Governor Phil Murphy has scheduled a special election to fill the vacancy in New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District following the resignation of Representative Mikie Sherrill. Sherrill, who was elected Governor of New Jersey earlier this month, formally left office at 11:59 p.m. on Thursday.

According to the writ of special election, a special primary election will be held on February 5, 2026, followed by a special general election on April 16, 2026, to select a successor to serve the remainder of Sherrill’s term in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The timing of the special general election was also scheduled with consideration for New Jersey’s Orthodox Jewish community. With Pesach beginning the evening of April 1, Governor Murphy sought to avoid holding Election Day during the holiday, when observant Jews face religious restrictions that limit their ability to vote in person.

A year ago, the state Legislature passed a bill which moved the date of the primary election to avoid falling out on the second day of Shavuos.

To expand access and accommodate voters more broadly, the state will offer six days of in-person early voting for the special primary, running from January 29 through February 3, 2026. For the special general election, nine days of early voting will take place from April 6 through April 14, 2026. Pesach will begin the night of April 1st and last through April 9.

The special election is expected to draw significant attention, as New Jersey’s 11th District, which includes portions of Morris, Essex, and Passaic counties, has been represented by Sherrill since 2019. Her resignation triggers one of the earliest congressional special elections of 2026 and opens a competitive race in a district that has been trending increasingly Democratic in recent cycles.