Analilia Mejia credits ICE, affordability for 11th District surge

Analilia Mejia, the surprise front-running Democrat in the 11th Congressional District special primary election, says voters identified with her message about “ICE overreach” and a flailing middle class.

The election, on Feb. 5, remains too close to call. Thirteen Democrats and a sole Republican were on the ballot to advance to the April 16 contest that will determine who will complete the term vacated by Gov. Mikie Sherrill, who resigned when she was elected governor in November.

Mejia, the most progressive Democrat in the race, is a longtime New Jersey community organizer who led a successful drive for a $15 minimum wage. She’s also a former national political director for Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign. As returns came in last week, Mejia eclipsed former Rep. Tom Malinowski, the race’s top fundraiser, and she leads by fewer than 1,000 votes. Mail-in ballots continue to be counted.

“We are very concerned about what we are seeing in terms of ICE overreach across the country, and we do feel that our economy is stacked against middle-class, working-class people,” Mejia told NJ Spotlight News. “That message resonated with Democratic voters in this primary, and I believe it will resonate with the electorate come the general.”

Senators on her side

Mejia, of Glen Ridge, said she had no Democratic Party backing, and that she jumped into the race late. As of mid-January, Malinowski had raised $1.2 million and Mejia, $421,000.

“I understood that I had to increase my name recognition and define myself to the voters,” she said. “We were at every town hall that we could put together, that’s why you would find my volunteers across this district knocking on doors, making phone calls.”

She also had endorsements from fellow progressive firebrands in the U.S. Senate, including Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio Cortes and Elizabeth Warren.

“I have neighbors who are progressive,” Mejia said,  “but I also have neighbors who find themselves more at the center, but they still are drowning when it comes to credit card debt, child care costs, health care costs, housing costs — and I think that is what matters.”