Voters in northern New Jersey went to the polls Thursday in a special election to fill the House seat vacated by Mikie Sherrill, who resigned after being elected governor.

Republican Joe Hathaway, a councilman from Randolph, New Jersey, faced Democrat Analilia Mejia, a former campaign aide to Sen. Bernie Sanders. Independent candidate Alan Bond was also on the ballot. The race drew attention as Republicans sought to flip a traditionally Democratic-leaning district.

Mejia received endorsements from progressive figures including Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez during her campaign. Hathaway attempted to distance himself from former President Trump as he competed for the seat.

The special election was held to fill the remainder of Sherrill's term through the end of the year. Sherrill had represented the district since 2019 before successfully running for governor.

Separately, Michigan Democrats are preparing for their own competitive Senate primary, with polling showing Abdul El-Sayed and Mallory McMorrow in a close race ahead of Rep. Haley Stevens for the open Senate seat. Recent Emerson College polling found both El-Sayed and McMorrow tied at 24 percent among likely primary voters.