Kenneth Burns

Mejia bested former Congressman Tom Malinowski, who was aiming for a political comeback.

This is despite Malinowski's name recognition and fundraising success.

Mejia, a community organizer and daughter of immigrants, aligned herself with several progressive groups and politicians, including Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, and New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

She has also been staunch to her call to abolish ICE, especially in light of the agency's recent immigration enforcement tactics in Minnesota, where federal agents shot and killed two U.S.

citizens.

Mejia will now face the lone Republican in the special election, Randolph Township Mayor Joe Hathaway.

For NPR News, I'm Kenneth Burns.