Campaign Spending by
AIPAC against former U.S. Representative
Tom Malinowski became a major issue in the primary. Although Malinowski identified as a
pro-Israel Democrat, the group funded negative advertising after he declined to unconditionally support foreign military aid. The ads may have inadvertently boosted eventual nominee
Analilia Mejia, who has accused
Israel of committing
genocide in Gaza. Following his defeat, Malinowski sharply criticized AIPAC, calling its campaign "dishonest" and pledging to oppose any AIPAC-backed challenger to Mejia in the June primary for the full term. Mejia has called for abolishing
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and has advocated resistance to what she describes as "rising
authoritarianism". The
Associated Press and
The New York Times called the race for Mejia on February 12, 2026, defeating Malinowski and former
Lieutenant Governor Tahesha Way.
Candidates Nominee •
Analilia Mejia, co-executive director of the
Center for Popular Democracy Eliminated in primary • John Bartlett,
Passaic County commissioner and candidate for this district in
2018 • Zach Beecher, venture capitalist •
J-L Cauvin, attorney and comedian • Cammie Croft, nonprofit executive and former White House deputy new media director • Brendan Gill, at-large
Essex County commissioner, husband of
state assemblymember Alixon Collazos-Gill, and candidate for
New Jersey's 27th assembly district in
2023 • Jeff Grayzel, deputy mayor of
Morris Township and nominee for
New Jersey's 25th senate district in
2021 • Justin Strickland,
Chatham Borough councilmember •
Tahesha Way, former
lieutenant governor (2023–2026) and
secretary of state of New Jersey (2018–2026) • Anna Lee Williams, corporate social responsibility manager
Withdrawn • Marc Chaaban, former congressional staffer
(remained on ballot, endorsed Mejia) • Dean Dafis,
Maplewood Township committeeman and former mayor
(remained on ballot, endorsed Gill) Disqualified •
Donald Cresitello, former
mayor of
Morristown (1977–1981, 2006–2010) and candidate for
U.S. Senate in
1982 and
2008 Did not file • Kennedy Pivnick, former legal intern at the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Declined •
Matthew Platkin,
attorney general of New Jersey (2022–2026)
Endorsements County conventions Fundraising Polling Results ==Republican primary==