Special Elections Update: New Jersey House Seat and West Virginia Supreme Court

Two separate special elections occurred in 2026 involving different offices and states. In New Jersey's 11th Congressional District, Democrat Analilia Mejia won a special election held in April 2026 to fill the U.S. House seat vacated by Mikie Sherrill after she became governor. Mejia defeated Republican candidate Joe Hathaway in the Democratic-leaning district. Separately, in West Virginia, a special election was held around September 2026 to fill the remainder of former Justice Beth Walker's term on the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, a term set to expire in 2028. In the New Jersey race, Mejia's win reduced the Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives to 218-214, according to NBC News. Mejia, described as a progressive activist, received backing from Senator Bernie Sanders during the campaign. In the West Virginia race, House of Delegates member Bill Flanigan defeated Tom Ewing, who had been appointed to the seat by Governor Patrick Morrisey in August 2025. Only one source, Wikipedia, provided detailed information on the West Virginia contest, and its specific vote totals or margin were not reported in the available materials. Both elections were confirmed as completed, with winners declared: Mejia now holds the New Jersey House seat, and Flanigan has won the West Virginia Supreme Court seat. The practical effects include a narrower Republican margin in the U.S. House and a change in composition on West Virginia's highest court. Details such as final vote counts, turnout figures, and the exact reasons for Ewing's departure from the seat remain unreported in the available sourcing. No additional corroborating source was available to confirm specifics of the West Virginia race beyond the Wikipedia summary.