Democrat Mejia has won a special election for a U.S. House seat in New Jersey, the Associated Press projected.

The victory maintains Democratic control of the congressional district in what was closely watched as an indicator of voter sentiment ahead of upcoming elections.

Special elections often serve as bellwethers for broader political trends, though local factors and lower turnout can make results less predictive than regular elections.

The seat became vacant earlier this year, prompting the special election to fill the remainder of the term. Mejia will serve until the seat is up for regular election in November 2024.

The result adds to the Democratic caucus in the House of Representatives, where party control remains closely divided. New Jersey has traditionally been a competitive state in federal elections, with both parties holding multiple House seats in the state's delegation.