A debate between Analilia Mejia and Joe Hathaway will take place in New Jersey's 11th congressional district ahead of the 2026 general election.
Mejia, the Democratic incumbent, and Hathaway, the Republican challenger, will have a rematch this November for Gov. Mikie Sherrill's old seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. An independent candidate, Alan Bond, will also be appearing on the ballot.
The 11th district includes several towns in Essex, Morris and Passaic counties (see list below).
DEBATE
A candidate debate featuring Mejia and Hathaway will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 26 at St. Elizabeth University, 2 Convent Road in Morristown.
Registration is required to attend, and can be done online here. Video footage of the forum will also be posted on the YouTube channel of the League of Women Voters Morris Area.
Community members can submit questions ahead of the debate here (deadline is Oct. 21).
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
Mejia won a special election earlier this year to fill the remainder of Sherrill's unexpired term in the U.S. House of Representatives, emerging with a win in the Democratic primary and defeating Hathaway and Bond in the general election.
Mejia, a longtime labor organizer, said progressive causes like raising the federal minimum wage were a big reason why she earned a win on Election Day.
Hathaway recently said he is said he is plowing ahead full steam for this November, when a full term in Congress is at stake.
"From the very beginning, our campaign focused on bringing people together around a simple idea: that our district deserves common sense, practical leadership that puts families first, not a political party, not a president, and certainly not a squad," Hathaway said.
Meanwhile, Bond recently told Patch that he remains active in the NJ-11 campaign, although much of his time in recent months has been devoted to caring for his late wife, Sheila A. Bond, a plastic surgeon who recently passed away from breast cancer.
"Her compassion and dedication to others continue to inspire my commitment to serving our community," Bond said.
WHERE IS THE 11TH DISTRICT?
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
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