The race to succeed Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey’s 11th congressional district is in full swing, with two candidates who had announced campaigns before Sherrill’s gubernatorial rout saying today that they’re officially in for the as-yet-unscheduled special election.
Morris Township Committeeman and former Mayor Jeff Grayzel, a Democrat, began making moves towards a campaign earlier this year, and confirmed in June that he’d run if Sherrill won the governor’s race. Though his campaign remained hypothetical until today, that didn’t stop him from building up a substantial campaign warchest: he’s raised $339,000 thus far, $100,000 of which came from himself.
“Before our very eyes, we are witnessing a President who is trampling on our Constitution and attempting to turn America into an autocratic regime,” Grayzel said in a statement. “Part of my family escaped fascism in Nazi Germany. We know fascism when we see it. And I won’t stop fighting Donald Trump and his cronies until they are swept out of office and our democracy is secure.”
Grayzel – who also won re-election to his township committee seat last night – took a shot at establishment Democrats whom he faulted for losing to Donald Trump, though he didn’t cite anyone by name.
“I also know we’re not going to stop Trump or Trumpism with the same tired names that have let us down before,” he said.
On the GOP side, Randolph Mayor Joe Hathaway began his campaign in September by saying he was looking forward to unseating Sherrill in November 2026 after Republican Jack Ciattarelli beat her in the governor’s race. That’s not what came to pass, but Hathaway confirmed today that he’ll run in the special election to succeed Sherrill instead, saying that the election of New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani adds new vulnerabilities for Democrats.
“Last night was tough, but moments like this define who we are and what comes next,” Hathaway said. “Democrats just made Zohran Mamdani the face of their future – a socialist vision built on government dependence instead of individual freedom and hard work. I believe the next generation of Republican leadership will look very different – pragmatic, hardworking, and focused on real solutions for real people.”
Hathaway faces an uphill battle, however, in a suburban district that was specifically drawn to elect a Democrat; votes from last night are still being tabulated, but it looks like Sherrill carried the 11th district by double digits.
That makes the special election far more enticing for Democrats, and several others besides Grayzel are already in the race: Obama administration alum Cammie Croft and activist Anna Lee Williams began running before today, while Passaic County Commissioner John Bartlett (D-Wayne) entered the race this morning. Yet more prominent names, among them former Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-Ringoes), Essex County Commissioner Brendan Gill (D-Montclair), and Maplewood Committeeman/former Mayor Dean Dafis, have also made their interest in the seat clear.
What is still unclear, however, is the timing of a special election. That will depend in part on whether Sherrill resigns from her House seat before her gubernatorial term begins in January, and in part on whether Democrats in the state legislature are able to pass laws that tighten up the state’s special election calendar.
