Progressives are poised for a big victory in New Jersey

If Democrat Analilia Mejia wins next week’s election to fill New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s (D) former House seat, it will offer just the latest boost for progressives, who have notched a number of wins as the party debates its direction heading into the midterms. 

Mejia, a top aide to Sen. Bernie Sanders’s (I-Vt.) 2020 presidential campaign, is widely expected to defeat Republican Joe Hathaway in the race for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District on Thursday.  

It would follow a recent pattern for progressives, who have won races or overperformed in a number of battles.

Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, a progressive, last month won the Democratic primary for a House seat in Illinois over a more moderate candidate and another liberal contender.

Biss defeated state Sen. Laura Fine, who opposed conditions on aid to Israel, in addition to far-left challenger and social media influencer Kat Abughazaleh. 

While Biss enjoyed the advantage of Rep. Jan Schakowsky’s (D-Ill.) endorsement for her seat, Abughazaleh notably came in a close second at 26 percent support to Biss’s 29 percent. Meanwhile, Fine received 20 percent. 

Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton (D), who enjoyed the backing of Gov. JB Pritzker, also won her primary for the open Illinois Senate seat. Stratton said she wouldn’t support Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) as leader and called for abolishing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 

In North Carolina, Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam, another progressive, last month lost her primary race to unseat Rep. Valerie Foushee (D-N.C.), but her defeat was a narrow one that also gave progressives hope.

Foushee defeated Allam by less than a point — a stark contrast with 2022, when the pair last ran for the seat. That year, Foushee placed first in the primary, defeating Allam, who earned second place, by 9 points.  

Democrats note some of those wins were circumstantial.

Mejia’s surprise primary win was........

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