Former Rep. Tom Malinowski won the Democrat nomination Thursday in a special primary for New Jersey's open 11th Congressional District seat, setting up an April 16 general election against Randolph Mayor Joe Hathaway, a Republican, for the seat vacated when Gov. Mikie Sherrill resigned after winning New Jersey's governor's race.
Malinowski, a Democrat who served in the House from 2019 to 2023, emerged from a crowded field that included Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill, former New Jersey Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way, and progressive organizer Analilia Mejia.
Unofficial returns showed Malinowski leading with 33% of the vote, followed by Mejia with 25%, Gill with 16%, and Way with 15%, according to Bloomberg Government.
The contest drew heavy outside spending, including attacks on Malinowski tied to his positions on Israel and immigration enforcement.
The Hill reported that the United Democracy Project, a super PAC aligned with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, spent several million dollars targeting Malinowski, without mentioning Israel in its advertising.
An AIPAC-affiliated super PAC spent $1.6 million attacking Malinowski, while another super PAC spent $1.5 million supporting Way.
But Reuters, in a separate pre-election report, reported that the pro-Israel super PAC spent $2.3 million against Malinowski.
In an interview cited by The Hill, Malinowski described the dispute as a test of political demands around Israel policy.
"What AIPAC seems to be demanding is just blind, blank check support for the current prime minister," Malinowski said.
"I don't think that's what most pro-Israel Jewish Americans want. I don't think it's [what] most Israelis want," he added.
The April 16 special election will fill the remainder of Sherrill's term, which runs until January 2027.
In 2024, Sherrill won reelection with 57%, and then-Vice President Kamala Harris carried the district with 53%.
New Jersey's Division of Elections says it does not post election-night results and directs voters to county election sites for returns.
Jim Thomas ✉
Jim Thomas is a writer based in Indiana. He holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science, a law degree from U.I.C. Law School, and has practiced law for more than 20 years.
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