Far-left Democrats eye another House win to steer party — and country — in new direction

The AOC wing of the Democratic Party views New Jersey’s special election as its next chance to show that it’s not just winning primaries, but reshaping the direction the national debate is taking.

That hope rests with Analilia Mejia, a Democrat and longtime ally of Democratic Socialist Senator Bernard Sanders. ​She was supported by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a leader of Congress’ far-left “Squad.”

Ms. Mejia faces moderate Republican Joe Hathaway in the race to fill the remainder of Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s term in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District.

For socialist-leaning Democrats, a Mejia victory would mean the left’s policy vision — on health care, immigration and foreign policy — is gaining ground in the suburbs, not just deep blue cities.

Mr. Hathaway is navigating a different political reality. He’s running in a district where President Trump’s approval rating is at an all-time low and where the administration’s foreign policy decisions are fueling affordability concerns that have helped Democrats in recent elections.

Mr. Hathaway presents himself as a centrist problem-solver focused on moderation, local governance and a more traditional approach to national security.

For voters, this promises to be a difficult choice.

Ms. Mejia, the daughter of immigrants, not only served as national political director for Mr. Sanders’ presidential campaign, but now relies heavily on his political playbook.

The 48-year-old mother supports Medicare for All and has urged impeaching Mr. Trump or invoking the 25th Amendment to remove him from office. She also wants to abolish and replace ICE, which she says gives a “despotic, authoritarian, corrupt leader” an unaccountable police force drawn from the “fringes of society.”

She supports a ban on offensive arms sales to Israel and has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of committing war crimes in Gaza. She recently named Rep. Pramila Jayapal, former chairwoman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, as her political role model — another signal of the ideological direction she hopes to take the party.

Mr. Hathaway cast himself in the mold of Rep. Mike Lawler of New York — a Republican who survived in a blue-leaning district by presenting himself as an independent-minded moderate.

The 38-year-old father calls single-payer health care “socialized medicine” that would cost trillions, and supports ending sanctuary city laws to allow closer coordination between local and federal law enforcement.

Potentially building inroads with Jewish voters, Mr. Hathaway offered wholehearted support for Israel, rejecting any conditions on military aid, while accusing Ms. Mejia of espousing anti-Semitic views.

She responded by saying: “I believe that criticism of Benjamin Netanyahu and his administration is no more anti-Israeli than criticism of Donald Trump is anti-American. »

Mr. Hathaway also tried to localize the race, arguing that Congress needs someone who has grappled with municipal budgets, housing mandates and infrastructure deficits.

“If we had a representative in Washington who had been mayor, it would greatly improve the quality of life for all of our residents,” he said in a recent interview.

He has made returning federal dollars to New Jersey – which receives about 75 cents for every dollar sent to Washington – a top campaign promise, with infrastructure as his preferred vehicle. He also called for tax credits for first-time home buyers and for child care.

Ms. Mejia has spent months arguing that Mr. Trump’s war with Iran has driven up gas prices, shaken the global economy and left families paying the price — a message that grew louder after the collapse of nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran over the weekend.

Mr. Hathaway supports the administration’s approach, calling the initial airstrikes “incredibly effective,” but he has distanced himself from Mr. Trump on economic issues. He criticized the president’s tariffs as a “hammer,” said he would have voted to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies and opposed the administration’s attempt to use Gateway Tunnel funding as leverage.

Ms. Mejia scored a surprise victory in the special primary, edging out former Rep. Tom Malinowski after the pro-Israel lobby poured money into a costly outside campaign against him.

She enters Thursday at a considerable financial advantage, outselling Mr. Hathaway by more than two to one — $1.1 million to $524,000.