Denville Candidate Points to 65,000-Voter Registration Edge in CD-11 Race

DENVILLE - Joe Hathaway voted early Thursday at township hall alongside his wife and children, then pointed to a 65,000-plus Democratic registration advantage across CD-11 as the number that shaped the district's April special election. "Way more people are paying attention now than they were in April," Hathaway said after casting his ballot.

The April 16 special election drew low attention because it fell on a Thursday, and the registration gap proved decisive: Rep. Analilia Mejia won by 20 points. The district covers parts of Essex, Passaic and Morris counties. Hathaway has campaigned since spring on the argument that Mejia is too far left for those communities.

Hathaway said early vote totals are running strong. "There's a lot more votes on the table. I think it's a lot more voters that are somewhere in the middle," he said. Data shows Democrats leading in early voting, a pattern Hathaway said does not settle the race. He argued some Democrats are seeing how "radical" Mejia is and "they're not happy about it."

The district and state are ready for a "new generation of Republican leaders," Hathaway said. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.