♪ Announcer: from NJPBS Studios, this is "NJ Spotlight News," with Briana Vannozzi.

Joanna: Thank you for joining us.

We are bringing you a special NJ decides additional with the two major party candidates running for the 11th congressional district.

The seat was led -- left vacant by Mikie Sherrill.

They will face off in a special election on April 16 to fill out the remainder of Sherrill's term through January 2027.

We invited both candidates to appear together for a conversation about the issues that matter most to voters.

Instead today, we bring you a one-on-one conversation with each of the candidates.

The 11th district includes parts of Essex, Morris and Passaic counties.

It is largely made up of affluent suburban towns.

Sherrill was elected to represent it in 2018, flipping the historically red district to blue.

The lines of the district were redrawn and it now leans blue with Democrats outnumbering Republicans by more than 60,000 voters.

What are the issues that matter most to voters?

Let's get into it with our first guest who joins me in studio, Republican Joe Hathaway, councilman and a former mayor in the Township of Randolph who once served as an aid to Governor Chris Christie and ran on -- ran unopposed in the primary.

>> She hated.

-- appreciate it.

Joanna: From voters who don't know your platform, why are you running to take over the seat in the 11th district?

>> For us, since the beginning, this race has been about my dual role, as a mayor and Councilman at the local level, someone familiar with the local issues.

And my role as a dad of three young children, six-year-old, four-year-old and five-month-old.

I have seen both of those roles.

A lot of families in our district are dealing with when it comes to dish -- issues around affordability.

Whether it is owning a home, paying for child care, these are challenges many families face.

.

We have the opportunity to send someone to Washington who will bring the mayor's mindset of fixing things that matter to our residents, to lower costs and drive affordability.

Joanna: We heard the president talk about affordability when he was on the campaign trail.

We heard Governor Mikey -- Mikie Sherrill talk about it.

When you do that's different?

How would you address this nationally?

Mr.

Hathaway: I think there are a lot of things we can do.

If we send someone to Washington who knows the challenges we face and can bring solutions, some of our big platforms are all around things like creating a tax freeze for first-time homebuyers to put money back in their pocket while they make that critical life change.

We ought -- we want to increase vocational training for young people who don't want to pursue a four year traditional career.

We want to institute a childcare tax credit, to make sure families that are having to choose between my career and my child have to make that choice.

These are commonsense things we can do to lower cost to drive affordability, not raise taxes to subsidize affordability.

Joanna: You say they are commonsense.

Do you believe your colleagues in Congress on the Republican side see it that way?

Do you think they would be on board?

Mr.

Hathaway: I think so.

A lot of the ideas we are putting forward are things that can work together in a bipartisan way.

That's what we need in Congress if we will be leaders.

We need to send common prayer -- common sense, practical people that can work with anybody if it means getting something done for the people we represent.

Joanna: The last time we spoke, we talked about DHS.

It is one of the headlines that has been driving the new cycle because there is so much that has been happening here in New Jersey and across the country, since the last time we spoke.

DHS officers killed two American office -- people on the streets of Minneapolis.

I asked if you believed reforms are needed.

Do you call for reforms to the way DHS is carrying out emigration and enforcement in America?

Mr.

Hathaway: I think our position has been clear on this from the jump since we last spoke.

There is a lot of common sense things we can do to reform the way I.C.E.

is operating.

Joanna: Such as?

Mr.

Hathaway: Better technology, body worn cameras, better training, de-escalation training.

These are all things we should be bringing to the table.

Joanna: Guests coming off -- masks coming off?

Mr.

Hathaway: I think that is part of the conversation as well.

I would say that my democrat opponent also come to the table with commonsense reforms on their side.

Our local police departments have no role to play in keeping American citizens safe, especially ones who want to execute their constitutional right to protest.

Joanna: What do you mean when you say no role to play?

Mr.

Hathaway: Because of our Century City city laws in states like New Jersey, our local community -- local police department has no idea what's going on with I.C.E.

It is when there is no ability for local PD to be able to ensure citizens are practicing their right to protest safely, that is when we see these things happen.

I think there are ways we could both come together on both sides of the issue to make things safer.

My point is to defund police at the federal, state and local level.

Joanna: This is a state issue.

Here in New Jersey, the legislation being proposed in the executive order that the governor issued require a judicial warrant before any arrest is made.

Do you think that identifies the sanctuary law, do you believe that a judicial warrant should be needed in these arrests?

Mr.

Hathaway: I think the warrant process is cut and dry and standard for any arrest in this type of situation.

Joanna: As of now, it can be an administrative warrant.

Mr.

Hathaway: Correct.

The bigger issue with the sanctuary state laws is the fact that our local PD does not have a role to play.

A quick and, in Morris County, Sheriff's office has the fast team.

An organization that is built for situations like a protest, like a labor dispute, where they can come in and help make sure people are safe.

With the century city laws, they have no ability to know where I.C.E.

is and how they can help.

That makes no sense.

I don't think it is beneficial to the people of our district.

When we have radical statements like, let's abolish things, defund the police, that is not keeping our families safe.

It's a dangerous policy.

Joanna: There is a lot of pushback, bipartisan, the Republican led town Council in rocks.

His pushing back, as is Governor Sherrill, who they both filed a joint lawsuit against this facility or house purchased by DHS to turn into an immigrant detention center.

Do you believe that center should move forward?

Mr.

Hathaway: I don't.

I came out on this early on as well.

I can tell you I think that Sean and the guys and rocks.

, our neighbor in Randolph, I know the infrastructure challenges they have.

They are similar to what we have in many municipalities.

When you don't communicate and enforce these major operations on a town that has challenges with water and sewer, challenges land and overdevelopment, it will be a burden on the community of rocks.

, I'm opposed to the way this thing has been pulled together.

I.C.E.

has an important job to do to get the illegal criminals off of our street.

Joanna: Do you believe overall with the president's immigration enforcement and the way it is carried out?

Mr.

Hathaway: I think it is an important job.

Most people in America want their streets safer.

Most people want legal -- what illegal criminals out of our streets and out of our country.

I think there are commonsense things we need to do to come to the table to make sure we can move the ball forward when it comes to DHS overall.

We are seeing DHS not be funded, TSA not getting paid.

These are things that will put Americans and New Jerseyans at risk in the long term.

Joanna: You have called your opponent a radical socialist, you have criticized her position on Israel.

She has been critical of the Israeli government, calling Benjamin Netanyahu a war criminal for his actions in Gaza.

First, do you think the U.S.

should rethink its position on Israel given what recently happened where we saw the top U.S.

counterterrorism official exit his position last week, saying Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation?

Mr.

Hathaway: Not at all.

I think we need to stand and lock step with our allies in Israel and our Jewish community in the district.

As a matter, we have a strong Jewish community.

On October 7, 2023, two or three days later, being with our Jewish community, trying to wrap our heads around what had happened.

Being there, being with them, our Jewish community deserve someone who will go to Washington and have their back.

Where was she at that same time?

She was behind a keyboard taking to Twitter blaming the Israeli government for the attacks on October 7, not Hamas terrorists.

She is out of step with the people of this district, with our strong Jewish community.

Our residents should be concerned that someone with ideology to represent them.

Joanna: She has said your rhetoric against her husband dangerous and put her in dangerous situations.

She told us that is part of the reason she didn't want to debate you.

She says you are calling her anti-Semitic and you have called her and I said a medic -- called her anti-Semitic.

Is it there to call someone anti-Semitic for being critical of the government?

Mr.

Hathaway: When they do things like blame Israel for the attacks on October 7, it's fair to call someone anti-Semitic.

Joanna: Blame the Israeli government.

Mr.

Hathaway: Right.

I think it's fair to call someone and has a medic when they say they don't believe Israel should have a right to exist in their ancestral homeland.

Think it's fair to someone anti-Semitic when they are the only Democrat who raises their hand and says yes, I believe Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

I called her that because she takes it is a medic positions.

Joanna: You have concerns after hearing the U.S.

counterterrorism official Joe Kent saying it is clear this war was started because of pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby?

Mr.

Hathaway: This one is clear as day.

We need to stand with our Jewish community.

We need to stop normalizing rhetoric and behavior that allows for antisemitism to be driven in our communities.

We need to increase things like our security grants for houses of worship.

Need to codify the definition of ihra.

Joanna: Gateway funding is uncertain.

There have been many lawsuits that they have won in the courts.

The fight to get the federal funding flowing again.

But the Trump Administration is still fighting.

Looks like they could take it to the Supreme Court.

What's your position?

You have been critical of the president in the past.

Mr.

Hathaway: When it comes to the Gateway funding project, this is something that is too important to the people of New Jersey.

Too important for the people of the 11th district.

I have been clear from day one that the president needs to move this forward.

This is not pumping we should play politics with.

The should not be used as a pawn in some political gain.

It is too many jobs and too many commuters that I would represent.

This role is to do exactly that, represent the people of our district.

Before our party, before president, before a squad.

The voters of this district need to know with me, they have someone who will always put their interest first.

Joanna: Do you support the save America act which would change the way people register for elections here in our country, and quite rightly, make it harder for women in particular to register if they had a name change?

Mr.

Hathaway: I do support it.

This is one of those 80-20 rules that most Americans think it is a good idea to have stronger integrity of our elections, stronger voter ID laws.

I think it makes sense.

I think it is something I would be supportive of.

I disagree that it is an overly burdensome process for women who have many instances where they have to deal with a name change or documents.

If we can take steps to secure our elections and making Americans feel more confident, it's a good thing.

Joanna: Some say it disenfranchises voters.

You don't agree.

Mr.

Hathaway: I don't agree with that.

Joanna: How do you see your role if you were to be sent to Congress working with Democrats, across the aisle, or perhaps pushing back as you having this conversation where you don't agree with Republicans?

Mr.

Hathaway: Is going to lead and retake -- if Congress is going to lead, we can't do that by standing in our corners and yelling and screaming about partisan positions.

Congress leads by coming to the table, moving legislation and setting the tone for our country.

I think I'm the only candidate in this race who can credibly say that they will be doing that.

I have done at the local level, we have worked with the Phil Murphy administration to get things done in Randolph.

Been able to work across the aisle.

I opponent has built a platform around any old blue won't do.

Not even is she unwilling to work with Republicans, she won't work with moderates in her own party.

That's not what we need to actually lead.

Joanna: We have to leave it there.

Joe Hathaway, councilman in Randolph, thank you so much.

Mr.

Hathaway: Thanks for having me.

Joanna: Coming up, we talk with the Democratic lay -- Democratic candidate.

>> Major funding for "NJ Spotlight News" provided by the NJM Insurance group, residents and businesses for more than 100 years.

Joanna: Democratic candidate is here.

She is a longtime progressive activists and labor organizer.

She won a crowded primary to become the Democratic candidate, beating Tom Malinowski and a dozen others to clinch the nomination.

She formally led the working families party and served as Senator Bernie Sanders national political director and she worked in the biter Labor Department.

Thank you and welcome to the show.

For voters who have not familiarize themselves with you or your platform, wired are you running to fill this open seat?

>> We are in a moment where it is clear we are in a democratic backslide.

This economy is hurting, working-class class, middle class families.

This is a moment in which we have to lean in to this idea of self-governance.

I have been an organizer for 25 years in New Jersey.

Folks may not be familiar with my name but may be familiar with my work.

I led the campaign to raise the minimum wage in New Jersey.

I thought for paid sick leave for all workers.

I fought for democracy expanding measures and fighting gerrymandering so that your vote can actually count.

In this moment where it is clear we need to take back our democracy and support our democratic institutions, I jumped in because I feel like I could represent the interest of New Jersey's 11th.

Joanna: You say democratic backslide, do you mean with a small d?

Ms.

Mejia: Yes.

In this moment we have a president that is usurping power from Congress.

Whether it's the power of the purse or leading us into war.

We are in a moment in which our judiciary feels like it has been taken over by ideological extremists.

We have a president who is pushing for acts and bills that would curtail our ability to participate in the electoral process.

Joanna: The save America act.

What are your thoughts there?

Ms.

Mejia: I think that runs counter to saving America.

I think we need to expand our opportunities to engage in government, engage in policymaking, in the electoral process.

The truth is is it will hurt both sides of the aisle.

Democrats, Republicans, independents, from being able to participate all to fix an imaginary problem.

Joanna: Do you not think we need to ensure or have more proof that it is only citizens voting in our election?

Ms.

Mejia: We need to make sure we have the integrity of our voting institutions.

We have studied whether or not there is a problem of illegal voting.

We know we instances are few and far between.

The impact of instituting corrections like demanding that our elderly have a certain kind of ID to be able to participate, we would harm legal eligible voters from participation.

We have a system that has worked.

Instead, what we should focus on is expanding voting access, making sure that early voting is more expensive, that we have the ability to vote by mail and to ensure people can participate so that we can be at the helm of our government.

Joanna: Affordability is an issue you have campaigned on.

You would like to see the minimum wage raise nationally paired what would you like to see?

Ms.

Mejia: Our minimum wage is so incredibly low.

New Jersey is at $15.96, which again, we fought hard to make sure there was a staggered increase that allowed our small businesses to be able to adapt, and our workers to be able to benefit.

The truth is there is not a place in the United States where making less than $25 an hour allows a family to actually sustain itself.

Affordability is huge.

When you consider that inflation is up 3.4%, when you consider that housing costs are up upwards of 5%, energy costs are up upwards of 6% and health care is up 174%.

How are we going to make ends meet in these depressed wage conditions?

We have to make smart policies that actually lift working-class middle-class families in New Jersey.

Joanna: You have been vocal in your criticism of President Trump on a number of issues.

Let's start with I.C.E.

You have called for the abolishment of I.C.E.

Why?

Why do you believe it is abolished and not reform?

Ms.

Mejia: I think it is abolished and replaced.

The truth is that there is multiple levels to the problems we see in I.C.E.

They have a recruitment problem, the individuals they are recruiting are problematic on many levels.

Some of them from other agencies.

They have an oversight problem.

They have a violence problem.

.

They have a training problem.

Instead of nibbling around the edges in trying to course correct something that has only been in existence for the last 22 years, we should take a fraction of the $75 billion that was essentially stolen from the American people, money that had been allocated to snap, Medicaid, different safety net programs, take that $75 billion and take a fraction of it and invested in more judges, invested in the early part of our immigration system.

We have the data to be able to fix our immigration system, we just don't have the judges and capacity to move people.

Joanna: Do you believe immigration enforcement needs to be carried out in our country so folks who are here illegally or without documentation should be removed?

Ms.

Mejia: I think we need to create pathways to citizenship for people who have building their lives in this nation the truth is we invest in educating children in undocumented families.

The truth is that immigrants have built businesses, established homes, raised families.

It would be unconscionable to rip hard-working people, law-abiding people out of our nation.

It is not only unfair to them but bad for our economy.

We should ensure that we use information, a fair process to weed out people we do not want in the country who wantd an agents will of criminals.

Joanna: Do you think President Biden was reckless or dangerous in terms of how he left the southern border open?

Do you think President was right in closing it?

Ms.

Mejia: I don't know if they are opening or closing borders.

The truth is that we have had an immigration system that has been broken for many years.

I would say that correction can be bipartisan, should be intentional and should actually fix the problem.

We need more judges and more information.

We need to stop the terror in immigrant communities and, I don't know about you, but this is the first time I have seen I.C.E.

agents, Homeland security agents, turn their weapons on American citizens and shoot people in streets.

That is conscionable and has to stop.

Joanna: You have faced criticism from your opponent on being critical of Israel.

You have this as Netanyahu, called him a war criminal for his actions in Gaza which you call a genocide.

Should the U.S.

have a strong relationship with its ally in the Middle East, Israel?

Ms.

Mejia: We should have a strong relationship with nations that are focused on building democracy, ensuring uplifting human rights, making sure we are in relationship with folks who are trying to build a just society.

What I desire for myself I desire for others.

80% of Gaza is in rubble.

We know that there is continued violence that is going through either settler violence, we know there is continued land annexation, we know there is continued violence, even though there is a suppose it Cease Fire.

That creates the instability.

We have to be able to fight it has some it doesn't.

We need to fight Islamophobia.

We need to fight bigotry in the United States.

There is a way in which we can uphold human rights and civil liberties and everyone be born free, and have the ability to tell even our friends when we think they have crossed a line and there should be a course correction.

The hardest thing is to tell our friends that we disagree with an action.

But we need to be able to do that, especially with our closest allies, which Israel is.

Joanna: Your apartment has called you anti-Semitic for saying -- I believe you said Palestinians, Israelis and Jews have a right to self-determination in their ancestral homeland.

But he has called you anti-Semitic.

Do you agree?

Ms.

Mejia: I think that is completely ridiculous.

If we uphold the human rights group, we are negating the human rights of another?

That is a ridiculous name-calling.

As a mother of two sons, when my children start to lose an argument or don't have anything worthwhile to say or criticize each other on, they go to name-calling.

The truth is, we can uphold the human rights of all communities that we feel ally shipped to the truth is we have to fight Islamophobia, and antisemitism.

The truth is, we need to create conditions in which Palestinians, Israelis, Muslims, Jewish people, Christians, can live free in their homelands.

And I believe Israel can be a Jewish state antidemocratic one.

I believe that we can uphold the human rights of both Palestinians and Israelis.

That does not cross over to antisemitism.

When we throw these accusations around, that is just a cynical way to say, I don't care about these communities, and that is unjust.

I reject it.

Joanna: Let me ask you this, we invited you to have this conversation with Joe Hathaway.

You did not want to do that.

You turned down the League of Women Voters.

Ms.

Mejia: Actually, we were confirmed -- here's the thing.

New Jersey's 11th Congressional District is close to 40% diverse.

I as a woman of color running to represent this district, I have lived here for 13 years, I think it is important to be inclusive.

My request was that we can uphold neutrality and uphold diversity.

I was ready, willing and able, as I have shared, I have said to both the League of Women Voters and to my supporters, I don't back away from an argument or a fight.

Just ask my siblings.

I'm the youngest of 15, I know how to disagree without being disagreeable.

Joanna: What was the issue?

Ms.

Mejia: For me, we need to ensure that the way in which we present ourselves is diverse and inclusive.

Joanna: The league says they had a diversity on the panel but you insisted on approving the moderators.

Ms.

Mejia: I insisted on having diversity in that moderating panel.

I had agreed that I would happily participate in the debate.

I have been holding town halls across this district.

Just last night, I had a tele-town hall ensuring I am available to contents -- to constituents.

The truth is, we are in a moment in which the difference between me and my opponent couldn't be more clear.

I uphold the Constitution and I believe in a democratic institution.

My opponent stands with January 6 insurrectionists.

I believe health care rising up 174% is not only untenable, it is unconscionable.

Health care should be a human right.

My opponent would side with Donald Trump in taking away further tax credits.

I believe they have a housing affordability crisis, that only in the country but in New Jersey's 11th.

My opponent gleefully says he has fought against building affordable housing in his home town, and will likely do the same.

You are either going to choose someone that will stand up for what's right, even when it's uncomfortable.

Someone will say the truth even when there is the potential for political backlash.

We need to be able to have a different kind of politics that isn't rooted on us versus them, is a left or right but about right and wrong.

The differences so stark and clear that I trust that voters are going to make the right decision.

Joanna: They will make that decision very soon.

Analilia Mejia, thank you for joining us.

That is going to do -- going to do it for us tonight.

A reminder to voters, the special election for the 11th congressional district is Thursday, April 16.

I'm Joanna Gagis.

For the entire team here at NJ Spotlight News, thank you for being with us.

See you next time.

>> New Jersey Education Association.

Making public school great for every child.

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