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New Jersey’s 11th District Democrats Vote in Costly Primary as AIPAC Targets Malinowski

A late multimillion-dollar blitz by a pro-Israel super PAC turned the contest into an early test of outside influence.

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The US Capitol is visible through the Cannon House Office Building, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)
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Representative Melissa Bean, a Democrat from Illinois, speaks at a forum on jobs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Wednesday, July 14, 2010. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is urging Obama to curb regulations and continue the Bush administration's tax cuts to avert a double-dip recession.

Overview

  • United Democracy Project, aligned with AIPAC, reported roughly $2.3 million in spending against Tom Malinowski, publicly citing his openness to conditioning U.S. aid to Israel while airing ads about a 2019 ICE-inclusive spending vote and his past stock trades.
  • Progressive organizer Analilia Mejia entered Election Day with consolidated left-wing support, including endorsements from Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
  • Other heavy spending reshaped the short race, with The 218 Project boosting Malinowski by more than $700,000, the Democratic Lieutenant Governors Association PAC putting about $1.6–$1.7 million behind Tahesha Way, and VoteVets deploying roughly $300,000 for Zach Beecher, bringing outside totals near $6 million.
  • The leading field included Malinowski, Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill, former Lt. Gov. Way and Mejia, with county party endorsements split under New Jersey’s reformed ballot rules that ended the old county-line system.
  • The Democratic winner will face Republican Joe Hathaway in the April 16 special general election in a blue-leaning district, and a Malinowski return would restore seniority on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.