Rep. Analilia Mejia and Joe Hathaway clashed over health care, the economy and immigration Monday, Oct. 26.

The two candidates for New Jersey's 11th Congressional District held their only scheduled debate before the Tuesday, Nov. 3, election. The district includes Millburn and Livingston.

About 400 people packed Saint Elizabeth University in Morris Township for the event, hosted by the League of Women Voters, Morristown Green reported. Moderator Assatta Mann-Colon repeatedly asked the rowdy crowd for silence.

The race is a rematch. Mejia, a former labor organizer, won an April special election to succeed Gov. Mikie Sherrill by about 21 percentage points. Hathaway, a Randolph councilman and former mayor, is challenging her again for a full two-year term. A third candidate, Alan Bond, is running as an independent but was not invited to the debate, Patch reported.

Health care

The sharpest split came on health care. Mejia pushed for a single-payer system, saying the current profit-driven model leaves Americans in medical debt. She pointed to Australia, Norway and Canada as models.

Hathaway opposed single-payer, arguing it would cost too much and limit medical innovation, access to doctors and patients' choices. He called for more price transparency, expanded insurance options and action on pharmacy benefit middlemen who inflate drug costs. He conceded none of those are easy fixes but said the answer would never be government-run health care.

Mejia fired back: "What does your system and choices mean if you can't afford it?"

Economy and the $25 minimum wage

On the economy, Mejia attributed rising costs to monopolies and what she called an illegal war with Iran. Hathaway said President Trump's tariffs have hurt New Jersey small businesses but focused his attack on Mejia's support for a $25-an-hour federal minimum wage, saying the increase would devastate small businesses.

Hathaway instead advocated for vocational training and investment in institutions like the County College of Morris. Mejia, who serves on the U.S. House Committee on Small Business, said the government could support both business owners and employees.

National debt

On the national debt, Hathaway called for reducing waste and fraud in Medicare and Social Security and requiring a balanced federal budget. Mejia accused him of supporting the Trump administration's spending cuts while backing the "Big Beautiful Bill," which she said added $4 trillion to the national debt.

Hathaway argued that Mejia's universal health care plan would add $25 trillion to the debt, according to Morristown Green's account. Mejia suggested raising taxes on the wealthy, asking why the country couldn't insist everyone pay their fair share.

Immigration

Both candidates called for overhauling the immigration system but disagreed on approach. Mejia said ICE has created chaos and proposed investing in immigration judges and lawyers to speed cases and creating pathways for workers the economy needs.

Hathaway said long-term immigrants who contribute to their communities deserve citizenship, proposing a faster pathway through green card and permanent resident programs.

He said undocumented immigrants who commit violent crimes should be deported and accused Mejia of refusing to take a position on that issue. Mejia did not address that charge directly, instead saying many detained immigrants hold work permits and are in the legal system.

Fundraising and what's next

Federal Election Commission filings show Mejia has raised about $2.2 million compared to Hathaway's roughly $840,000, according to Morristown Green's pre-debate reporting.

Early in-person voting runs through Nov. 1. Election Day is Nov. 3.