A progressive House candidate backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., is under fire for dodging in-person debates with her GOP opponent ahead of an April special election, prompting accusations that she is reluctant to defend her far-left platform before voters.
Republican candidate Joe Hathaway is ripping his Democratic opponent, Analilia Mejia, for agreeing to a virtual debate — after repeatedly declining a series of face-to-face opportunities. The candidates are scheduled to participate in a live virtual forum sponsored by the New Jersey Globe on Wednesday evening.
"Unfortunately, when my opponent dodges and lies about debates, it limits the opportunity for a head-to-head matchup with two weeks left in the election," Hathaway said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "For now, she can hide behind a screen, but she cannot hide from her record."
The special election winner will fill an open seat vacated by Gov. Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., who resigned after winning the state’s 2025 governor’s race. The outcome will be closely watched for its potential impact on House Republicans’ razor-thin majority.
WHERE SANDERS AND AOC BACKED PROGRESSIVE CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE ANALILIA MEJIA STANDS ON KEY ISSUES
Hathaway's blistering criticism comes after Mejia repeatedly declined debate opportunities with Hathaway that he accepted, the Hathaway campaign told Fox News Digital.
Proposed debates sponsored by Montclair High School, On New Jersey and Fairleigh Dickinson University, and New Jersey Spotlight News ultimately fell through after Mejia did not accept the invites, according to the Hathaway campaign.
Mejia, who narrowly upset a crowded field of challengers in February’s Democratic primary, has also faced backlash for appearing to misrepresent her rationale for backing out of a separate debate opportunity with local chapters of the left-leaning League of Women Voters.
The New Jersey Democrat said she rejected the debate invite — co-sponsored by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Jersey — because the group was "unable to commit" to having a person of color as the moderator.
The woman-led group fired back in a statement accusing Mejia of lying, saying their intended moderator would have been a person of color. Mejia's primary objection was not being able to control the selection process herself, according to the group.
"We were asked to provide a campaign with a list of potential moderators for approval," Jennifer Howard, LWV president, said in a release. "This is a request that the League of Women Voters cannot accommodate. Our nonpartisan stance does not permit a candidate to influence the selection of the moderator."
Hathaway, a Randolph Township council member who faces an uphill battle to win the Democratic-leaning district, slammed Mejia for backing out of the planned debate.
"If she is willing to lie about something as simple as a debate, what other lies can we expect to hear from her tomorrow?" Hathaway told Fox News Digital.
"We will show a clear contrast between the practical common-sense leadership that I am running on, and the dangerous, radical, and socialist policies of my opponent," he added.
When asked to comment on Monday, a spokesperson for the Mejia campaign said, "All Joe Hathaway does is complain. We will see him tomorrow."
The Mejia campaign previously told Fox News Digital that she accepted the New Jersey Globe debate because the outlet met her diversity requirements and was closely following the race.
Mejia, a staunch progressive who served in a senior role in Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign, has called for the abolition of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and is a vocal critic of Israel.
The winner of the special election will face voters again in November for a full two-year term.
