The eyes of the nation are on NJ’s 11th district. As Mikie Sherrill assumes her role as Governor of New Jersey, her congressional seat will be open and we have a slate of qualified candidates stepping up.
**As has always been our policy, NJ 11th for Change will not endorse in this or any primary elections.**
Though we will not endorse, we actively support robust participation in the primary process and encourage you to investigate, research, and make your voice heard with your vote.
We are sharing information to help you make informed decisions, including:
- videos of all candidates speaking at our events in Essex and Morris counties
- links to each candidate’s website
- a complete timeline of important voter information, including expected vote by mail ballot mailing dates and early voting dates
Please bookmark this page, we will add more information as it becomes available.
The videos shared here were taken at two Candidate Meet & Greets held by NJ 11th for Change, one in Essex County at Montclair State University on Dec. 11th, 2025, and the other in Morris County at the Montville Senior Center on Dec 13th, 2025. We invited all declared candidates vying for the Democratic nomination for the 11th to join us. Each candidate was allotted equal time to introduce themselves and their platform to help you, the citizens of the 11th, make your choice.
(Note: We are not planning a similar event for Republican candidates since that primary is uncontested.)
A special thanks to the Montville Township Democratic Committee, and the Mountain Lakes Democrats for their support of the Montville event.
The Candidates
John Bartlett
Cammie Croft
Dean Dafis - Withdrawn as of 1/8/26
Timeline: 2026 NJ-11 Special Election
Filing Deadline For Primary Election (Independents):
Feb. 5 (Signatures needed: 250)
Primary Vote-By-Mail Ballots Mailed To Voters:
Dec. 22
In-Person Early Voting For Primary Election:
Jan. 29-Feb. 3
Primary Election Day:
Thursday, February 5
In-Person Early Voting For General Election:
April 6-April 14
General Election Day:
Thursday, April 16
Photographs by Bill Solomon Photography
Videos by David Beckman-Gaynes
VBM Drop Box Locations And Early In-Person Voting Locations
CD11 Special Election
ESSEX COUNTY
Note for Essex County Voters: Some In-Person Early Voting sites and VBM drop boxes are located outside of the 11th district. As long as you live in an Essex County town in the 11th district, you can drop your VBM ballot at ANY drop box in Essex County, and you can vote at ANY early-voting site in Essex County, including the one in West Orange.
MORRIS COUNTY