New Jersey’s Democratic Primary Heats Up
Eleven candidates are vying for the Democratic nomination in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District primary this Thursday.
The race opened up after Governor Mikie Sherrill stepped down following her win in the November gubernatorial election.
The Democratic primary winner will go up against Randolph Mayor Joe Hathaway, the sole Republican candidate in the special election slated for April 16.
This special election takes place in a district that leans Democratic, while Republicans currently hold a fragile majority of 218 to 214 in the House.
Interestingly, Republicans may be eyeing reinforcements ahead of the general election. A special election is set for March 10, aiming to fill the seat left vacant by former Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who resigned a month ago, a full year before her term was up.
The Georgia race features 22 candidates, with 17 of them being Republicans. According to Georgia law, all candidates appear on the same ballot. If nobody breeches the 50% vote threshold, a runoff between the top two will follow on April 7.
Greene had a commanding lead when she was re-elected in 2024, winning by nearly 30 points, while Trump secured the area by 37 points in the 2024 presidential election.
Returning to the crowded Democratic primary in New Jersey, only a few candidates seem to have a real shot at the nomination. Former Congressman Tom Malinowski, who previously represented the 7th District from 2018 to 2022, and Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill are among the leading contenders.
Also running are former Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way, Passaic County Commissioner John Bartlett, and Analilia Mejia, a progressive organizer backed by prominent progressives like Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Interestingly, Sanders led a virtual rally supporting Mejia on the eve of the primary.
The northern New Jersey district has a reputation for leaning Democratic; Sherrill gained reelection in 2024 with a 15-point margin, mirroring her gubernatorial win. Yet, interestingly, Kamala Harris only secured the district by 8 points in the presidential election, leaving some room for Republicans to speculate about flipping the seat.
Lastly, there’s another open seat in California’s 1st Congressional District due to the recent passing of Republican Congressman Doug LaMalfa.
The primary election to replace LaMalfa is set for June 2, coinciding with California’s primary day. A special general election will follow on August 4. The northeastern California district tends to be heavily Republican.
