Democratic Party Left vs Center

Analilia Mejia, the progressive Democrat backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, won the April 18 special election for New Jersey's 11th Congressional District, defeating Republican Joe Hathaway and independent Alan Bond to fill the roughly eight months remaining in Mikie Sherrill's House term after she became governor. Major outlets, including the Associated Press and network partners, called the race minutes after polls closed; Democrats framed the result as a decisive hold that prevented Republicans from widening their fragile House majority, and Mejia said on victory night she would bring an "unbought, unbossed" voice to Congress.