The Democratic primary for New Jersey’s 11th District remained close Friday, with fewer than 500 votes separating progressive organizer Analilia Mejia and former Rep. Tom Malinowski and an estimated 6,000 ballots still to be counted.
Still, Mejia’s late emergence into first place Thursday night set the stage for a potential upset for the activist who claimed the progressive lane in the crowded primary to fill Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s former House seat. The latest results showed Mejia with 28.75 percent of the vote to Malinowski’s 27.96 percent, a difference of 486 votes, with 91 percent of the votes in, according to The Associated Press.
Former Lt. Gov. Tahesha Way was in third place with 17.43 percent, followed by Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill with 14.22 percent.
