Ballot box shocker: Progressive backed by Sanders, AOC on verge of upset in Dem congressional primary

New Jersey House candidate Analilia Majia, backed by Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, is narrowly ahead in a too-close-to-call Democratic primary.

Congressional candidate Analilia Mejia is seen speaking to supporters and members of the media at Paper Plane Coffee Co. in Montclair, N.J. Mejia is one of 11 Democrats vying to fill the House seat vacated by now-Gov. Mikie Sherrill. (Heather Khalifa/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

But Malinowski, an assistant Secretary of State in former President Barack Obama's administration who later represented a neighboring congressional district in northern New Jersey from 2018 to 2022 before losing re-election, was considered the front-runner in the race heading into primary day.

The winner will face off with Randolph Mayor Joe Hathaway, the only Republican to file for the special election, which will be held on April 16.

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill stepped down from her seat in the House of Representatives in November, after winning the Garden State's gubernatorial election. (Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

But then-Vice President Kamala Harris won the district by just eight points in the 2024 presidential election, giving the GOP some hopes of possibly flipping the seat.

The GOP may land a reinforcement in the House before the general election for the open seat in New Jersey is held.

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That's because a special election is scheduled on March 10 in Georgia's solidly red 14th Congressional District, in the race to succeed former GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. The MAGA firebrand and one-time top Trump House ally in early January stepped away from Congress a year before her term ended.

Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa of California, who represented a district in the northeastern portion of the state, died in early January. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

There's one more vacant seat in Congress, in California's 1st Congressional District, following the recent unexpected death of Republican Rep. Doug LaMalfa.

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A primary in the race to fill LaMalfa's seat will be held on June 2, which is primary day in California. And the special general election will be held on Aug. 4.

The district, in northeastern California, is solidly Republican.

Paul Steinhauser is a politics reporter based in the swing state of New Hampshire. He covers the campaign trail from coast to coast."

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/new-jersey-election-results-progressive-backed-sanders-aoc-verge-upset-dem-congressional-primary