quality of life for all of our residents,” he said in a recent interview.
He has made bringing federal dollars back to New Jersey — which receives roughly 75 cents for every dollar it sends to Washington — a top campaign promise, with infrastructure as his preferred vehicle. He has also called for tax credits for first-time homebuyers and for child care.
Ms. Mejia has spent months arguing that Mr. Trump’s war with Iran has driven up gas prices, rattled the global economy and left families paying the price — a message that sharpened after U.S.-Iran nuclear talks collapsed over the weekend.
Mr. Hathaway supports the administration’s approach, calling the initial airstrikes “incredibly effective,” but has carved out distance from Mr. Trump on economic issues. He has criticized the president’s tariffs as a “sledgehammer,” said he would have voted to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies, and opposed the administration’s attempt to use Gateway Tunnel funding as leverage.
Ms. Mejia scored a surprise win in the special primary, edging out former Rep. Tom Malinowski after the pro‑Israel lobby poured money into a costly outside campaign against him.
She enters Thursday with a commanding financial advantage, outraising Mr. Hathaway by more than two to one — $1.1 million to $524,000.
