Voters in northern New Jersey are poised to select nominees in a special congressional primary scheduled for Thursday, aimed at filling the vacancy left by Democrat Mikie Sherrill, who recently ascended to the governor’s office. The Democratic primary features a diverse field of 11 candidates, including Passaic County Commissioner John Bartlett, venture capitalist Zach Beecher, attorney and comedian J-L Cauvin, nonprofit executive Cammie Croft, Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill, Morris Township Committeeman Jeff Grayzel, former U.S. Rep. Tom Malinowski, progressive organizer Analilia Mejia, Chatham Borough Councilman Justin Strickland, former Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way, and community activist Anna Lee Williams. Although two candidates have withdrawn from the race, their names will remain on the ballot.
The winner of the Democratic primary will go head-to-head with Randolph Township Mayor Joe Hathaway, the sole candidate in the Republican primary, in a special general election set for April 16. The Democratic-leaning district represents a critical opportunity to further reduce the Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, which currently stands at 218 to 214. Districts previously held by Republicans in Georgia and California are also currently vacant, adding to the competitive landscape.
Leading up to the primary, Malinowski has garnered significant attention due to his strong fundraising performance. However, he finds himself facing a $1.6 million negative ad campaign orchestrated by a super PAC linked to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a group known for targeting progressive candidates. On the other hand, a super PAC aligned with the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association has invested around $1.5 million in support of Way.
Given the district’s Democratic lean, the party’s nominee is expected to have a substantial advantage going into the general election. Sherrill, who won her reelection bid in 2024 with about 57% of the vote, underscores the district’s potential for Democratic candidates. In addition, Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, secured 53% of the vote in the district in the same election cycle.
In terms of demographics, over half of the 588 precincts in the district reside in Morris County, while approximately 39% are located in Essex County and 9% in Passaic County. Candidates representing Morris County include Beecher, Grayzel, Strickland, and Williams, while those from Essex County include Cauvin, Croft, Gill, and Mejia. Way is from Passaic County, and Malinowski previously represented a segment of Essex County before his loss in 2022 to Republican Tom Kean.
As the election day approaches, attention turns towards the mechanics of voting. Polls are set to close at 8 p.m. ET, allowing registered party members to cast their ballots only in their respective primaries. Early voting has already seen substantial participation, with more than 25,000 ballots cast by registered Democrats and around 5,400 from Republicans, as well as a handful from unaffiliated voters.
The special primary is not just a critical moment for the candidates involved but also for the broader political landscape, setting the stage for potential shifts in party power as New Jersey approaches the special general election. Voter engagement, reflected in the early turnout, suggests a heightened interest in this evolving political scenario. As we await the results, the excitement surrounding this contest underscores the importance of active civic participation in shaping the future of representation.