NJ Republican Craves Rematch In Battle For Sherrill’s Congress Seat

One battle is over… but another is just around the bend. That’s the update from Joe Hathaway after he was defeated in a highly watched congressional election on Thursday.

Voters in New Jersey’s 11^th district went to the polls to pick a replacement for Mikie Sherrill, who was required to resign from her seat in the U.S. House of Representatives when she was elected governor.

The district includes several towns in Essex, Morris and Passaic counties.

Hathaway – the mayor of Randolph Township – won the Republican Party endorsement in a special primary election, and Analilia Mejia earned the Democratic nod. They matched up against independent candidate Alan Bond in a general election. The winner will finish out Sherrill’s unexpired term in Congress.

The Associated Press called the race for Mejia on Thursday evening.

>> RELATED: Mejia Says Progressive Causes Were Key To NJ-11 Election Victory

Hathaway conceded the special election to Mejia shortly after the results were announced. But that doesn’t mean his fight for a seat in Congress is over, he added – by a longshot.

The seat is up for a full-term in November, with another primary taking place this June. And Hathaway said he is plowing ahead full steam for the next congressional election in New Jersey’s 11^th district.

Here’s what he had to say after Election Night:

“I want to congratulate Analilia Mejia on her victory in this special election and wish her well as she prepares to represent New Jersey’s 11th District.

“We fought a spirited campaign, and I’m proud of the race we ran. From the very beginning, our campaign focused on bringing people together around a simple idea: that our district deserves common sense, practical leadership that puts families first, not a political party, not a president, and certainly not a squad.

“Along the way, we built a coalition of supporters from across the political spectrum who believe in that mission, and that is something worth continuing.

“While the result tonight is not what we hoped for, our work is only just beginning. I will continue fighting for affordability, public safety, accountable government, and I will continue to stand up for the families of NJ-11. We will also be watching closely and holding Congresswoman-elect Mejia accountable for the votes she casts and the policies she supports, and how they impact our NJ-11 communities.

“This was a unique and, frankly, unusual election. The structure and timing, set by a partisan Democratic governor, produced exactly the kind of low-turnout environment that benefits one party. We saw heavy vote-by-mail participation, limited Election Day turnout, and far too many Republican and unaffiliated voices left out of the process. The result is that Analilia Mejia has now won two elections decided by a small share of the overall electorate, 3.2% of the total electorate in the primary, and just north of 10% of the total electorate tonight.

“I still believe the broader electorate in NJ-11 is looking for balanced, pragmatic leadership, not the kind of far-left policies embraced by Ms. Mejia. That conversation is not over.

“I’ve said from the beginning that we’re running through the tape, and I mean it. I’m looking forward to the rematch in November, when more voices will be heard and the full electorate will have its say.

“Finally, I want to thank my wife, Whitney, and my family for their unconditional love and support throughout this campaign.

“And to every supporter, volunteer, and financial contributor who stepped up, knocked on doors, made calls, invested in this campaign, and helped us build something real, I am deeply grateful. You didn’t just support a campaign, you helped build and strengthen a movement for common sense leadership in NJ-11, and we are just getting started. This is not the end, it’s the start of the next chapter.”

>> RELATED: Meet The Only Republican Running For Sherrill's Congress Seat In North Jersey

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