Analilia Mejía did it. She’s not the first, and she won’t be the last. Defying all odds in the fiercely contested race to replace Gov. Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, Analilia has given a master class on how Latinos can run successful campaigns in non-Latino districts and beyond.
Running for office is hard. You need financial resources, a robust supporter network, a fine-tuned political and communications strategy and a message that resonates with voters. Even if a candidate has these components, at times, the winds may not be in their favor. Despite representing nearly 20% of the total population in the United States, Latinos serve in only 2% of elected offices. And as a woman, it’s even harder. In New Jersey, it took until just last year to have the first Latina, Nellie Pou, elected to Congress.
And it’s not for lack of progress or trying. Latinos have made significant strides over the past decade, with increased representation at the federal level and in key statewide and local offices. Despite these gains, our community is still catching up in a political landscape where the U.S. government marginalized us for decades, many times with oppressive voting laws that kept many from casting ballots and by extension, from running for office. But leaders in New Jersey have consistently demanded key appointments to cabinet positions, authorities and commissions so that the bench of access to the system of money for campaigns opens up to Latinos. Despite the fact that the odds are stacked against us, year after year, Latino candidates like Analilia show up, run successful campaigns, and prove they can be competitive and win.
Analilia credits her powerful performance to her grassroots approach. She’s an organizer, and organizers know how to beat back impossible odds with few resources. In just 70 days and despite being outspent 10 to 1, Analilia’s historic campaign activated more than 1,200 volunteers, knocked on more than 10,000 doors and placed more than 300,000 phone calls. She spoke to working families in a language they understand: a living wage, paid sick leave and concern with an economy that helps only the ruling class. She counted on the endorsement of progressive organizations like Latino Victory and Latina Civic, labor unions and members of Congress, but it’s the candidate’s authenticity that had the most impact. Analilia is the real deal, and voters showed up. In the special primary, more people cast ballots in the unusual wintertime race than in any Democratic congressional primary contest in New Jersey in 2024, a presidential election year.
The lesson for candidates: It’s possible to top an election result with people power, and with a strategy centered on the economy, the community, organizing and meeting voters where they are. Another lesson, specifically for Latino candidates: You can run and win wherever you live, even if it’s not considered a traditionally Latino district.
In New Orleans, new Mayor Helena Moreno ran a similar track. She built a coalition based on her “All in” theme, clearly demonstrating that Latinas can run successfully by mobilizing voters from across constituencies with a powerful message.
And this is the kind of campaign that we are also seeing from Brian Varela, who is running in the highly contested toss-up race in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District. Voters are looking for true fighters for their economic concerns and want real leaders who will stand up for people’s basic constitutional rights.
It is through representation that our community’s needs and values will be reflected in the nation’s policy agenda. This is how America becomes stronger, and why more and more Latino candidates are proving that their voices are needed in districts where Latinos are still an emerging voter base: Because they can be competitive — and they can win.
