NBC News projected Democrat Analilia Mejia as the winner of New Jersey's 11th Congressional District special election Thursday night, securing the seat vacated by Gov. Mikie Sherrill.

With 44.2 percent of expected votes counted, Mejia held a commanding lead of 69.6 percent, or 41,881 votes, to Hathaway's 29.9 percent, or 17,985 votes. Independent Alan Bond received 0.5 percent. The projection came as results rolled in from Essex, Morris and Passaic counties after polls closed at 8 p.m. EDT.

The victory maintains Democratic control of the suburban district, which stretches across parts of Essex, Morris, Passaic and Union counties and has about 65,000 more registered Democrats than Republicans. Sherrill, a former representative, resigned after winning the governorship. Mejia will serve the remainder of the term, ending in January 2027, before facing voters again in the regular midterm cycle.

Mejia, 47, emerged as the Democratic nominee in February after a crowded primary upset. The co-executive director of the Center for Popular Democracy and former national political director for Sen. Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign captured 29.33 percent of the primary vote, or 19,789 ballots, edging out former Rep. Tom Malinowski and others. Endorsed by Sanders, Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, she campaigned on progressive priorities including Medicare for All, union rights, affordable housing and criticism of U.S. policy toward Israel.

A daughter of Colombian and Dominican immigrants raised in poverty in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Mejia built her career as a union organizer with groups like SEIU and UNITE HERE. She previously led the New Jersey Working Families Alliance and served in the Biden administration's Women's Bureau.

Her Republican opponent, Joe Hathaway, a former mayor and councilman from Randolph Township in Morris County, ran unopposed in the GOP primary. He positioned himself as a moderate, urging Democrats to "test-drive" him for the short term and distancing from former President Donald Trump amid a national political environment leaning toward Democrats in 2026 midterms.

The race drew national attention as an early indicator for November's midterms, where Republicans seek gains in suburban battlegrounds. Analysts noted the district's affluence and volatility, exacerbated by heavy spending from pro-Israel groups like AIPAC during the Democratic primary. Despite Hathaway's efforts, Mejia's grassroots organizing and the district's partisan tilt proved decisive.

Mejia's win adds a vocal progressive to the House Democratic caucus at a time of internal party debates over foreign policy and economic issues. The seat will be contested again in the full midterm election later this year.