The deep-blue Backyard State received a bit bit redder Thursday evening.
New Jersey’s new congresswoman not solely favors the identical ruby shade of lipstick as “Squad” member Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, however agitates for far-left, democratic socialist insurance policies backed by her former boss Bernie Sanders, AOC and Elizabeth Warren.
Analilia Mejia, a daughter of immigrants, cruised to victory within the particular election to serve out the rest of Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s time period within the Home.
She is prone to face her defeated Republican rival, Joe Hathaway, once more in November for the correct to signify the eleventh District for a full two-year time period. It might be her fourth election in 9 months.
Mejia, 48, served as a delegate for Sanders throughout the 2016 Democratic main marketing campaign and helped run his 2020 bid earlier than working within the Labor Division throughout the Biden administration.
Her marketing campaign platform follows the progressive manifesto: Abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, implementation of Medicare for All, tuition-free public school, pupil mortgage forgiveness, a $25 minimal wage and a tax on the rich.
She’s going to doubtless align herself with the progressive “Squad” within the Home and described herself Thursday evening because the “sassy new member of Congress.”
“Don’t overlook,” she reminded her supporters, “in eight weeks we received to do it once more.”
After defeating 11 rivals in February’s particular Democratic main — with the assistance of endorsements from Ocasio-Cortez, Sanders and Warren — Mejia faces a June 2 main to safe the nomination within the Nov. 3 midterm.
The crushed Hathaway, the previous mayor of Randolph Township, advised his backers he was able to face Mejia once more in November, “when extra voices shall be heard and the total voters may have its say.”
Through the marketing campaign, Hathaway attacked Mejia as a socialist — evaluating her to New York Metropolis Mayor Zohran Mamdani — and an antisemite after she argued that Israel has dedicated genocide in Gaza throughout its battle towards Hamas.
“My opinion is that [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu is a battle felony,” she mentioned in March, including: “I don’t prolong the blame I really feel in direction of him towards the Israeli individuals or the Jewish individuals.”
“As a member of Congress, I might use each legislative energy at my disposal to guard the rights of Jewish constituents and convene areas to coach and to struggle antisemitism, as a result of I do know it’s actual,” she mentioned throughout a debate with Hathaway.
Democrats see Mejia’s win as an indication voters are rejecting President Trump’s insurance policies and expressing discontent with the excessive price of residing. New Jersey’s prosperous eleventh District – which covers components of Essex, Morris and Passaic counties – was lengthy a Republican stronghold however has change into more and more Democratic since Trump’s ascenscion to the highest of the GOP.
“My opponent will converse a pleasant recreation about affordability, however in reality, Republicans like himself and Donald Trump have been driving your financial instability,” she mentioned within the debate.
Mejia, the daughter of an undocumented mom from Colombia and a father from the Dominican Republic, was born and raised in Elizabeth, NJ, and her background has formed her views on immigration and ICE.
“It is a rogue company that’s committing human rights violations every day,” she mentioned. “You possibly can’t reform that or repair it with extra oversight. Now we have to abolish ICE, shut down Delaney Corridor [detention facility in Newark], and maintain each single individual accountable for their crimes towards humanity. And we have to do it now earlier than extra individuals die in cages on American soil. Sufficient is sufficient.”
