A New Jersey special election could soon narrow the House GOP’s razor-thin majority

Key Points:

• Analilia Mejia, a progressive Democrat, is favored to win the special election Thursday for New Jersey’s 11th District, competing against Republican Joe Hathaway in a district with a significant Democratic registration advantage.
• Mejia has strong support from the Democratic Party and progressive figures like Senator Bernie Sanders, while Hathaway positions himself as a moderate Republican appealing to Democrats concerned about Mejia’s left-leaning stance.
• The election outcome will affect the narrow U.S. House majority, with a Mejia win reducing the Republican margin further; both candidates are also running in their parties’ June primaries for a full term.
• AIPAC’s $2 million attack campaign against former Democratic candidate Tom Malinowski, who was seen as a moderate pro-Israel contender, likely helped Mejia’s rise by boosting a more critical Israel stance in the race.
• Mejia credits her grassroots campaign and focus on economic issues for her success, emphasizing connection with voters and distancing herself from national progressive labels to focus on local concerns.