Mejia, Hathaway Debate Is Back On Track As NJ-11 Congress Race Enters Final Weeks

It’s no April Fool’s joke: a candidate debate between Analilia Mejia and Joe Hathaway is reportedly back on the table in New Jersey’s 11^th district.

Mejia, the Democratic nominee, and Hathaway, the Republican nominee, have accepted invitations to match up in a battle of wits at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, April 1. The debate is sponsored by the New Jersey Globe and the Rebovich Institute of New Jersey Politics at Rider University. It will be streamed on the Globe’s social media accounts and air on C-SPAN, and be re-streamed daily through election day.

Hathaway – who has been calling for a debate for weeks – said he is “thrilled” to get the chance to debate Mejia.

When Mikie Sherrill was elected governor, she was required to resign from her seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. A special primary election was held in February to determine the Democratic and Republican nominees to fill her unexpired seat. Mejia won the Democratic Party nod, and Hathaway earned the GOP endorsement.

Mejia and Hathaway will match up against independent candidate Alan Bond in a special general election for all the marbles on April 16.

New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District includes the following municipalities:

Essex County – Belleville, Bloomfield, Cedar Grove, Fairfield, Glen Ridge, Livingston, Maplewood, Millburn, Montclair (part), North Caldwell, Nutley, Roseland, South Orange, West Caldwell

Morris County – Boonton, Boonton Township, Butler, Chatham, Chatham Township, Denville, Dover, East Hanover, Florham Park, Hanover, Harding, Jefferson, Kinnelon, Lincoln Park, Madison, Mendham Twp (part), Montville, Morris Plains, Morris Township, Morristown Town, Mountain Lakes, Parsippany-Troy Hills, Pequannock, Randolph, Riverdale, Rockaway, Rockaway Township, Victory Gardens

Passaic County – Little Falls, Totowa, Wayne (part), Woodland Park

DEBATE CONTROVERSY

Last week, the League of Women Voters of New Jersey reported that it has tried to set up a debate between Mejia and Hathaway, but was unable to reach an agreement ahead of Election Day.

Members from four New Jersey League of Women Voters chapters – the LWV of the Morris Area, the LWV of the Montclair Area, the LWV of Livingston, and the LWV of Mountain Lakes – collaborated on the planning.

Despite ongoing communications with both candidates, organizers weren’t able to reach an agreement with Mejia’s campaign that allowed them to maintain their nonpartisan debate policy, spokespeople said.

MEJIA: ‘NEUTRALITY AND DIVERSITY’

On Saturday, Mejia released a statement explaining her reason for turning down the debate.

“As a candidate seeking to represent a district in which over a third of constituents are people of color, I asked the League to commit to diversity among their proposed moderators,” Mejia said.

“Sadly, they were unable to commit,” she added.

“A free and fair democracy requires truth and transparency,” Mejia said. “While I appreciate the League of Women Voters and their effort to create spaces of open discourse, I do not believe neutrality and diversity are ever in opposition.”

“I look forward to engaging them in the future, when both values can be upheld,” she said.

Mejia said there is “very little to debate” between herself and Hathaway.

“Voters understand that contrast – and I trust them to make the right choice,” Mejia said.

>> READ MORE: Mejia Wins NJ-11 Democratic Primary: Progressive Politics Prove Popular

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS: ‘A REQUEST WE CANNOT ACCOMMODATE’

Jennifer Howard, president of the League of Women Voters of New Jersey, released an update about the situation on Sunday, which apparently responded to Mejia’s statement.

“Just as we did for the special primary election Meet & Greet, the proposed general election debate was planned to engage a diverse audience that reflects all communities in District 11,” Howard wrote.

“The planned moderator was a League-trained professional and a person of color,” Howard continued. “This moderator would have asked questions taken directly from CD 11 voters ahead of the debate and from the audience during the forum.”

“We were asked to provide a campaign with a list of potential moderators for approval,” Howard added. “This is a request that the League of Women Voters cannot accommodate. Our nonpartisan stance does not permit a candidate to influence the selection of the moderator.”

HATHAWAY: ‘LET’S SETTLE THIS RIGHT NOW’

Hathaway has criticized his Democratic opponent’s decision on the League debate. He pointed out that voting by mail has already begun – and Election Day is fast approaching.

“It’s disappointing that this forum could not move forward, because voters deserve the opportunity to hear directly from both candidates on the issues that matter most to NJ-11 families,” Hathaway said.

“I remain ready and willing to participate in any fair, nonpartisan debate,” he added.

Hathaway doubled down on his call for Mejia to change her mind in a statement on Monday.

“If Analilia Mejia is serious about addressing her concerns, then let’s settle this right now,” he said.

READ MORE: Meet Joe Hathaway, The GOP Candidate Running For Sherrill's Congress Seat

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