Democratic Party CIVIL WAR Erupts in New Jersey

A Bernie Sanders-backed progressive endorsed by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is poised to capture the Democratic nomination for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, signaling the far-left’s tightening grip over a party once dominated by moderates.

Story Snapshot

Analilia Mejia, former Bernie Sanders political director, leads Democratic primary with 28.75% of the vote in tight race
Race to replace moderate Rep. Mikie Sherrill exposes deep ideological rift between progressive and establishment Democrats
AIPAC spent $2 million attacking second-place finisher Tom Malinowski over Israel aid comments
Winner faces Republicans in April 16 special election that could impact razor-thin House majority

Progressive Candidate Leads Crowded Democratic Field

Analilia Mejia secured a narrow lead in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District Democratic primary on February 5, 2026, capturing 17,647 votes or 28.75 percent with 91 percent of precincts reporting. Former Representative Tom Malinowski trails by just 486 votes at 27.96 percent, while former Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way holds 17.43 percent and Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill sits at 14.22 percent. The crowded field of 13 candidates, including two who withdrew but remained on the ballot, split the vote in a contest that has become a proxy battle for the Democratic Party’s ideological future.

Sanders-AOC Coalition Challenges Moderate Wing

Mejia enters the race armed with endorsements from democratic socialist heavyweights Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, representing a direct challenge to the establishment Democrats who have traditionally held sway in affluent suburban districts. The seat opened when Mikie Sherrill, a Navy veteran and former prosecutor known for her moderate positioning, resigned November 20, 2025, after winning the New Jersey governorship with 57 percent of the vote. This district, covering portions of Essex, Morris, and Passaic counties with a median household income of $134,000, flipped from Republican control in 2018 during the anti-Trump wave that swept Sherrill into office.

It’s AOC’s Party Now: Bernie-Backed Far-Leftist Could Win Dem Nomination to Replace ‘Moderate’ Sherrill in NJ https://t.co/Q2qfj3ALrL

— The Gateway Pundit (@gatewaypundit) February 6, 2026

AIPAC Spending Highlights Israel Policy Divisions

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee poured $2 million into attack ads against Malinowski, targeting his past comments on Israel aid and exposing another fault line within Democratic ranks. Malinowski, who represented neighboring NJ-07 from 2018 to 2022, secured endorsements from Senator Andy Kim and attempted to position himself as the pragmatic alternative to Mejia’s progressive platform of Medicare for All and vocal criticism of U.S. support for Israel’s Gaza operations. Meanwhile, Brendan Gill garnered support from former Governor Phil Murphy, but failed to consolidate the moderate vote as the establishment wing fractured across multiple candidates in the wide-open primary.

Republican Opportunity in Democratic Disarray

Republicans are fielding State Senator Joseph Pennacchio, State Senator Kristin Corrado, and Morris County Sheriff Jim Gannon for the April 16 special election, hoping to exploit Democratic divisions in a district that voted for Biden by 58-41 percent in 2020 but narrowed to 53-45 percent for Harris in 2024. With the House narrowly controlled by Republicans at 218-214, this seat carries outsized importance for both parties seeking leverage in President Trump’s second term. The district’s demographics—62 percent White, 12 percent Asian, with 71.8 percent homeownership—traditionally favor Republicans, though recent voting patterns show a Democratic lean of approximately five points.

National Implications of Local Race

Mejia’s potential victory would mark another milestone in the progressive movement’s march through Democratic institutions, following similar efforts to primary moderate incumbents nationwide. The Sanders-Warren-AOC coalition views suburban districts like NJ-11 as fertile ground for their agenda, challenging the conventional wisdom that affluent, educated voters demand centrist candidates. Democrats remain favored to hold the seat in the general election despite the contentious primary, but a Mejia nomination could energize Republican turnout while testing whether progressive policies can win in communities that have benefited from the economic status quo. This battle reflects the broader struggle within the Democratic Party as radical leftists push policies that conservatives recognize as threats to American prosperity, individual liberty, and common-sense governance.