EMILYs List, the national organization dedicated to supporting Democratic women running for office, is making its first non-incumbent New Jersey endorsement of the 2026 cycle, backing Analilia Mejia in the April 16 special election for the 11th congressional district.
“Analilia Mejia is a fearless advocate for working families who has spent her career taking on powerful interests and delivering real results,” EMILYs List President Jessica Mackler said in a statement. “She will bring that same bold leadership to Congress to raise wages, lower costs, and expand health care.”
Notably, however, EMILYs List is not yet extending its endorsement to the regularly scheduled June primary, when Mejia will face Democratic voters once again for a full term.
That may be in part because former Lieutenant Gov. Tahesha Way, one of Mejia’s vanquished February opponents, is still considering running again. EMILYs List similarly stayed out of the special Democratic primary election, when Mejia, Way, and two other female candidates combined for 49% of the vote against nine male opponents.
New Jersey is also set to host competitive June primaries for the GOP-held 7th district and the open Democratic-held 12th district, both of which feature multiple credible female contenders; EMILYs List has not yet made an endorsement in either.
