‘Too Close To Call’: Mejia, Malinowski React To Premature Election Night Projections In NJ

Just like late New Jersey resident Yogi Berra once said: “It ain't over till it's over.”

As of Friday morning, two Democratic candidates – Analilia Mejia and Tom Malinowski – remained neck and neck after a hotly contested primary election to replace Gov. Mikie Sherrill in the 11th congressional district.

The highly watched contest saw tens of thousands of votes throughout Essex, Morris and Passaic counties. READ MORE: NJ-11 Primary Election Results: Who Will Replace Mikie Sherrill?

With 91 percent of votes counted as of late Thursday night, Mejia and Malinowski each reported feeling optimistic about their chances – while cautioning that the race isn’t over yet. In the meanwhile, there’s a lesson to be learned about the unpredictable nature of Election Night, both candidates say.

According to Malinowski, the race remains “too close to call,” with thousands of mail-in and provisional ballots still outstanding and yet to be counted as of Friday.

“We did not declare victory last night — even after several independent outlets projected the race — because we knew a significant number of these ballots remained,” the former congressman said.

“Given the volume of votes still to be reported and the way mail-in ballots have broken throughout this race, we remain confident heading into the continued count,” Malinowski said. “Every vote deserves to be counted, and we look forward to a complete and accurate tally that reflects the full voice of NJ-11 voters.”

• See Related: Joke Write-In Votes Could Have Changed This NJ Town Council Election

Mejia also commented on the premature declarations of a Malinowski victory, sharing a photo of the infamous “Dewey Defeats Truman” newspaper headline on social media.

Speaking from an election night watch party in Montclair, the longtime community activist said the early results are a “people-powered victory.”

“It is time for us to focus on what really matters: unrigging this economy, making sure we reclaim our democracy – and it starts right now,” Mejia urged her supporters.

“I am so thrilled to have the opportunity to engage with all of y’all right now and I cannot wait to join together, join our Democratic Party, so that we can fight and win the true problem: MAGA extremism [and] the ideological takeover of our nation – and together, we’re going to do it,” she said.

The Republican candidate, Randolph Mayor Joe Hathaway, ran unopposed in the primary election.

On Friday, Hathaway said he is “deeply honored” to be the GOP nominee.

“NJ-11 deserves a workhorse, not a show pony – someone ready to roll up their sleeves and restore commonsense to our district,” he said.

• See Related: Meet The Only Republican Running For Sherrill's Congress Seat

Sherrill resigned from her seat in the U.S. House of Representatives last year after she was elected as New Jersey’s 57th governor. Her term ends in January 2027.

The winners of the primary will match up against any independent or third-party candidates in a general election for all the marbles on Thursday, April 16. There will be nine days of in-person early voting (April 6 to April 14). The voter registration deadline is March 26.

There were 226,173 registered Democrats and 164,807 registered Republicans in the 11th district as of Feb. 1. There were 206,102 unaffiliated voters, state data shows.

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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