Malinowski and Mejia locked in tight race for nomination to replace Gov. Mikie Sherrill in Congress

Democrats Weigh In on Key Congressional Seat as Sherrill's Vacancy Looms.

In a closely watched Democratic primary, Progressive labor activist Analilia Mejia has emerged to be neck-and-neck with former U.S. Representative Tom Malinowski in the special election to fill New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill's vacant seat in Congress. The two candidates have garnered roughly 500 votes separating them as of 11 p.m. Thursday night.

The increasingly heated contest drew out a massive voter turnout, surpassing overall vote totals from last year's Democratic primary by 6 p.m. on Thursday. This surge in enthusiasm for the election was largely fueled by Governor Sherrill's decisive victory in the November gubernatorial election, marking the highest turnout for an off-year gubernatorial election in New Jersey in over two decades.

Initially, Malinowski held a substantial lead of nine points over Mejia based on early tallies from vote-by-mail and in-person votes. However, Mejia staged a late comeback as day-of primary votes began to be counted, bolstered by her exceptional performance in her home county of Essex and victories over Malinowski in Morris and Passaic counties.

The intense contest has highlighted the divisions within the Democratic Party and raised questions about Sherrill's potential successor. With the special election set to take place soon, the outcome remains far from certain, leaving many observers closely monitoring the developments unfolding in New Jersey politics.

man this democratic primary is heating up so much enthusiasm for the election it's crazy, like people are actually showing up to vote and care about who's gonna fill sherrill's seat... i think analilia mejia's late comeback is a good thing for progressive values though, we need more voices in congress representing the working class plus, it's not every day you see a 500-vote margin between candidates. tom malinowski might've had an early lead, but mejia pulled ahead and now she's neck-and-neck... it'll be interesting to see who gets the nod in the end

so they're having a whole 'nother primary because their girl left... i mean, I guess it's good that people are getting excited about this seat since NJ is basically the only place in the country with decent voter turnout. idk if anyone can really beat Mejia though - she seems to have built some momentum out of nowhere. also, who knew a former rep would be neck and neck with a labor activist?

So, it looks like the Progressive movement is really gaining traction in NJ, especially among young voters . Analilia Mejia's late surge is a clear indication that people are hungry for change within the party... but at what cost? The fact that Tom Malinowski was initially way ahead suggests that many Democrats still hold onto more traditional values . It'll be interesting to see how this plays out in the general election, and whether Sherrill's progressive leanings will influence her potential successor's policies . One thing's for sure, though: it's gonna be a wild ride in NJ politics!

"Blimey, it's crazy how close Mejia is getting to Malinowski! I mean, 500 votes separating them is a small margin, you know? And that voter turnout is insane, especially considering it's an off-year election. It just goes to show that Sherrill's win really got people pumped up about the party and eager for change. Either way, whoever wins this thing will have some big shoes to fill. The Democrats are definitely feeling the heat on this one!"

I'm loving how passionate all these candidates are running for that seat . It's actually kinda refreshing to see people so invested in making a change . For me, it's not just about who wins the election, but what kind of impact they'll have on our communities . We need more leaders like Analilia Mejia who are all about fighting for workers' rights and creating opportunities for everyone . And Tom Malinowski is no slouch either - his experience in Congress will definitely be an asset . Whatever happens, I'm rooting for someone who'll bring people together and work towards the greater good .

I'm so done with these primaries already ! It feels like we're stuck in an endless loop of candidates vying for a spot that's supposed to represent our voices in DC. I mean, what's really going on here is that the party is more concerned about internal power struggles than actually addressing the issues that matter most to everyday people.

Analilia Mejia might have made a comeback, but has anyone else stopped to think about what she's actually proposing? I'm not seeing much substance from either candidate, just a lot of rhetoric and promises that sound suspiciously like something we've heard before. Can't we focus on the real issues instead of who's going to fill Sherrill's seat?

I just got back from the most random vacation last week went to this tiny beach town in California and I saw this old guy playing guitar on the street and it was literally the most beautiful thing I've ever seen he didn't even ask for tips, just played away, but people kept throwing him money anyway... and that got me thinking about how in today's world, we're always expecting something from others, whether it's a vote, a donation, or just a like on social media is it too much to ask for someone to do something just because they want to?

I'm so over these primary elections getting all hyped up just because of vote turnout . I mean, what's the real difference between Mejia and Malinowski? Both seem like they're playing to the same party base. The whole thing feels like a popularity contest rather than an actual debate on policy . And what's with the obsession over the gubernatorial election that happened last year? It's just a minor factor in the overall picture, but it's all anyone seems to be talking about . Can't we focus on the issues at hand instead of just speculating about who'll win this primary?

Ugh, can't believe they're having to choose a new rep so soon . The whole thing just seems like a big mess. I mean, one minute Sherrill's got this huge lead and the next Mejia is catching up? What happened to all those extra $100 voter registration bonuses that NJ gave out last year? Should've made a difference in turnout for sure. And now it's all just about which candidate will appeal most to their base... can't we just have one person who doesn't divide us all the time?

I'm surprised that people are actually showing up to vote like crazy for this primary ! 500 votes separating the two candidates is insane - it's like they're neck and neck in a marathon. I think what's interesting here is how passionate people are about this election, especially after Governor Sherrill won her gubernatorial seat with that huge turnout . It's no wonder they wanted to keep up the momentum.

Analilia Mejia's comeback story is pretty inspiring - she went from behind to almost catch up . And the fact that she won in some counties like Essex and Passaic shows that there's a lot of support for her outside of just her own home county. It raises questions about what kind of leader Tom Malinowski would make, though .

This whole thing feels super tense, with people on both sides really invested in who wins this seat . And since Governor Sherrill's term is almost up, everyone wants to know if she chose the right successor . It'll be interesting to see how it all plays out - I'll definitely be keeping an eye on this one

I'm a bit surprised by how much passion is being poured into this special election . I think it says something about how invested people are in their representative's ability to make a difference in their lives . For me, that's what politics should be all about - taking care of our communities and promoting positive change . It's interesting to see the two candidates going neck and neck - maybe this will actually bring some much-needed balance to the Democratic party? We'll just have to wait and see how it all plays out .

I'm so over these online forums . Can't we have a more nuanced discussion without the votes counting every 5 seconds? I mean, what's up with this Analilia Mejia and Tom Malinowski, they're literally neck-and-neck like 500 votes apart... but do we know anything about their actual policies? Nope, just endless speculation and analysis . And don't even get me started on the voter turnout surge, just because Governor Sherrill won the last election doesn't mean this one is going to be a cakewalk for either candidate . Anyway, I guess we're all stuck waiting for the results...