Progressive Democrat Analilia Mejía Wins New Jersey Primary, Benefiting From AIPAC Backfire
In a surprising turn of events, Analilia Mejía, a progressive Democrat with roots in the Bernie Sanders wing of the party, has secured the Democratic nomination for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District. The victory comes after a special primary election to replace Governor Mikie Sherrill, and sets the stage for a potentially challenging general election on April 16th, followed by a primary for a full two-year term in June.
Mejía, a former national political director for Senator Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign and a longtime labor organizer, garnered less than 30% of the approximately 64,000 votes cast by Democrats in the special primary. As of Tuesday, she led former Congressman Tom Malinowski by a narrow 1.4% margin, prompting Malinowski to concede the race.
“I’m so excited to be able to say we did it,” Mejía told supporters in Montclair, celebrating the win as a testament to the power of grassroots organizing. “The lesson coming out of this race is people power can win.”
While Malinowski has pledged support for Mejía in the April general election against Republican Joe Hathaway and independent Alan Bond, he stopped short of endorsing her for a full two-year term, and did not rule out a run of his own in the June primary. The 11th District, encompassing parts of Essex, Morris, and Passaic counties, is considered to favor Democratic candidates.
The path to victory for Mejía was unexpectedly aided by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). A super PAC linked to AIPAC spent at least $2.3 million on advertisements targeting Malinowski, despite previously supporting him. This intervention appears to have backfired, potentially contributing to Mejía’s win.
During a forum last month, Mejía was the only candidate to state that she believes Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, a position that drew criticism but also resonated with a segment of the electorate. Malinowski, while pro-Israel, had expressed openness to conditioning U.S. Aid to Israel, a stance that made him a target for AIPAC’s spending.
“One of the great own goals in the history of American politics,” remarked Matt Bennett, a co-founder of the moderate Democratic think tank Third Way, describing AIPAC’s involvement as “unbelievably dumb.”
Mejía’s campaign centered on a rejection of corporate and special interest money, including funds from AIPAC. She pledged to focus on representing her constituents rather than appeasing large donors. “By the time that AIPAC is making its big money spend, we had spent some serious time talking to voters about how that kind of action would end up corrupting our political system, our policymaking system,” Mejía explained in a recent interview.
The candidate’s background as the daughter of a Colombian garment worker and a Dominican laborer has informed her commitment to labor organizing and fighting for economic justice. She served as deputy director of the Labor Department’s Women’s Bureau under President Joe Biden, further solidifying her credentials as a champion for working families.
Mejía’s victory is particularly notable given the multiple elections she faces in a short period. She must win the April 16th special election, then compete in a primary for the full two-year term, and potentially face another election in November. “By the time that I’m done, it will be four races in, what, nine months,” she acknowledged, but expressed confidence in her ability to engage voters through community organizing.
Mejía has also been a vocal advocate against ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), calling for its abolition and highlighting the rising violence and fear experienced by immigrant communities. “It is training each other, engaging each other, understanding our history, so that People can protect our democratic institutions and we could preserve the kind of self-governance that we strive for in the United States,” Mejía stated, emphasizing the importance of community organizing in safeguarding democratic values.
Looking ahead, Mejía’s campaign will likely continue to focus on grassroots engagement and a message of economic and social justice, while contrasting her commitment to representing the interests of ordinary people with the influence of big money in politics. Her win represents a significant moment for the progressive movement in New Jersey and could signal a shift in the political landscape of the 11th Congressional District.
