Analilia Mejia is a US political strategist, labor organizer, community organizer, and Democratic candidate in the 2026 special primary in the 11th Congressional District of New Jersey. She is the co-executive director of the Center of Popular Democracy, the national progressive advocacy organization, and has led in labor, voter mobilization, and federal policy activities.
In early 2026, Analilia Mejia rose to prominence in Democratic politics when her closely called primary race captured the attention of national media, making her one of a crop of fresh and newer generations of progressive elected officials in the U.S. House nomination process.
Analilia Mejia Biography | |
|---|---|
| Real Name: | Analilia Mejia |
| Birth Date: | 1978 |
| Age (Approx.): | 48 Years |
| Residence: | Glen Ridge, New Jersey, USA |
| Height: | – |
| Husband: | – |
Early Life
Analilia Mejia was born and grew up in New Jersey as the daughter of Colombian and Dominican immigrant parents. She was brought up in a working-class setting, as her mother was a unionized seamstress and her father worked in factories.
Talking about her childhood, Mejia has talked about times of poverty and food scarcity that her family was going through, and how these childhood experiences shaped her views on economic justice and work rights. That life experience was a driving force behind her future activism in labor protection, living wages, and fair public policy.
In her early years, Mejia spent short periods of time with her extended family in Venezuela when her father sustained a back injury that did not enable him from working. This time of uncertainty strengthened her feeling of social responsibility and further encouraged her admiration of structural supports such as labor protections and social safety nets.
She went back to the United States and subsequently joined Rutgers University, where she obtained an undergraduate degree. Her further studies were followed by advanced studies in the field of public policy and labor education. Her education equipped her with intellectual and policy instruments that she would use in her career to organize, work in government, and make political policy.
Analilia Mejia Career
Analilia Mejia has a long career of involvement in labor, federal, and national political roles. At the beginning of her career, she also worked as State Director of the New Jersey Working Families Alliance (the state branch of the Working Families Party) between 2014 and 2019.
At that position, she spearheaded movements that promoted a $15 minimum wage, acquired sick days, and expanded labor rights—movements that contributed to shaping her image as a ruthless grassroots organizer and coalition-maker.
Her national profile increased as she was appointed as National Political Director to the 2020 presidential campaign of Senator Bernie Sanders, where she was in charge of strategy, outreach, and field operations. This stance put her at the head of progressive campaign tactics, with volunteers, unions, and community partners nationwide.
Analilia Mejia was further involved in the Biden administration as the Deputy Director of the U.S. Department of Labor Women’s Bureau, where she worked on matters related to labor rights, caregiving, and personnel employment in a non-biased way.
Her government service was a combination of direct policy work and coalition work, which took her organizing background to federal advocacy and program-making. She joined the Center for Popular Democracy as co-executive director in 2023, a national grassroots advocacy organization on racial and economic justice, immigrant rights, and democratic participation.
Under this leadership, she guided coalition strategy and assisted in shaping national campaigns on voting rights, labor protections, and community resilience. In late 2025 and early 2026, Mejia ran as a Democratic candidate in the special primary in the 11th Congressional District of New Jersey, a seat vacated by Governor Mikie Sherrill.
The race was declared by media outlets as one of the first early warning signs of the party dynamics in 2026, as the progressive and establishment wings of the party competed for control over influence. During the primary, she highlighted her organizing experience, criticism of special-interest impact, and advocacy of working families—a message that helped her stand out amid the crowded field.
Personal Life
The personal life of Analilia Mejia, regarding love relations, is not publicly characterized as of the beginning of 2026. There are no known reports to indicate that she is currently in a romantic relationship. In her campaigns and media interviews, Mejia has centered her communication to the public and the media on her campaigns, her policy work, her family background, and her professional values, and not on her dating life.
Social Media
Analila Mejia has a rather subtle social media presence, as she uses her accounts mostly to communicate politically and report on campaigns and issue advocacy, but not to refer to personal posts or posts about her lifestyle. On the Instagram account, she shares campaign events, policy platforms, community activities, and photos with supporters under the name of @analilia.mejia.
Her social media strategy is reflective of her political priorities: she prioritizes policy content, electoral outreach, and requests to other local meetings, town halls, and volunteering before going viral or branding a celebrity.
Analilia Mejia Net Worth
According to financial disclosures from her time in government service, some estimates place Analilia Mejia’s personal net worth roughly between about $460,000 and $1.1 million. This is an approximate range based on available public disclosure records from her time working at the U.S. Department of Labor and other roles.