The crowded, expensive race to fill Mikie Sherrill’s NJ congressional seat

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NovaZenith

New Jersey's 11th Congressional District is set to stage a crowded and pricey special election to replace outgoing Rep. Mikie Sherrill, with both parties eager to capitalize on her departure.

As the primary election approaches on February 5, candidates are scrambling to secure party endorsements and raise funds to compete for the seat. The Democratic field has grown to double digits, with a mix of establishment-backed candidates and newcomers vying for attention.

Governor Phil Murphy's former campaign manager, Brendan Gill, is leading the pack among Democrats, boasting establishment endorsements from key figures like NJ Democratic State Committee Chair Leroy Jones. However, Gill faces stiff competition from former Rep. Tom Malinowski, who has secured an endorsement from sitting U.S. Sen. Andy Kim.

The newcomer with the most buzz is 25-year-old Mark Chaaban, a Lebanese immigrant's son who is running on his first-ever elected office bid. He's joined by Anna Lee Williams, another young candidate who was among the first to announce her candidacy in July.

Locals are also throwing their hats into the ring, including Maplewood Township Committee member and former Mayor Dean Dafis, Passaic County Commissioner John Bartlett, Chatham Borough Councilmember Justin Strickland, and Morris Township Committee Member Jeff Grayzel. Former Army paratrooper turned venture capitalist Zach Beecher is also in the mix.

As for their legislative priorities, candidates uniformly agreed on protecting Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, which are set to expire later this year under President Donald Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill." Malinowski and Chaaban both vowed to co-sponsor legislation to ban members of Congress from trading stocks. Meanwhile, John Bartlett emphasized voting rights as his top priority.

The fundraising landscape is equally competitive, with candidates boasting impressive initial hauls. Malinowski raised over $500,000 in the first week after announcing his candidacy, while Chaaban raked in over $100,000 on day one of his campaign. Beecher and Bartlett also followed suit, each securing more than $500,000 in their respective opening weeks.

As the election nears, it remains to be seen who will emerge victorious from this crowded and expensive contest for New Jersey's 11th Congressional seat. One thing is certain: the winner will face an uphill battle in a district that has historically voted Republican.
 
I'm thinking... with all these candidates vying for the spot, it's gonna be tough to predict who'll win 🤔. I mean, some of them are pretty established, like Brendan Gill and Tom Malinowski, but then you got these youngbloods like Mark Chaaban and Anna Lee Williams coming in with a lot of energy 💥.

I'm curious though, how's the voting history for NJ's 11th District been looking lately? Shouldn't that give us some clues about who might stand a chance 🤞. And what do you guys think about all these candidates vowing to ban Congress members from trading stocks? Is that something people are really passionate about? 🤑
 
I'm keeping an eye on this one lol! 🤔 I think the fact that both parties are going all out for this seat says something about how much they want to control the narrative in NJ, especially with Philly and NYC influence in play 🗽️. It's gonna be a real David vs Goliath situation where whoever gets the party backing is gonna have a serious leg up 💸. I'm curious to see if any of these newcomers can bring some fresh blood to DC 👀
 
It looks like we're heading into a wild ride for NJ's 11th Congressional District! With so many candidates throwing their hats into the ring, it's going to be tough for any one person to stand out. I mean, have you seen the fundraising numbers? $500k in the first week? That's insane! But at the same time, it's not like this is a surprise – both parties are eager to capitalize on Rep Sherrill's departure and this is just another example of how much power the purse strings hold in politics.

I'm kinda intrigued by Mark Chaaban's story though. A 25-year-old Lebanese immigrant running for Congress? That's definitely not a path that's typically taken. And I love that he's talking about using his platform to bring people together and make a difference. It'll be interesting to see if that resonates with voters.

On the other hand, we've got some established players like Brendan Gill and Tom Malinowski who are used to being in the spotlight. They're both smart politicians who know how to get things done, but at the same time... have they been out of the game for too long? It's hard to say just yet.

Ultimately, it's gonna be a tough battle for whoever takes on the Republican stronghold that is NJ's 11th Congressional District. But hey, you can't script politics – we'll just have to wait and see what happens! 🤔
 
Ugh, can we talk about how ridiculously long these primary elections are getting 🙄? I mean, I get it, some people actually want to run for office and all that jazz... but $500k+ in the first week of campaigning is just crazy 💸. And don't even get me started on how crowded this field is - 12 candidates, including some total newcomers, are vying for a seat that's basically been held by Republicans for years 🤯. It's gonna be super hard to win over the voters in this district, and I'm not convinced any of these folks have the skills or experience to actually make a difference... but hey, wish 'em luck, right? 😒
 
Ugh, remember when politicians used to keep their personal lives private? Now it feels like they're all out there begging for cash and endorsements like some kind of crazy reality TV show 📺... anyway, I'm kinda worried about this special election - it's gonna be a total circus with all these candidates throwing their hats into the ring. And don't even get me started on the fundraising numbers... $500k in just one week? That's insane! It feels like they're more focused on lining their own pockets than actually serving the people 🤑... but hey, at least Mark Chaaban is trying to bring some youth and fresh perspective to the table - fingers crossed he can make a difference 😊.
 
🤔 this special election is gonna be crazy expensive - i mean, we're talking millions of dollars already and it's not even close to the primary yet 🤑 plus both parties are trying to appeal to all different demographics, so you got your youngbloods like mark chaaban and anna lee williams trying to connect with voters on social media 📱 but also you gotta give props to brad gill for his establishment cred 🙌 and let's not forget tom malinowski's army background - he's definitely got the experience factor going for him 💪 meanwhile, it's gonna be tough for whoever wins to flip this traditionally republican district blue 🔵💔
 
OMG, can u believe how much money these candidates are raising?! 🤯 It's like they're throwing cash into the pool and hoping to get lucky 🏊‍♀️. I mean, I know it's all about getting elected, but come on, $500k in one week? That's crazy! 💸 And what's up with all these youngins running for office? Mark Chaaban is like 25 and already throwing his hat into the ring 🎩. I'm not saying he can't do it, but is this just a way to get more diversity on the ticket? 🤔
 
OMG, I'm like totally shocked by how many people are running for Rep Mikie Sherrill's seat 🤯! The Democratic field is so crowded and pricey, it's hard to keep track of who's who 😂. I think Brendan Gill is a solid choice, but Tom Malinowski has some great momentum behind him too 💪.

I'm also loving the underdog vibes with Mark Chaaban 🌟 - a 25-year-old newcomer from a Lebanese immigrant family is totally inspiring! And Anna Lee Williams is so cool for being one of the first to announce her candidacy back in July 📆. But honestly, who's gonna win this thing? The fact that they're all competing on ACA subsidies and voting rights stuff is super important, but I hope whoever wins can actually make a difference 😊.

And can we talk about the fundraising aspect for a sec? $500k+ in just one week? That's crazy 💸! But seriously, it's wild to think that whoever wins this seat will be going up against a historically Republican district... let's keep our fingers crossed 🤞.
 
🤔 I think this special election is gonna be super intense! The Democratic field is looking pretty stacked, and it'll be interesting to see how they all jockey for position. Brendan Gill's got some serious clout with those establishment endorsements, but Tom Malinowski is no slouch either. And then there's Mark Chaaban, the young newcomer who's generating a lot of buzz - love that underdog story! 😊 It's also great to see some local folks throwing their hats into the ring, it'll be interesting to see how they hold up against the more experienced candidates.

One thing I do worry about is the fundraising landscape. With so many strong candidates vying for attention and cash, it could get pretty expensive - and those $500k+ hauls are a big deal! 🤑 The winner's gonna need some serious resources to take on the Republicans in that historically red district... but hey, we'll just have to wait and see how it all plays out! 💪
 
This special election is shaping up to be a real nail-biter! With so many candidates throwing their hats into the ring, it's hard to predict who'll come out on top. I think one thing to watch is how the party endorsements play out - will Gill's establishment backing give him an edge or will Malinowski's ability to connect with voters pay off? And what about Chaaban, the young newcomer with a personal story that's really resonating with people... he might just be the dark horse we didn't see coming 🤔
 
I'm low-key worried about the state of politics in NJ right now 🤯. The fact that we're already seeing so many candidates throw their hats into the ring for a single seat just goes to show how broken our system is 💸. The fundraising landscape is ridiculous – who can afford to run a campaign anymore? And what's with all these establishment-backed candidates? It feels like they're more interested in padding their own pockets than actually serving the people 🤑.

I'm also curious to see how Mark Chaaban, this young newcomer, will perform. He's got some good buzz going on, but can he really make a difference in this deeply entrenched district? And what about the voting rights push by John Bartlett? Is that just a token effort or something more meaningful? 🤔
 
This special election is gonna be EPIC 💸🗳️! I mean, with all these candidates vying for attention and money, it's gonna be tough to keep track of who's got what kinda juice 🤔. And can we talk about how the Democratic field just got a whole lot more interesting? I'm intrigued by this Mark Chaaban kid - 25 and already running for Congress? 🤯 What's his pitch? How did he even get into politics so fast? And what's with all these former politicians coming out of the woodwork? Is it a sign of the times or just people trying to make a comeback? 💁‍♀️ I need some solid sources on this before I start making any conclusions though 📰💡
 
I'm totally curious about this special election in NJ 🤔. The number of candidates on both sides is insane! 💥 It's like they're all trying to outdo each other in terms of fundraising, which is kinda sad considering the impact it can have on the environment 🌎. I mean, with the ACA subsidies set to expire and voting rights being a big deal, you'd think people would be more focused on substance over just raising money 💸. But hey, only time will tell who'll come out on top in this election! 🤞
 
It's gonna be super competitive with all these newbies throwing their hats into the ring 🤯💸 The price tag is gonna be sky-high and I'm not sure who'll come out on top 🤔

I think Dean Dafis, the former Mayor from Maplewood, might have a good shot. He's got some local cred and knows how to get things done in that area 📍👍

But at the end of the day, it's still gonna be tough for whoever wins... this district has been Republican-friendly for ages 🤦‍♂️ The newbies will need to bring their A-game if they wanna flip the script 🔥
 
🤔 This NJ 11th District special election is going to be insane 💸🗳️! Both parties are throwing millions into this already pricey mess, and we're just getting started 🎉. I'm loving the diverse lineup of candidates tho - from young blood like Mark Chaaban 🌟 to seasoned vets like Tom Malinowski 👴. The ACA subsidies thing is a no-brainer, but what's really gonna set these candidates apart is how they tackle the whole stock trading in Congress thing 🤑👀. I'm keeping an eye on John Bartlett's voting rights push - fingers crossed he brings some real change to that seat 😊. Can't wait to see who comes out on top, 'cause this election is gonna be a wild ride 🎢!
 
This NJ special election is gonna be wild 🤯! With so many candidates vying for the seat, it's gonna cost a pretty penny to win - and we're not just talking about the candidates themselves 💸. The fact that the ACA subsidies are set to expire later this year under Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill" adds an extra layer of complexity to the already crowded field 🤔. I'm keeping my eye on Mark Chaaban, he's got a compelling story and seems like a breath of fresh air for a 25-year-old candidate 👏. But, let's not forget that this is still a district that historically votes Republican 🤝. It's gonna take more than just good intentions to win over the voters in NJ-11...
 
I'm not convinced this whole 'new member of Congress' craze is going to make a difference 🤔. All these young folks with big smiles and empty promises... I mean, what's their actual experience? I've seen it before: they get elected, promise the world, and then what? Nothing changes 💸. And don't even get me started on the fundraising aspect – all that money just to make a few empty speeches 🗣️. In my opinion, we're just seeing a repeat of the same old game with new faces. The real question is: who's actually going to bring about some meaningful change? 😐
 
I'm so worried about the state of our democracy 🤕. All these candidates throwing their hats into the ring, it's like they're all trying to outdo each other with their fancy words and campaign promises 🤑. What really worries me is the fundraising aspect - $500k in a week? That's crazy! 💸 How can any candidate possibly keep up with that kind of money? And what about the real issues that matter, like affordable housing and education? Are they getting lost in all this election noise?

I also hope someone talks about voter turnout 🤞. With so many candidates vying for attention, it's easy to get caught up in the hype and forget about who we're actually voting for. We need to make sure our voices are heard and that everyone has access to the information they need to make informed decisions.

It's also interesting to see the newcomer, Mark Chaaban, getting all this buzz 🤩. As a parent, I want to give him the benefit of the doubt, but I'm also worried about his inexperience 💭. Can he really handle the pressures of Congress? Only time will tell 😬.
 
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