U.S. House, New Jersey 11th Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in New Jersey's 11th Congressional District?
Analilia Mejia has the strongest record in New Jersey's 11th Congressional District. Analilia Mejia scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Joe Hathaway at 59, as of October 9, 2026. Analilia Mejia's highest marks are showing up and courage. Joe Hathaway's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Alan Bond (1 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Independent
Alan Bond
On the ballot as Alan B. Bond
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 1 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Republican
Joe Hathaway
59 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 65
- Performance
- NR
Democratic · incumbent
Strongest record
Analilia Mejia
63 / 100
Public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 55
- Qualifications
- 65
- Performance
- 75
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Alan Bond
- Mark against2003
Pleaded guilty in a broker kickback scheme and was convicted by a jury in 2002 of fraud in a trade-allocation scheme; sentenced in 2003 to more than 12 years in federal prison.
Sources: CIO, Feb. 11, 2026, Ballotpedia, Alan Bond, Black Enterprise, Aug. 1, 2004
Joe Hathaway
- On the record2026-04-01
Debated Democrat Analilia Mejia on April 1, 2026, in the only debate before the April 16 special election.
Source: Jewish Insider, April 3, 2026
- Credit2025
Served as mayor of Randolph Township in 2025 after joining the township council in 2022.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Joe Hathaway, Campaign site, home page
Analilia Mejia
- On the record2026-04-30
Voted against the April 2026 extension of FISA Section 702 authorities; Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries voted Yea.
Source: House Clerk Roll Call 155, 2026
- On the record2026-04-01
Declined a League of Women Voters debate in March 2026 over moderator diversity, then debated Republican Joe Hathaway once, on April 1, before the April 16 special election.
Sources: Patch (Montclair), March 23, 2026, Jewish Insider, April 3, 2026
- On the record2019-03
Named national political director of Sen. Bernie Sanders's 2020 presidential campaign.
Sources: Rutgers University, March 13, 2019, North Jersey Record, Feb. 6, 2026
- Credit2026-09
Missed none of 189 House roll call votes from April to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
- Credit2019-03-13
As executive director of New Jersey Working Families Alliance, led the campaigns that won earned sick leave and a $15 minimum wage in New Jersey.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Alan Bond. No public record found.
Joe Hathaway. Campaign reports and a 2026 House candidate financial disclosure are on file. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10078583, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00921809
Analilia Mejia. Campaign reports and a 2026 House candidate financial disclosure (filed Aug. 12, 2026) are on file; no stock transaction reports are indexed for her. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: House Clerk financial disclosure, Filing ID 10081605, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00927681
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Alan Bond. No public record found.
Joe Hathaway. No public record found.
Analilia Mejia. In her first six months voted against the April 2026 FISA extension, the fuel retailer choice bill and the KIDS Act, each time opposite Democratic Leader Jeffries.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 155, 2026, House Clerk Roll Call 164, 2026, House Clerk Roll Call 228, 2026
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Alan Bond. No public record found.
Joe Hathaway. Debated Analilia Mejia once before the April 2026 special election. No November debate found.
Source: Jewish Insider, April 3, 2026
Analilia Mejia. Debated Joe Hathaway once before the April 2026 special election after declining a League of Women Voters debate; attends town halls and other district events. No November debate found.
Sources: Jewish Insider, April 3, 2026, Patch (Montclair), March 23, 2026, Morristown Green, May 30, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Alan Bond. No public record found.
Joe Hathaway. No public record found.
Analilia Mejia. Led New Jersey Working Families and served in the U.S. Department of Labor before Congress. No censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Analilia Mejia, NJ Spotlight News, March 9, 2016
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Alan Bond. No public record found.
Joe Hathaway. Holds sworn office on the Randolph Township Council and served as mayor in 2025. No official finding of misuse of office found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Joe Hathaway, North Jersey Record, Feb. 6, 2026
Analilia Mejia. Served in the U.S. Department of Labor and took the House oath in April 2026; she was not in Congress for the 2017 or 2021 electoral vote objections. No official finding of misuse of office.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Alan Bond. Former money manager who ran investment firms managing more than $600 million; has not held public office.
Source: CIO, Feb. 11, 2026
Joe Hathaway. Randolph Township Council member since 2022 and mayor in 2025; earlier an aide to Gov. Chris Christie and a corporate communications executive.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Joe Hathaway, Campaign site, home page
Analilia Mejia. U.S. representative since April 2026; earlier deputy director of the Labor Department's Women's Bureau, co-director of the Center for Popular Democracy and national political director of Bernie Sanders's 2020 campaign.
Sources: GovTrack member page, Ballotpedia, Analilia Mejia, Rutgers University, March 13, 2019
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Alan Bond. No public record found.
Joe Hathaway. Publishes specific proposals, including a federal tax freeze and a refundable tax credit for first-time homebuyers.
Analilia Mejia. Serves on the Homeland Security and Small Business committees and publishes specific economic proposals, including a $25 federal minimum wage.
Sources: GovTrack, committee membership, Campaign site, An Economy for Everyone
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Alan Bond. No public record found.
Joe Hathaway. Publishes issue positions on his campaign site and took part in a 2026 debate (two channels). Did not complete Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Joe Hathaway (campaign website text), Jewish Insider, April 3, 2026
Analilia Mejia. Offers a newsletter, publishes issue pages and took part in a 2026 debate (three channels). Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Office site, home page, Campaign site, An Economy for Everyone, Ballotpedia, Analilia Mejia, Jewish Insider, April 3, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Alan Bond. No public record found.
Joe Hathaway. Lives in Randolph, in the district, where he has served on the township council since 2022. FEC by-state totals show about 78 percent of itemized individual contributions from New Jersey.
Sources: Campaign site, home page, Wikipedia, New Jersey's 11th congressional district, North Jersey Record, Feb. 6, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
Analilia Mejia. Lives in Glen Ridge, in the district. FEC by-state totals show about 47 percent of itemized individual contributions from New Jersey.
Sources: North Jersey Record, Feb. 6, 2026, Wikipedia, New Jersey's 11th congressional district, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Alan Bond. No public record found.
Joe Hathaway. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00921809
Analilia Mejia. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00927681
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Alan Bond. No public record found.
Joe Hathaway. No public record found.
Analilia Mejia. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Alan Bond. No public record found.
Joe Hathaway. No public record found.
Analilia Mejia. Missed 0 of 189 roll call votes from April to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Alan Bond. No public record found.
Joe Hathaway. No public record found.
Analilia Mejia. Runs a Montclair district office and offers help with federal agencies. No published casework totals found.
Source: Office site, home page
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Alan Bond. No public record found.
Joe Hathaway. No public record found.
Analilia Mejia. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Alan Bond. No public record found.
Joe Hathaway. No public record found.
Analilia Mejia. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in New Jersey's 11th Congressional District?
Analilia Mejia has the strongest record in New Jersey's 11th Congressional District. Analilia Mejia scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Joe Hathaway at 59, as of October 9, 2026. Analilia Mejia's highest marks are showing up and courage. Joe Hathaway's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Alan Bond (1 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in New Jersey's 11th Congressional District in 2026?
Alan Bond (Independent), Joe Hathaway (Republican), Analilia Mejia (Democratic, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Alan Bond a good candidate for Congress?
Alan Bond has public evidence on 1 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Joe Hathaway a good candidate for Congress?
Joe Hathaway scores 59 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 65 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Analilia Mejia a good candidate for Congress?
Analilia Mejia scores 63 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria: character 55 of 100, qualifications 65 of 100, performance 75 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every New Jersey race scored, and the New Jersey 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.