Meet The Only Republican Running For Sherrill's Congress Seat In North Jersey

“Even with one Republican name on the ballot, your vote still matters.” That was the message that Joe Hathaway had for his fellow GOP residents of New Jersey as he cruised to an uncontested victory in Tuesday’s special primary election.

Hathaway – the mayor of Randolph Township – was one of the first candidates to throw their hat into the ring to replace Mikie Sherrill in the state’s 11th Congressional district, launching his campaign in October 2025.

While the Democratic list of candidates eventually grew to 11 ahead of this week’s primary election, Hathaway wound up being the only Republican to appear on the ballot. Now, he’s hoping to capitalize on that momentum headed into the general election on April 16.

“Show up, make it count, and help kick off the 70-day sprint to send a workhorse to Washington,” Hathaway encouraged voters on Tuesday.

Learn more about his campaign platform here.

>> READ MORE: NJ-11 Primary Election Results: See Who Is Leading The Race

The 11th district – which includes towns in Essex, Morris and Passaic counties – used to be a Republican stronghold. For decades, the seat was occupied by U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, until New Jersey’s new governor flipped the district blue in 2018.

Hathaway is trying to flip it back.

In the past month, the Randolph resident has been campaigning across the district, including appearances at GOP-affiliated groups like the Passaic County Young Republicans, the Millburn Republican County Committee, and the Denville Republican County Committee.

His campaign platform hammers on affordability – an issue that local voters on both sides of the aisle have ranked high on their checklists. Some of his proposals include:

• Eliminating taxes for first-time homebuyers
• Investing in vocational, technical and skills-based training
• Capping federal student loan interest rates
• Expanding the Child Tax Credit outlined in the Working Families Tax Cut Act
• Working to cut out “unnecessary middlemen” in the health care industry, including pharmacy benefit managers
• Making a “serious federal investment” in transportation, focused on commuter rail, modern stations, and maintaining and improving the roads families rely on every day
• A “balanced” energy policy that includes nuclear, natural gas, solar and land-based wind
• Targeted trade policies that “defend American workers and supply chains without triggering trade wars that drive up prices for families and small businesses”
• “Standing with allies like Israel and Ukraine, holding adversaries like Russia and China accountable, and securing critical supply chains keeps Americans safe and our economy resilient”

Hathaway – who began his career in state government as an advance aide to former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie – has pointed to his experience serving as a New Jersey mayor.

According to his campaign website:

“As mayor of Randolph, Joe made every day count, delivering meaningful progress for families, seniors, and local businesses. He successfully negotiated the township’s fourth-round affordable housing settlement, reducing the state-mandated obligation by 92 percent while protecting schools, infrastructure, and local decision-making. Under his leadership, Randolph resurfaced 28 roads, advanced Route 10 intersection improvements with NJDOT, extended critical water mains, restored full police staffing, deployed body-worn cameras, and strengthened cybersecurity. The township also welcomed more than two dozen new businesses, invested in parks and recreation, and delivered over $1.1 million in taxpayer savings.”

Hathaway is putting the pedal to the metal as the final sprint to the general election on April 16 begins.

“We have the opportunity to send a new generation of leadership down to Washington – one focused more on the hard work than on the headlines,” Hathaway enthused in a video message on Election Day.

“It’s starts today – let’s get to work,” he added.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.