Democrat Analilia Mejia projected to win New Jersey House seat

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The Associated Press has projected Democrat Analilia Mejia arsenic the victor of the special election in New Jersey's 11th Congressional District, a spot formerly held by Gov. Mikie Sherrill.

Mejia cruised to triumph Thursday implicit Republican Joe Hathaway and autarkic Alan Bond.

She volition service retired the remainder of Sherrill's term, which ends successful January. The territory encompasses parts of Essex, Morris and Passaic counties.

The spot was a longtime Republican stronghold, but has go progressively Democratic since President Donald Trump's archetypal term. Voter registration records amusement Democrats outnumber Republicans successful the territory by much than 60,000 voters.

Democrat Analilia Mejia's level

Mejia is simply a progressive who is the erstwhile caput of the Working Families Alliance. She emerged from a crowded Democratic field successful February, erstwhile she held a precise slim lead.

Mejia besides worked for U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders arsenic his governmental manager during his 2020 statesmanlike bid. She is endorsed by him, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.

She campaigned connected populist economical policies and pushed to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Some of Mejia's priorities see taxing billionaires, raising wages and cosmopolitan kid attraction and wellness care.

"I deliberation that we should guarantee that not lone homeowners person greater economical stableness by making SALT taxation deductions permanent, but we should besides guarantee that renters person affordability. We are connected way to person adjacent to 40% of rental markets to beryllium snatched up by backstage equity firms," Mejia said.

Republican ads painted Mejia arsenic a socialist -- a question she was asked astir Thursday.

"I deliberation my hostile is ace desperate. The information is, helium plays it accelerated and escaped with the truth. I person been a Democratic region committeewoman for 13 years successful this district," she said. "I've helped to fto Democrats, I've assistance to propulsion for astute policy. And I think, you know, again, my hostile doesn't person a way grounds that is worthy moving on. So instead, he's defaulted to spurious attacks."

Please enactment with CBS News New York for much connected this processing story.

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