Radical Agenda Wins: ICE Abolitionist Mejia Ousts Malinowski in Contentious Primary

Paul Riverbank, 2/11/2026 A progressive upset in North Jersey: Analilia Mejia wins a fiercely contested primary shaped by outside money, deep policy divides, and grassroots enthusiasm—setting the stage for a high-stakes general election and sparking new debates over party identity and political influence.

On paper, this one looked like it was Tom Malinowski’s to lose. His time in Congress had made him a recognizable force in New Jersey politics, and his connections hardly needed any introduction. But then came Analilia Mejia, whose name until recently meant more to progressive organizers than to the average voter—and who nonetheless managed to build a campaign that thrived amid the uncertainty.

Mejia’s political roots run deep, if a little sideways—from Sanders’ national campaign team to local unions and grassroots organizing that doesn’t often generate front-page buzz. If you skimmed recent headlines, the parade of big-ticket endorsements landing in her camp would have stood out: Senator Bernie Sanders backing one of his own, Elizabeth Warren adding gravitas, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez bringing in the star power that gets tweets flying. Yet the Mejia campaign gathered steam from more than just high-profile friends. Her bid was propelled by an often-overlooked coalition of dedicated volunteers, local organizations, and sharp use of social media that defied conventional wisdom about voter outreach, especially among young and diverse groups.

But the drama in this election wasn’t only built by personalities or grassroots energy. It was supercharged by money, much of it funneled in from out of state, as has become increasingly common—and controversial. More than $6 million blanketed the district with ads that veered sharply negative late in the race. United Democracy Project, tied to the influential pro-Israel lobby AIPAC, spent a jaw-dropping $2 million just taking aim at Malinowski. Their attack ads accused him of inconsistencies, especially on Middle East policy—though, to his supporters, Malinowski's nuanced position looked like honest debate rather than apostasy. He described himself as staunchly pro-Israel but drew a line at providing what he called a “blank check”—a choice of words that made him vulnerable to attacks in a year when Middle East conflict is a political powder keg.

Mejia didn’t exactly sidestep the controversy. In fact, she took it on directly, referring to Israeli actions in Gaza as “genocide” during a local forum—a position bound to polarize. But you could drive through most of the district’s towns and realize quickly that national—and international—issues, while loud online, weren’t the first thing on the minds of most voters. Conversations outside polling places and in community centers circled around pocketbook concerns: sky-high property taxes, housing costs, immigration, and frustration with how local government is (or isn’t) responding.

Malinowski’s campaign, for its part, tried to walk the tightrope. He faced sharp criticism from progressives for a disputed 2019 vote involving funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, while simultaneously catching flak from centrists and outside groups casting him as insufficiently reliable on foreign policy. The result was an onslaught of ads that sometimes felt more exhausting than illuminating—a feature of today’s campaign landscape that seems unlikely to reverse anytime soon.

This scramble for an open seat, left behind when moderate Democrat Mikie Sherrill left Congress for the governor's mansion, drew an unusually crowded field. At least eleven candidates were serious about their chances. Former Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way and county commissioner Brendan Gill came in well behind the frontrunners—a fact as much about the pace and tone of modern campaigning as the issues at stake. In the closing stretch, Mejia came from behind to notch an 800-vote advantage after the final tallies—a margin that some would call slim, others dramatic, in a district where winning often comes down to the last precinct reporting.

The next chapter arrives quicker than most. Because this was only a special election, candidates are already bracing for another primary in a matter of months. That injects more uncertainty. Assemblymember Rosy Bagolie, a moderate, is already floating a challenge, hoping perhaps to attract voters nervous about Mejia’s unwavering progressive stands. Malinowski? His future plans are, at least for now, anybody’s guess.

As for Republicans, their candidate Joe Hathaway—the mayor of Randolph—had no primary opposition and now gears up for a race on ground that’s grown tougher for the GOP with each redistricting cycle. Democrats have dominated since the Trump era. The VP’s race in 2024 saw Kamala Harris win the district comfortably. Still, Republicans wasted no time framing Mejia as outside the mainstream, with talking points straight from national playbooks about the dangers of “far-left” policies—particularly her call to abolish ICE.

With all the noise, it’s easy to forget this: North Jersey’s voters will get another say, soon, and nothing should be taken for granted. What started as a special contest injected with big money and bigger personalities is now a test case for the direction of the Democratic party in the region—and perhaps, indirectly, a barometer for national politics heading into 2024. In the meantime, conversations in diners and town halls will continue—about money in politics, about war and peace, and perhaps most loudly, about the everyday issues that drew tens of thousands to the polls in the first place. Whichever candidate seizes that narrative has the best chance to carry the next round.

You can sense the emotional whiplash in North Jersey when elections run this close. For more than a week, voters in the 11th Congressional District didn’t know if they were about to send a familiar face back to Washington or pass the torch to new leadership. The air was thick with rumors and late-night counting—ballot by ballot, momentum shifting almost imperceptibly at times.On paper, this one looked like it was Tom Malinowski’s to lose. His time in Congress had made him a recognizable force in New Jersey politics, and his connections hardly needed any introduction. But then came Analilia Mejia, whose name until recently meant more to progressive organizers than to the average voter—and who nonetheless managed to build a campaign that thrived amid the uncertainty.Mejia’s political roots run deep, if a little sideways—from Sanders’ national campaign team to local unions and grassroots organizing that doesn’t often generate front-page buzz. If you skimmed recent headlines, the parade of big-ticket endorsements landing in her camp would have stood out: Senator Bernie Sanders backing one of his own, Elizabeth Warren adding gravitas, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez bringing in the star power that gets tweets flying. Yet the Mejia campaign gathered steam from more than just high-profile friends. Her bid was propelled by an often-overlooked coalition of dedicated volunteers, local organizations, and sharp use of social media that defied conventional wisdom about voter outreach, especially among young and diverse groups.But the drama in this election wasn’t only built by personalities or grassroots energy. It was supercharged by money, much of it funneled in from out of state, as has become increasingly common—and controversial. More than $6 million blanketed the district with ads that veered sharply negative late in the race. United Democracy Project, tied to the influential pro-Israel lobby AIPAC, spent a jaw-dropping $2 million just taking aim at Malinowski. Their attack ads accused him of inconsistencies, especially on Middle East policy—though, to his supporters, Malinowski's nuanced position looked like honest debate rather than apostasy. He described himself as staunchly pro-Israel but drew a line at providing what he called a “blank check”—a choice of words that made him vulnerable to attacks in a year when Middle East conflict is a political powder keg.Mejia didn’t exactly sidestep the controversy. In fact, she took it on directly, referring to Israeli actions in Gaza as “genocide” during a local forum—a position bound to polarize. But you could drive through most of the district’s towns and realize quickly that national—and international—issues, while loud online, weren’t the first thing on the minds of most voters. Conversations outside polling places and in community centers circled around pocketbook concerns: sky-high property taxes, housing costs, immigration, and frustration with how local government is (or isn’t) responding.Malinowski’s campaign, for its part, tried to walk the tightrope. He faced sharp criticism from progressives for a disputed 2019 vote involving funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, while simultaneously catching flak from centrists and outside groups casting him as insufficiently reliable on foreign policy. The result was an onslaught of ads that sometimes felt more exhausting than illuminating—a feature of today’s campaign landscape that seems unlikely to reverse anytime soon.This scramble for an open seat, left behind when moderate Democrat Mikie Sherrill left Congress for the governor's mansion, drew an unusually crowded field. At least eleven candidates were serious about their chances. Former Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way and county commissioner Brendan Gill came in well behind the frontrunners—a fact as much about the pace and tone of modern campaigning as the issues at stake. In the closing stretch, Mejia came from behind to notch an 800-vote advantage after the final tallies—a margin that some would call slim, others dramatic, in a district where winning often comes down to the last precinct reporting.The next chapter arrives quicker than most. Because this was only a special election, candidates are already bracing for another primary in a matter of months. That injects more uncertainty. Assemblymember Rosy Bagolie, a moderate, is already floating a challenge, hoping perhaps to attract voters nervous about Mejia’s unwavering progressive stands. Malinowski? His future plans are, at least for now, anybody’s guess.As for Republicans, their candidate Joe Hathaway—the mayor of Randolph—had no primary opposition and now gears up for a race on ground that’s grown tougher for the GOP with each redistricting cycle. Democrats have dominated since the Trump era. The VP’s race in 2024 saw Kamala Harris win the district comfortably. Still, Republicans wasted no time framing Mejia as outside the mainstream, with talking points straight from national playbooks about the dangers of “far-left” policies—particularly her call to abolish ICE.With all the noise, it’s easy to forget this: North Jersey’s voters will get another say, soon, and nothing should be taken for granted. What started as a special contest injected with big money and bigger personalities is now a test case for the direction of the Democratic party in the region—and perhaps, indirectly, a barometer for national politics heading into 2024. In the meantime, conversations in diners and town halls will continue—about money in politics, about war and peace, and perhaps most loudly, about the everyday issues that drew tens of thousands to the polls in the first place. Whichever candidate seizes that narrative has the best chance to carry the next round.