Polling Average
40%30%20%10%0%
5%
28%
12%
5%
Democrat
Tahesha Way
Democrat
Tahesha Way
NJ-11 special Democratic nominee?
$2.3M
JAN 1, 2027
Candidate standings
Live market pricing for the leading candidates in this election.
Overview
Current roleFormer Lieutenant Governor
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyMainstream Democrat
GenderFemale
LocationNew Jersey
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BackgroundPolitician
EducationBrown University (BA)
Notable personal detailsTahesha Leila Way is a New Jersey Democratic politician and attorney who served as New Jersey’s 3rd Lieutenant Governor from 2023 to 2026 and as the state’s 34th Secretary of State from 2018 to 2026. She previously served as an Administrative Law Judge in New Jersey and was a member of the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders (now County Commissioners). She ran for U.S. House in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District special election cycle in 2026.
SourcesShowHide
docquery.fec.govnj.goven.wikipedia.orgnewjerseyglobe.comballotready.orgapnews.comjewishinsider.combluevoterguide.orgkletseldehe.orgpatch.comnewsfromthestates.comabc7ny.comlinktr.eemorriscountyclerk.orgfec.govpassaiccountynj.orgtaheshaway.comnjlcv.orgbearingarms.comnewjerseymonitor.comnjamhaa.orgnewhopefreepress.compolitico.comnjbmagazine.comwatsoncoleman.house.govmenendez.house.govcbsnews.comassets.apnews.comabcnews.go.comx.comnass.orgwikidata.orgdeveloper.ballotpedia.orgvoterguide.ballotpedia.orgbennet.senate.govdisclosures-clerk.house.govgovinfo.govdexter.house.gov
Positions
LiberalConservative
Economy & Taxes
Supports policies to lower costs for working families including cutting junk fees and raising the cap on SALT deductions; emphasizes keeping services and affordability without raising taxes and protecting programs seniors rely on. Positions focus on making New Jersey more affordable through targeted reforms rather than broad tax cuts.
Healthcare
Supports protecting and strengthening the Affordable Care Act, defending programs relied on by seniors, reducing prescription drug costs, and ensuring access to reproductive health care. Emphasizes making health care accessible and affordable for New Jersey families and protecting individuals’ ability to make their own health care decisions.
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Abortion & Reproductive Rights
Supports access to reproductive health care and says she will work to ensure women have access to reproductive healthcare. Positions emphasize protecting fundamental freedoms including reproductive health as part of her duties in state office and campaign. No explicit public statement found committing to unrestricted abortion access or to codifying Roe v. Wade.
Climate & Energy
Tahesha Way has supported state-led clean energy and energy-resilience initiatives, including administering grants for alternative/independent energy projects for community organizations and endorsing resiliency and clean-energy programs as part of her duties. Her public statements in official roles emphasize advancing clean energy projects and collaborating with environmental organizations to address climate threats and community resilience.
Public Safety & Guns
Tahesha Way, as New Jersey’s lieutenant governor and a member of the Murphy administration, has supported state efforts to reduce gun violence through law enforcement coordination, community violence intervention programs, and measures described as keeping guns out of the hands of bad actors. She has publicly framed recent declines in shootings as the result of administration policies and has criticized the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2022 Bruen decision for loosening restrictions on carrying firearms in public.
News
AINews Summary
Last updatedJun 11, 2026
Tahesha Way is in the news because she was one of the candidates in New Jersey’s 11th District Democratic primary. The race has been part of a broader suburban shift toward progressive and anti-Trump politics, with Analilia Mejia emerging as the winner. Recent reporting shows Mejia leading with 29.1% of the vote as the results moved toward certification, while other candidates, including Way, trailed behind.
docquery.fec.gov+37
Polls
NJ-11 special Democratic nominee?
Aggregation source: FiftyPlusOne
Fundraising
Latest report: Cycle 2026Total raisedCash on hand
$845.4K
$634.0K
$422.7K
$211.3K
$0
2026
LatestYear
Total raised
Cash on hand
Total spent
Burn rate
Cycle 2026
$845.4K
$38.1K
$807.3K
$53.8K
Source: FEC
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Endorsements