Randolph Mayor Joe Hathaway’s campaign to flip the 11th congressional district red in an upcoming special election has earned a notable endorsement from Assemblyman Brian Bergen (R-Denville), one of the state legislature’s most outspoken conservatives.
“Joe Hathaway is exactly the kind of leader we need in Washington,” Bergen said in a statement. “He’s a North Jersey native who grew up in a middle-class family, learned the value of service from his veteran father, excelled at Yale, and built a career rooted in public service and real-world experience. Joe understands our communities and knows how to deliver.”
Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill departed the 11th district at midnight last night, and Gov. Phil Murphy is set to call a special election to succeed her later today. The suburban North Jersey district was drawn by Democrats to favor their party – Sherrill herself won it by around 15 points in this month’s gubernatorial election – and no fewer than 11 Democrats have stepped up to run.
Hathaway, meanwhile, remains the only Republican to have launched a campaign for the seat. Bergen, who thanks to redistricting has represented most of Morris County in the legislature at one point or another over the last six years, is Hathaway’s highest-profile endorser thus far; he also received a group of endorsements last week from local elected officials and party leaders across the county.
Other Republicans could still get in the race, and there’s some speculation that Morris County Commissioner Tom Mastrangelo (R-Montville), who has sought higher office several times in the past, may be interested.
Bergen and Mastrangelo have clashed before: in 2023, Mastrangelo ran for the State Senate, helming a ticket that also tried to oust Bergen from the Assembly. Bergen and his running mates, State Sen. Joe Pennacchio (R-Montville) and Assemblyman Jay Webber (R-Morris Plains), won convincingly.
