In an Upset, Analilia Mejia, a Progressive, Wins a Democratic House Race – The New York Times

Lead

Analilia Mejia, a progressive political organizer, was declared the winner on Feb. 12, 2026 in the Democratic primary for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, the seat vacated by Gov. Mikie Sherrill. The Associated Press called the contest for Mejia a week after polls closed, reporting she led by roughly 1,100 votes as local officials finished counting mail ballots. Her main rival, former two-term Representative Tom Malinowski, conceded days earlier. The outcome was widely characterized as an upset: Mejia entered late and faced substantial spending disadvantages against a 10-candidate field.

Key Takeaways

• Analilia Mejia was declared the Democratic nominee for New Jersey’s 11th District on Feb. 12, 2026, with an AP-called margin of about 1,100 votes.
• The race’s final counts included mail ballots postmarked by Election Day and received within the state’s legally allowed window across Morris, Essex and Passaic counties.
• Tom Malinowski, a former two-term House member, conceded the contest several days before the official call.
• Mejia previously led New Jersey’s Working Families alliance until 2019 and ran as a progressive political organizer.
• She was outspent by many of the field’s 10 contenders and entered the campaign late, yet drew high-profile progressive endorsements including Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.
• Endorsements from prominent House progressives—such as Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ayanna Pressley—helped consolidate the left-leaning base.
• Counting continued in three counties as provisional and late-arriving but timely mail ballots were tallied under New Jersey law.

Background

The 11th Congressional District became open when Rep. Mikie Sherrill vacated the seat, triggering a crowded Democratic primary in a district that mixes suburban and exurban communities northwest of New York City. Historically competitive at the federal level, the seat has attracted candidates spanning the party’s ideological spectrum, from establishment-aligned figures to progressive organizers. National attention grew as several national groups and individual donors targeted the race, seeing it as a possible bellwether for intra-party dynamics ahead of the midterm cycle.

Mejia’s political profile stems from her years organizing with labor and progressive coalitions, including a leadership role at the state’s Working Families grouping until 2019. Malinowski, previously elected to two House terms, was viewed by many as the establishment alternative, with name recognition and prior fundraising networks. The campaign’s final weeks were marked by intense advertising, including negative spots from outside groups, and a compressed timeline of vote tabulation because of New Jersey’s allowance for mail ballots postmarked by Election Day to arrive several days afterward.

Main Event

Polls in the Democratic primary closed the previous Thursday; initial tallies showed a tight race among the top contenders. Mejia held a narrow advantage as provisional and mail ballots were counted across Morris, Essex and Passaic counties. By Feb. 12, the Associated Press projected Mejia the winner after her lead widened to roughly 1,100 votes when late-arriving mail ballots were included.

Malinowski publicly acknowledged the outcome before the AP’s projection, offering congratulations to Mejia and describing the race as hard-fought. Local election officials continued processing ballots under New Jersey’s statutory deadline—mail ballots postmarked by Election Day and received within the allowed time were eligible—so the official totals awaited final certification at the county and state level.

Campaign dynamics in the closing stretch featured a costly media environment and concentrated ground activity. Mejia’s campaign emphasized retail organizing and mobilizing progressive constituencies, while several opponents leaned on established networks and outside spending. Endorsements from national progressive figures were highlighted by Mejia’s team as instrumental in expanding her visibility among Democratic primary voters.

Analysis & Implications

Mejia’s victory points to the continued potency of grassroots-organizing models combined with influential progressive endorsements in Democratic primaries. Despite being significantly outspent and entering late, her ability to sustain a narrow lead into the mail-ballot count suggests targeted outreach and enthusiasm among precincts that favored her messaging. For the party, the result underscores intra-party tensions between establishment-backed candidates and insurgent progressive challengers where turnout and organization can offset funding gaps.

The outcome also offers lessons about the role of late-arriving mail ballots in close contests. In jurisdictions like New Jersey that count ballots postmarked by Election Day but received within a defined window, initial tallies on election night can shift materially as counties process additional returns. Parties and campaigns will likely factor that timing into their post-election strategies and communications plans.

On the national stage, a Mejia nomination—and potential general-election victory—could modestly shift the House Democratic caucus’ ideological balance, adding a progressive voice to a delegation where margins are closely watched. Politically, her endorsements from senior progressives signal continuing coordination among those figures to back primary challengers who align with their policy priorities. Conversely, the result may prompt establishment groups to reassess messaging and invest earlier in future primaries to counter insurgent campaigns.

Comparison & Data

The table above summarizes the available quantitative details reported at the time of the AP call. Final certified totals will be published by county election boards; those certified figures can differ slightly from initial projections as provisional ballots are resolved and clerical checks are completed.

Reactions & Quotes

Short statements from principal actors and commentators framed immediate public understanding of the result.

“Congratulations to Analilia Mejia on a hard‑won victory.”

Tom Malinowski (conceding candidate)

Malinowski’s concession framed the contest as competitive and acknowledged Mejia’s success while offering a conventional, conciliatory tone often seen in primary races when outcomes narrow. The statement came days before the AP formally projected the final result.

“Her campaign demonstrated organizing strength in key communities and mobilized voters at a critical moment.”

Progressive ally (campaign surrogate)

Supporters highlighted ground operations and high-profile endorsements as critical factors. Campaign allies credited concentrated outreach and late momentum for preserving Mejia’s lead as ballots were counted.

Unconfirmed

• The specific impact of negative ads from a pro‑Israel group on Tom Malinowski’s vote share has not been independently quantified; causal effects remain unverified.
• Final certified vote totals were pending county certification at the time of the AP projection and could differ slightly from the projected ~1,100‑vote margin.
• Attribution of the outcome to any single factor—endorsements, ad spending, late entry, or ground game—has not been definitively established and likely reflects a combination of elements.

Bottom Line

Analilia Mejia’s primary victory in New Jersey’s 11th District is a notable win for progressive organizing, demonstrating that late-entry candidates can prevail against better-funded opponents when endorsements, local outreach and timely vote-counting dynamics converge. The narrow margin highlights how mail-ballot rules and county processing timelines are consequential in modern primaries.

For Democrats, the result will prompt tactical discussions about resource allocation in future primaries and the relative returns on early spending versus targeted grassroots work. In the weeks ahead, county certifications will finalize totals and the general-election map will adjust to reflect Mejia as the party’s nominee.

Sources

• The New York Times (news report)
• The Associated Press (news projection and call)
• New Jersey Division of Elections (official election rules)