Polling Average
40%30%20%10%0%
5%
28%
12%
5%
NJ-11 special Democratic nominee?
$2.3M
JAN 1, 2027Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleFormer Lieutenant Governor
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyMainstream Democrat
GenderFemale
LocationNew Jersey
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BackgroundAttorney
EducationBrown University
Notable personal detailsTahesha Leila Way is an American attorney, jurist, and Democratic politician from New Jersey. She served as New Jersey’s Secretary of State from 2018 to 2026 and as the state’s lieutenant governor from 2023 to 2026. Earlier in her career, she served as an administrative law judge and as an elected official in Passaic County government. In 2025–2026, she was a candidate for U.S. House in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District.
SourcesShowHide
fec.govtaheshaway.comnj.goven.wikipedia.orgnewjerseyglobe.comballotready.orgapnews.comen.wikipedia-on-ipfs.orgtayaofficial.comtnwcfan.orgjewishinsider.comfox29.combluevoterguide.orgdspace.njstatelib.orgmorriscountyclerk.orgnjlcv.orgbearingarms.comnewjerseymonitor.comnjamhaa.orgnewhopefreepress.compolitico.comnjbmagazine.comwatsoncoleman.house.govmenendez.house.govcbsnews.comlatimes.comwashingtonpost.combloomberg.comstatic.votesmart.orgstatic.foxnews.comjustfacts.votesmart.orgdeveloper.ballotpedia.orgvoterguide.ballotpedia.orgfrontpage.ballotpedia.orgdocquery.fec.govcdn.ballotpedia.orgnass.orgbooker.senate.govbennet.senate.govklobuchar.senate.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 updatedMar 14, 2026
Tahesha Way is in the news as one of the candidates in the NJ-11 Democratic primary, where vote counting is nearing completion. With about 93% of ballots counted, Analilia Mejia leads the race with 29.1% and Tom Malinowski is second with 27.7% and has conceded, pending official certification. Way was listed among the other candidates in the contest.
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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