2026 New Jersey's 11th congressional district special election
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The 2026 New Jersey's 11th congressional district special election will be held on April 16, 2026, to fill the vacant seat in New Jersey's 11th congressional district. The winner will serve in the United States House of Representatives for the remainder of the 119th United States Congress.
Background
[edit]The seat became vacant on November 20, 2025, when Mikie Sherrill resigned to become the governor of New Jersey.[1]
A primary will be held on February 5, 2026, with candidates required to file by December 1, 2025. Both the primary and general elections will be preceded by in-person early voting periods: a six-day period prior to the primary, January 29 through February 3, and a nine-day period prior to the general, April 6 through April 14. Voters will also, as always, have the option to cast their votes by mail.[2]
Democratic primary
[edit]Candidates
[edit]Declared
[edit]- John Bartlett, Passaic County commissioner and candidate for this district in 2018[3]
- Zach Beecher, venture capitalist[4]
- J-L Cauvin, anti-eviction attorney and comedian[5]
- Cammie Croft, nonprofit executive and former White House deputy new media director[6]
- Dean Dafis, Maplewood Township Committeeman and former mayor[7]
- Brendan Gill, at-large Essex County commissioner and husband of state assemblymember Alixon Collazos-Gill[8]
- Jeff Grayzel, deputy mayor of Morris Township[6]
- Tom Malinowski, former chair of the Hunterdon County Democratic Party (2024–2025) and former U.S. Representative from the 7th district (2019–2023)[9]
- Analilia Mejia, co-executive director of the Center for Popular Democracy[10]
- Justin Strickland, Chatham Borough councilor[11]
- Tahesha Way, lieutenant governor of New Jersey (2023–present) and secretary of state of New Jersey (2018–present)[12]
- Anna Lee Williams, corporate social responsibility manager[13]
Disqualified
[edit]- Donald Cresitello, former mayor of Morristown (1977–1981, 2006–2010) and candidate for U.S. Senate in 1982 and 2008[14]
Withdrawn
[edit]Did not file
[edit]- Kennedy Pivnick, former legal intern at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission[17]
Declined
[edit]- Matthew Platkin, attorney general of New Jersey (2022–present)[18]
Endorsements
[edit]John Bartlett
- Political parties
- Passaic County Democratic Committee (co-endorsement with Way)[19]
- Labor unions
- Port Authority Police Benevolent Association[20]
Zach Beecher
- Organizations
Brendan Gill
- Executive branch officials
- Jeh Johnson, former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security (2013–2017)[22]
- Statewide officials
- Phil Murphy, governor of New Jersey (2018–present)[23]
- State legislators
- Renee Burgess, state senator from the 28th district (2022–present)[24]
- Alixon Collazos-Gill, state assemblymember from the 27th district (2024–present) (candidate's wife)[24]
- John McKeon, state senator from the 27th district (2024–present)[24]
- Carmen Morales, state assemblymember from the 34th district (2024–present)[24]
- Jessica Ramirez, state assemblymember from the 32nd district (2024–present)[25]
- Teresa Ruiz, majority leader of the New Jersey Senate (2022–present) from the 29th district (2008–present)[26]
- Shavonda Sumter, state assemblymember from the 35th district (2012–present)[24]
- Britnee Timberlake, state senator from the 34th district (2024–present)[24]
- Michael Venezia, state assemblymember from the 34th district (2024–present)[24]
- Jackie Yustein, former state assemblymember from the 28th district (2023–2024)[24]
- Local officials
- Joseph DiVincenzo Jr., Essex County Executive (2003–present)[27]
- Chris Durkin, Essex County Clerk (2006–present)[24]
- Amir Jones, Essex County Sheriff (2025–present)[24]
- Thomas Sullivan, Bergen County commissioner[28]
- 5 Essex County commissioners[24]
- 11 mayors[24]
- Party officials
- Individuals
- Evie Colbert, president of Montclair Film and wife of Stephen Colbert[25]
- Political parties
- Essex County Democratic Committee[29]
- Labor unions
- American Federation of Government Employees Local 913[30]
- Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen New Jersey State Legislative Board[31]
- Communications Workers of America Local 1031[32]
- Hotel and Gaming Trades Council[33]
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 164[28]
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1158[30]
- Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union Local 108[34]
- International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers Local 25[35]
Tom Malinowski
- U.S. senators
- Andy Kim, U.S. senator from New Jersey (2024–present)[36]
- Labor unions
- International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers Transportation Division[20]
- Organizations
Analilia Mejia
- U.S. senators
- Bernie Sanders, U.S. senator from Vermont (2007–present) (Independent)[10]
- U.S. representatives
- Ro Khanna, U.S. representative from California's 17th congressional district (2017–present)[38]
- Local officials
- Ras Baraka, mayor of Newark (2014–present)[39]
- Individuals
- Marc Chaaban, former congressional staffer and former candidate for this seat[16]
- Labor unions
Tahesha Way
- U.S. representatives
- Gregory Meeks, U.S. representative from New York's 5th congressional district (1998–present)[41]
- Statewide officials
- Kyle Evans Gay, lieutenant governor of Delaware (2025–present)[12]
- Political parties
- Passaic County Democratic Committee (co-endorsement with Bartlett)[19]
- Organizations
Declined to endorse
- U.S. representatives
- Mikie Sherrill, former U.S. representative from New Jersey's 11th congressional district (2019–2025)[42]
County conventions
[edit]County convention results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Brendan Gill | 132 | 51.5% | |
| Democratic | No Endorsement (Abstained) | 90 | 35.2% | |
| Democratic | Tom Malinowski | 17 | 6.6% | |
| Democratic | John Bartlett | 6 | 2.3% | |
| Democratic | Dean Dafis | 4 | 1.6% | |
| Democratic | Analilia Mejia | 3 | 1.2% | |
| Democratic | Tahesha Way | 3 | 1.2% | |
| Democratic | Marc Chaaban | 1 | 0.4% | |
| Democratic | Zach Beecher | 0 | 0.0% | |
| Democratic | J-L Cauvin | 0 | 0.0% | |
| Democratic | Cammie Croft | 0 | 0.0% | |
| Democratic | Justin Strickland | 0 | 0.0% | |
| Democratic | Anna Lee Williams | 0 | 0.0% | |
| Total votes | 256 | 100.0% | ||
Polling
[edit]| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[b] |
Margin of error |
Brendan Gill |
Tom Malinowski |
Analilia Mejia |
Tahesha Way |
Other | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GQR Research (D)[43][c] | November 19–23, 2025 | 400 (LV) | ± 5.4% | 12% | 28% | 5% | 5% | 5%[d] | 31% |
Republican primary
[edit]Candidates
[edit]Nominee
[edit]Endorsements
[edit]Joe Hathaway
- State legislators
- Brian Bergen, state assemblymember from the 26th district (2020–present)[44]
Notes
[edit]- ^ Belleville, Bloomfield, Cedar Grove, Fairfield, Glen Ridge, Millburn, Nutley, Roseland, South Orange, West Caldwell, West Orange
- ^ Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear - ^ Poll sponsored by Malinowski's campaign
- ^ Bartlett and Grayzel with 2%; Beecher with 1%
References
[edit]- ^ Wildstein, David (November 20, 2025). "Mikie Sherrill is now a former congresswoman as N.J. awaits writ of special election". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
- ^ Fox, Joey (November 21, 2025). "Murphy sets February 5 primary, April 16 general for NJ-11 special election". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
- ^ Fox, Joey (November 5, 2025). "With Sherrill now governor-elect, John Bartlett will run for her House seat". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
- ^ Fox, Joey (November 17, 2025). "Zach Beecher launches campaign for NJ-11 special election". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
- ^ Fox, Joey (November 21, 2025). "Trump impersonator wants to fight back against Trump as next NJ-11 congressman". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
- ^ a b c Fox, Joey (November 5, 2025). "Grayzel, Croft, Hathaway confirm they're in for special election to succeed Sherrill". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
- ^ Fox, Joey (November 12, 2025). "Dean Dafis enters special election for Sherrill's House seat". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
- ^ Fox, Joey (November 6, 2025). "Brendan Gill enters race for Sherrill's House seat, with huge array of Dems already behind him". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 29, 2025.
- ^ Fox, Joey (November 6, 2025). "Tom Malinowski makes it official: He's running to succeed Mikie Sherrill". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
- ^ a b Fox, Joey (November 25, 2025). "Analilia Mejia will run for NJ-11 with backing from Bernie Sanders". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
- ^ Fox, Joey (November 11, 2025). "Chatham councilman joins Democratic field in NJ-11". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
- ^ a b c d Fox, Joey (December 2, 2025). "Tahesha Way makes formal entrance into NJ-11 race with major endorsements in hand". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
- ^ Fox, Joey (July 21, 2025). "Anna Lee Williams becomes first Democrat to enter race for NJ-11". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved July 24, 2025.
- ^ Fox, Joey (December 1, 2025). "Cresitello fails to reach ballot in NJ-11". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
- ^ Fox, Joey (December 3, 2025). "Chaaban exits NJ-11 race, citing short timeframe, Essex convention results". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
- ^ a b Wildstein, David (December 4, 2025). "Mejia endorsed by ex-rival in race for Sherrill NJ-11 seat". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
- ^ Fox, Joey (December 1, 2025). "Thirteen Democrats, one Republican file to make NJ-11 special election ballot". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
- ^ @wildstein (November 13, 2025). "Not every Murphy cabinet member is running for Congress: Attorney General Matt Platkin told me he never considered running for Mikie Sherrill's NJ-11 congressional seat" (Tweet). Retrieved November 13, 2025 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b Wildstein, David (December 3, 2025). "Passaic Dems give party slogan to Way, Bartlett in NJ-11 special primary". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
- ^ a b Fox, Joey (November 24, 2025). "Port Authority PBA endorses Bartlett in NJ-11". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 24, 2025.
- ^ Fox, Joey (December 8, 2025). "Beecher endorsed by veterans group that spent heavily in past N.J. races". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
- ^ Fox, Joey (November 20, 2025). "Gill endorsed by Obama-era Homeland Security Secretary". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
- ^ Fox, Joey (November 17, 2025). "Phil Murphy backs Brendan Gill, his old campaign manager, in NJ-11 special election". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Fox, Joey (November 6, 2025). "Brendan Gill enters race for Sherrill's House seat, with huge array of Dems already behind him". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 6, 2025.
- ^ a b "Over Fifty Trailblazing Women Leaders Stand with Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill for Congress". December 5, 2025. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
- ^ Fox, Joey (November 20, 2025). "Teresa Ruiz backs Brendan Gill in NJ-11 special election". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
- ^ Fox, Joey (December 1, 2025). "Joe D endorses Brendan G in NJ-11 special election". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
- ^ a b Fox, Joey (November 25, 2025). "IBEW Local 164 endorses Gill for NJ-11". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 25, 2025.
- ^ a b Fox, Joey (December 3, 2025). "Brendan Gill wins Essex Democratic endorsement after tangled virtual convention". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved December 3, 2025.
- ^ a b Fox, Joey (December 4, 2025). "Gill gets two more labor endorsements for NJ-11 bid". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved December 4, 2025.
- ^ Fox, Joey (November 21, 2025). "N.J. Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers endorses Brendan Gill". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
- ^ Fox, Joey (November 17, 2025). "CWA Local 1031 backs Gill in NJ-11". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
- ^ Fox, Joey (November 13, 2025). "Brendan Gill picks up endorsement from Hotel & Gaming Trades Council". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 13, 2025.
- ^ "Labor Leader Hall Backs Gill in CD-11". November 12, 2025. Retrieved November 12, 2025.
- ^ Fox, Joey (December 1, 2025). "SMART Local 25 endorses Brendan Gill". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
- ^ Fox, Joey (November 17, 2025). "Tom Malinowski's comeback campaign earns endorsement from Andy Kim". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 17, 2025.
- ^ "Tom Malinowski". JStreetPAC. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
- ^ Fox, Joey (November 27, 2025). "Ro Khanna endorses Analilia Mejia in NJ-11". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 28, 2025.
- ^ Fox, Joey (December 5, 2025). "Mejia gets official endorsement from Baraka for NJ-11 special election". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
- ^ Fox, Joey (December 8, 2025). "SEIU State Council endorses Analilia Mejia, a former SEIU organizer". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved December 8, 2025.
- ^ "Congressional Black Caucus PAC Endorses Tahesha Way for Congress". December 2, 2025. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
- ^ Blackburn, Zach; Fox, Joey (November 5, 2025). "Murphy wants legislature to address 'cumbersome' special election schedule for Sherrill's House seat". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 5, 2025.
- ^ Fox, Joey (December 2, 2025). "Malinowski's internal polling gives him early edge in packed NJ-11 primary". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved December 2, 2025.
- ^ Fox, Joey (November 21, 2025). "Brian Bergen will support Joe Hathaway in NJ-11 special". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved November 21, 2025.
External links
[edit]- Official campaign sites
- John Bartlett (D) for Congress
- Zach Beecher (D) for Congress
- J-L Cauvin (D) for Congress
- Cammie Croft (D) for Congress
- Dean Dafis (D) for Congress
- Brendan Gill (D) for Congress
- Jeff Grayzel (D) for Congress
- Joe Hathaway (R) for Congress
- Tom Malinowski (D) for Congress
- Analilia Mejia (D) for Congress
- Justin Strickland (D) for Congress
- Tahesha Way (D) for Congress
- Anna Lee Williams (D) for Congress