NEW JERSEY — The New Jersey Working Families Party celebrated Analilia Mejia’s historic victory in the special primary election for New Jersey’s 11th congressional district.

Antoinette Miles, State Director of the New Jersey Working Families Party, released the following statement:

“Analilia Mejia’s historic victory is a huge win for working people. She has sent a clear signal that it’s a new day in New Jersey politics, and that our country is ready for bold, working-class leadership.

“In just ten weeks, through the dead of winter, Analilia built a grassroots campaign for and by all New Jerseyans. Her bold message of an economy that works for all of us and an end to ICE’s brutality resonated with voters who are fed up with the status quo. Like a true organizer, Analilia built a coalition and met the urgency of this moment by meeting people where they are. Let’s be clear: this victory was an upset only to the people who don’t know Analilia. 

“Long before this election, Analilia was reshaping New Jersey politics and delivering change. Together, we’ve proved that organized people can defeat organized money.

“Analilia Mejia helped build the Working Families Party in New Jersey. And now, with her victory, our moment has arrived. Now is the time for state Democrats to unite to defeat authoritarianism and win our country back. The Working Families Party is all in for Analilia in the general election and beyond.”

Analilia started her career with 32BJ SEIU and ran the WFP in New Jersey for several years, driving campaigns that won major victories for working people, including a $15 minimum wage, paid sick time, and lower barriers to voting. She played a pivotal role in electing Ras Baraka as Mayor of Newark. Later, she went on to be political director for Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign and co-led the Center for Popular Democracy.

In this race, on the coordinated campaign side, the WFP worked hand-in-hand with Analilia’s campaign, supporting its field operation.

The national WFP PAC ran a separate independent expenditure program, part of a coalition that spent significantly to support Analilia. With labor allies and the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC, WFP and the IE table spent nearly $400,000. This included a cable and digital ad buy, four mail pieces supporting Analilia, and direct Instagram ads highlighting Analilia’s position on abolishing ICE targeted to voters under 40.

The New Jersey Working Families Party has become a major player in state politics since the Party defeated the corrupt county line system. Just a few months ago, the NJWFP helped elect Jersey City Mayor-elect James Solomon and a slate of city councilmembers who will move the city in a more progressive direction. Last year, we elected  pro-working-class champions in competitive state legislative primaries. Finally, it endorsed Newark Mayor Ras Baraka in his second-place finish in a historic Gubernatorial primary.

Nationwide, the Working Families Party recently endorsed Mai Vang, who is challenging 20-year-incumbent Doris Matsui in CA-7; Brad Lander, who is challenging Rep. Dan Goldman in NY-10; Nida Allam, who is challenging Rep. Valerie Foushee in NC-4, and Randy Villegas who is running in the Republican held CA-22.

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