Analilia Mejia, our union-endorsed candidate in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, is on the verge of a stunning upset in the Democratic primary. With about 2000 mail-in ballots outstanding, she leads Tom Malinowski by about 500 votes. Analilia is a Rutgers alum and a graduate of our EOF program. Both Malinowski and Mejia are candidates who have fought the New Jersey political machine, and this competitive primary was made possible thanks to the grassroots movement that eliminated the county line on our ballots. This election shows that New Jersey politics is entering a new era in which the power of organizing and individual voters can win out over big money. Our unions and our community partners are playing a role in that transformation. As Analilia said on election night, “this moment calls on every one of us to be big and bold and brave.”
Regardless of your chosen candidate, thank you to everyone who voted, knocked doors, made phone calls, and engaged in this primary election. If you wish to support the unions’ efforts to move New Jersey politics in a more responsive direction, you can set up recurring donations to our COPE fund through this link.
Though we still await the final vote count, we must acknowledge that this election has been truly historic. Despite a special election that took place in February on an icy Thursday, voting turnout in District 11 was strong. Mejia ran on a bold progressive platform that has connected with voters in our state. She ran on our values and will take them to congress. We are proud to be part of her fight to abolish ICE, provide affordable healthcare for all, and build a democracy that works for all of us, not just the wealthy and well-connected.
In solidarity,
Matt Buckley, Joint Legislative Committee Co-Chair, Rutgers AAUP-AFT
Heather Pierce, President, Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union, Joint Legislative Committee Co-Chair