Malinowski concedes to Mejia in New Jersey’s special Democratic primary

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Former Congressman Tom Malinowski on Tuesday recognized Anelia Mejia, a longtime progressive activist and former political director for Sen. Bernie Sanders, in the crowded Democratic primary for a U.S. House special election in New Jersey.

A special election is being held to fill the seat vacated when Mickey Sherrill stepped down to become governor.

Read more: Democratic Representative Mikie Sherrill wins New Jersey governor’s race

“I look forward to supporting her in the general election in April,” Malinowski said in a statement.

Mejia narrowly edged out Malinowski on election night. The Associated Press has not yet announced Thursday’s race.

All three counties in the region reported some mail-in ballots that had not yet been processed. Also, mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day could arrive as late as Wednesday and still be counted.

She won the endorsement of prominent progressives, including Sanders, an independent from Vermont, and US Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.

Mejia, 48, a former director of the Working Families Alliance of New Jersey, is a well-known figure in state politics, championing progressive causes. She was Sanders’ political director during his 2020 presidential run, and served as deputy director of the Labor Department’s Office of Women under President Joe Biden.

Mejia will face Republican Joe Hathaway, who was unopposed in the primary, in the special general election on April 16.

Other prominent Democrats seeking the nomination include Brendan Gill, the Essex County commissioner-elect, and Tahisha Way, who was lieutenant governor and secretary of state for two terms until last month.

Also on the ballot were John Bartlett, Zach Beecher, J.L. Coffin, Mark Shaaban, Cami Croft, Dean Davis, Jeff Grayzel, Justin Strickland and Anna Lee Williams.

The district covers parts of Essex, Morris, and Passaic counties in northern New Jersey, including some of New York City’s wealthier suburbs.

Sherrill represented the district for four terms after being elected in 2018. She won despite the district’s historical loyalty to the Republican Party, a dynamic that began to change during President Donald Trump’s first term.