Tom Malinowski Concedes After AIPAC-Backed Ads Boost Analilia Mejia
Mejia led by 889 votes after the Feb. 5 primary as Malinowski blamed more than $2.3 million in AIPAC-linked UDP ads for his loss.
Washington ExaminerTom Malinowski vows to oppose any candidate endorsed by AIPAC
FOX NewsProgressives notch another win over Democratic moderates as Sanders-AOC ally nears Congress
Al JazeeraWhy is a moderate Democrat’s primary loss being called an AIPAC backfire?
PBS NewsHourMalinowski concedes to Mejia in Democratic special election primary in New Jersey
Overview
Tom Malinowski conceded the Feb. 5 Democratic primary for New Jersey's 11th Congressional District on Feb. 10, 2026, after Analilia Mejia led by 889 votes, county election officials said.
Campaign officials said the United Democracy Project, a super PAC linked to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, spent more than $2.3 million on attack ads in the final three weeks of the campaign.
In his Feb. 10 concession statement, Tom Malinowski vowed to oppose any candidate backed by AIPAC and called the spending a "massive flood of dark money," his campaign said.
Official results show Analilia Mejia received 29.1% of the vote to Tom Malinowski's 27.7% and Taesha Way's 17.4% in the 11-person Feb. 5 primary.
AIPAC told supporters it would remain involved in the race and focus on the June 2 primary that will likely determine the full term beginning Jan. 2027, the group's communications said.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame Mejia's primary win as a progressive grassroots upset amplified by high-profile endorsements and outside interference; they emphasize AIPAC's attack ads and labor/union support while highlighting Malinowski's concessions. Coverage mixes neutral vote-count reporting with selective emphasis on progressive momentum and external spending as decisive.
FAQ
Analilia Mejia is a progressive activist, former union organizer, and top Bernie Sanders staffer who won the Democratic primary for New Jersey's 11th Congressional District as a heavy underdog through strong get-out-the-vote efforts in communities of color.
The United Democracy Project, a super PAC linked to AIPAC, spent over $2.3 million on attack ads against Tom Malinowski in the final three weeks, which Malinowski blamed for his narrow loss.
Analilia Mejia received 29.1% (or 29%), Tom Malinowski 27.7% (or 28%), and Taesha Way 17.4%, with Mejia leading by 889 votes in an 11-candidate field.
AIPAC indicated it will remain involved in the June 2 primary to determine the full term starting January 2027, separate from the special election primary Mejia won.
Tom Malinowski conceded on Feb. 10, blamed AIPAC-linked spending as 'massive flood of dark money,' vowed to oppose AIPAC-backed candidates, but offered support to Mejia per some reports.
