14 Candidates Vie for NJ-11 Special Election Ballot
The race for the vacancy in New Jersey’s 11th congressional district is heating up. Following the resignation of Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill, 14 candidates have entered the special election contest. This marks the largest primary field for a single House seat in New Jersey in recent years.
Candidate Lineup for NJ-11 Special Election
Among the candidates, 13 are Democrats, with one Republican vying for the position. The only Republican in the race is Joe Hathaway, the Mayor of Randolph. His nomination was a clear outcome as he was the sole GOP candidate.
Democratic Candidates
The Democratic candidates have each met the minimum requirement of 500 signatures, which is an increase from the previous threshold of 200. The candidates include:
- Brendan Gill, Essex County Commissioner (1,700 signatures)
- Analilia Mejia, Bernie Sanders’ 2020 national political director (1,509)
- Tom Malinowski, former Representative (1,501)
- Tahesha Way, Lieutenant Governor (1,280)
- Justin Strickland, Chatham Councilman (1,110)
- Anna Lee Williams, activist (1,089)
- Jeff Grayzel, Morris Township Committeeman (1,042)
- Zach Beecher, former Army paratrooper (999)
- John Bartlett, Passaic County Commissioner (990)
- Cammie Croft, Obama administration alum (948)
- Marc Chaaban, former congressional staffer (849)
- Dean Dafis, Maplewood Committeeman (719)
- J-L Cauvin, comedian and attorney (619)
One candidate, Donald Cresitello, the Mayor of Morristown, attempted to file but was unable to gather the required number of signatures, leading to his disqualification. He had also sought to delay the filing deadline through a lawsuit, but his efforts were rejected by the court.
Election Timeline and Requirements
The deadline for filing objections to any candidate’s signatures is December 5, and all challenges must be resolved by December 10. The primary election is scheduled for February 5, followed by the general election on April 16.
Candidates not affiliated with the major parties have until Primary Day to submit their petitions for the general election ballot. Many Democratic candidates are currently without official ballot slogans, as they await decisions from upcoming county conventions.
Summary of Key Dates
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| December 5 | Deadline for filing objections |
| December 10 | Resolution of challenges |
| February 5 | Primary Election |
| April 16 | General Election |
The stage is set for an exciting election season in NJ-11. With a diverse slate of candidates, voters can expect a competitive race leading up to the primaries and beyond.
