Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has endorsed Democratic activist Analilia Mejia in the 12-person race to replace Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill in the House of Representatives.
The endorsement from Ocasio-Cortez, a New York Democrat, comes just days before Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont is scheduled to appear at a Jan. 19 rally with Mejia in Wayne as part of his “Fighting Oligarchy” tour.
Mejia is vying with 10 other Democrats in a Feb. 5 special primary for their party’s nomination to succeed Sherrill, who stepped down from representing the 11th Congressional District after she won last year’s gubernatorial election.
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“Analilia Mejia is a fighter for working people who has been on the frontlines of some of our most critical battles — from immigrant rights and universal healthcare to higher wages and real accountability for the powerful. I know she will bring that fight to Congress on day one and I am proud to support her run to represent NJ-11 in Congress,” Ocasio-Cortez said in a statement.
The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican Randolph Mayor Joe Hathaway on April 16. The winner of that election will finish out Sherrill’s term, which ends Jan. 3, 2027.
Ocasio-Cortez’s support will help Mejia cast herself as the progressive leader in the race to succeed Sherrill, which includes former Rep. Tom Malinowski, Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way, Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill, and Passaic County Commissioner John Bartlett, among others.
Mejia, who lives in Glen Ridge, was national political director for Sanders’ 2020 presidential bid, and is also the former executive director of the New Jersey Working Families Alliance. She called herself “humbled” by Ocasio-Cortez’s endorsement.
“It’s time to take power back from the political establishment and put it in the hands of the people and I’m ready to do that alongside Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to deliver real results,” she said.
Major names are weighing in on the special election. Sen. Andy Kim (D) has endorsed Malinowski, who represented the 7th Congressional District for two terms before being ousted in 2022. Gov. Phil Murphy (D) supports Gil, who managed Murphy’s 2017 campaign for governor. Way has secured the endorsement of another New York Democrat, Rep. Gregory Meeks. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka (D) backs Mejia.
The other Democrats in the race to succeed Sherrill are Army veteran and businessman Zachary Beecher, attorney and comedian J-L Cauvin, former Obama staffer Cammie Croft, Morris Township Committeeman Jeff Grayzel, Chatham Councilman Justin Strickland, and community activist Anna Lee Williams.
The 11th District includes towns in Essex, Morris, and Passaic counties.
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