WASHINGTON — Former Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) conceded defeat to Analilia Mejia in a special Democratic primary upset that has prompted celebrations from the far left.
Malinowski was favored to win the Feb. 5 race for the nomination to replace Gov. Mikie Sherrill in the House of Representatives, but was the subject of heavy spending on attack ads — including from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC).
“I congratulate Analilia Mejia on her hard won victory in the NJ-11 special primary,” Malinowski said in a statement. “I look forward to supporting her in the April general election. It is essential that we send a Democrat to Washington to fill this seat, not a rubber stamp for Trump.”
Mejia, a former top adviser to Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) 2020 presidential campaign who is endorsed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), will face Republican Joe Hathaway in the April 16 special election to serve out Sherrill’s term.