Who's running in New Jersey's 11th congressional district
3 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
3 candidates · ballot order · Analilia Mejia currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Workers' rights and union organising, the work she did before Congress.
Affordability — housing and household costs in the New York suburbs.
Health care access.
Immigration policy reform.
Restraint on United States military aid to Israel.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
U.S. Representative for the 11th District since April 2026, elected in the special election to complete Mikie Sherrill's term.
Won the April 16, 2026 special election with 81,825 votes (60.2%) to Joe Hathaway's 53,520 (39.4%) — described as the best Democratic performance in the district since 1982.
Former political director of the Working Families Party; organiser with SEIU and UNITE HERE.
Won the June 2, 2026 Democratic primary against Donald Cresitello, Joseph Lewis and Justin Strickland.
First elected in a February 2026 special primary that she won narrowly over former congressman Tom Malinowski.
Arguments in favor
After a contested special primary the party closed ranks behind her: both New Jersey senators, seven of the state's House Democrats, state party chair LeRoy Jones, the Essex, Morris and Passaic county committees, and four of her own special-election rivals — including Tom Malinowski, whom she narrowly beat — endorsed her.
— Endorsements from the officials, committees and former rivals named
She holds both organised labour and the district's progressive organisations at once: the state AFL-CIO, the New Jersey Teamsters, the New Jersey Education Association, AFGE, SEIU New Jersey and the sheet metal and transportation workers, alongside Giffords, J Street, CAIR Action, Emgage Action and Progressive Democrats of America.
— Endorsements from the unions and organisations named
Arguments against
Hathaway argues she is too far left for a district that elected a moderate for eight years, calling her a "radical socialist" and saying the electorate wants "balanced, pragmatic leadership, not the kind of far-left policies embraced by Ms. Mejia." He has also criticised her description of Israel's conduct in Gaza as problematic.
— Joe Hathaway campaign
Three moderate Democrats — a former Morristown mayor, a Chatham councilman and a tech engineer — ran against her in the June primary on the argument that she is too progressive and ideological for the district, which Morristown Green described as underscoring lingering divisions in the local party.
— Donald Cresitello, Justin Strickland and Joseph Lewis, reported by Morristown Green
What we couldn’t verify
The New Jersey State Building and Construction Trades Council declined to endorse in this race, breaking with the state AFL-CIO.
No verified 2026 campaign website was found: the domain in her own name shows a placeholder page, and mejiaforcongress.com is registered to and serves the campaign site of her opponent Joe Hathaway.
Her margin in the special election was large, but special-election turnout differs from a November midterm; a Fairleigh Dickinson political scientist attributed part of the April result to high Democratic and depressed Republican turnout.
Local governing experience — he argues for "more mayors in Congress."
Cost of living and taxes in the New York suburbs.
Pragmatic, non-ideological politics, which he contrasts with his opponent's record.
Lower federal spending, reflected in his Americans for Tax Reform endorsement.
Socially moderate positions, reflected in his Log Cabin Republicans endorsement.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Randolph Township council member since May 2022; mayor of Randolph in 2025.
Former aide to Governor Chris Christie.
Republican nominee in the April 16, 2026 special election; lost to Mejia by about 21 points.
Won the June 2, 2026 Republican primary uncontested.
Endorsed by Americans for Tax Reform and the Log Cabin Republicans.
Attended Clifton High School, where he captained the football and track teams, and played football at Yale.
Arguments in favor
He is the only candidate in the race who has run a municipality: he served on the Randolph council since 2022 and as mayor in 2025, and makes that experience — "more mayors in Congress" — the core of his pitch.
— Joe Hathaway, reported by Morristown Green
He was uncontested for the nomination and carries Americans for Tax Reform and the Log Cabin Republicans, an unusual pairing that reflects the socially moderate, fiscally conservative position he claims for a suburban district.
— Americans for Tax Reform and Log Cabin Republicans endorsements
Arguments against
He already lost this district to the same opponent five months ago by nearly 21 points, in what New Jersey Monitor called the best Democratic showing here since 1982.
— April 16, 2026 special election results
His strategy of winning over crossover Democrats was called "a pipe dream" by a Fairleigh Dickinson University political scientist, who noted Democratic turnout was high and Republican turnout depressed in the special election — and forecasters rate the seat safe or solid Democratic.
— Fairleigh Dickinson University political scientist quoted by Fox News; Cook Political Report, Sabato's Crystal Ball and Decision Desk HQ ratings
What we couldn’t verify
No Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee material naming Hathaway was found, and no criticism of him from Analilia Mejia or her campaign.
His campaign also owns and serves its site at mejiaforcongress.com — the domain matching his opponent's name. This was verified directly; no news outlet appears to have reported it, so it is noted here rather than presented as a published criticism.
No fundraising totals for the general election campaign were found in the material available.
A second-chance argument built on his own record — the "Hope For Tomorrow" slogan under which he appears on the ballot.
Offering voters an alternative to the two major parties.
Financial and pension policy, drawn from his career in investment management.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Holds a bachelor's degree from Dartmouth College and an MBA from Harvard Business School; worked at Morgan Guaranty, Goldman Sachs and W.R. Lazard.
Formed a pension management firm with former New York City comptroller Harrison Goldin in the 1990s.
Pleaded guilty to a kickback scheme and was convicted by a jury in a separate cherry-picking scheme, having taken roughly $7 million from pension funds he managed.
Sentenced in 2003 to twelve and a half years in federal prison; the sentence was reduced in 2005 for cooperation and he was released in 2008.
Ran in the April 2026 special election in this district and is on the November ballot as an independent.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
We found none published about this candidate in the sources reviewed.
Arguments against
New Jersey Globe, PLANSPONSOR and Chief Investment Officer all covered his candidacy as the return of a financier who stole from the pension funds he was paid to manage — the single fact about him that has drawn national coverage, and one his campaign slogan implicitly addresses.
— New Jersey Globe, PLANSPONSOR and Chief Investment Officer
What we couldn’t verify
No published case for Bond could be found — no endorsements, no policy platform, and no campaign website that could be verified. His convictions are matters of court record and are set out above rather than treated as allegations.
Neither Analilia Mejia nor Joe Hathaway nor either party committee has said anything about him publicly that could be found; the criticism above comes from news coverage rather than from an opponent.
No fundraising figures beyond the existence of an FEC committee, Hope For Tomorrow — Alan Bond For Congress, were found.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
New Jersey held its primary on June 2, 2026. Three candidates appear on the November ballot: Democratic incumbent Analilia Mejia, Republican Joe Hathaway and independent Alan B. Bond under the slogan "Hope For Tomorrow." The roster is confirmed against the New Jersey Division of Elections official general election candidate list dated September 4, 2026 — Russell Jenkins and Vincent Matrisciano filed paperwork but do not appear on the certified list. The seat became vacant on November 20, 2025 when Mikie Sherrill resigned to become governor; Mejia won the April 16, 2026 special election against Hathaway by 60.2% to 39.4%, and the same two candidates are running again for a full term. The district is centred on Morris County and takes in Montclair and Morristown; forecasters rate it safe or solid Democratic.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A New Jersey ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.
Your ballot is determined by your election authority, not by us. Verify your registration, precinct, and sample ballot at New Jersey Division of Elections.