Progressive activist and community organizer Analilia Mejia declared a historic victory in the special Democratic primary for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District. Mejia, the former national political director for Bernie Sanders’ 2020 campaign, pulled off a major upset against former Congressman Tom Malinowski, who conceded the race earlier this week.
The victory is being hailed as a landmark moment for the progressive movement, as Mejia overcame a significant fundraising gap—being outspent nearly two-to-one—by leaning into a “people-powered” grassroots strategy.
The Winning Strategy: Affordability & Accountability
Mejia’s surge in the final days of counting was credited to a platform that bypassed traditional political platitudes in favor of direct economic relief.
The Affordability Message: Her campaign resonated with voters facing rising costs, focusing on Medicare for All, tuition-free community college, and a federal law for guaranteed paid sick leave.
Grassroots Ground Game: Starting with only 5% name recognition in November, Mejia built a “plane as she flew it” campaign, meeting commuters at 6:30 AM and conducting thousands of door knocks to reach voters ignored by establishment “machinery.”
Anti-Authoritarianism: Mejia also utilized her platform to host “know your rights” trainings, a response to recent federal immigration actions and the broader political climate under the current administration.
Primary Election Results (Feb 5 – Feb 10, 2026)
The race remained “too close to call” for several days as mail-in ballots were tallied, with Mejia ultimately leading by approximately 900 votes.
| Candidate | Vote % | Total Votes (Approx) |
| Analilia Mejia (D) | 29.1% | 18,512 |
| Tom Malinowski (D) | 27.7% | 17,644 |
| Tahesha Way (D) | 17.3% | 11,032 |
| Brendan Gill (D) | 14.3% | 9,116 |
