Tom Malinowski conceded on Feb. 10 to progressive opponent Analilia Mejia in the razor-thin New Jersey congressional Democratic primary to take over now-Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s seat in the House, though the race has yet to be officially called.
Malinowski, a former congressman, congratulated Mejia for her victory four days after polls closed on Feb. 5.
“I congratulate Analilia Mejia on her hard-won victory in the NJ-11 special primary,” Malinowski said in a statement on social media. “I look forward to supporting her in the April general election. It is essential that we send a Democrat to Washington to fill this seat, not a rubber stamp for Trump.”
Though early results had favored Malinowski, Mejia's lead has grown in recent days, now standing at nearly 900 votes.
Mejia's win would mark a significant boon for progressive Democrats over their moderate counterparts, as President Donald Trump's nationwide immigration enforcement efforts surged to the forefront of the special primary election campaign to fill the empty U.S. House seat.
