CBS News projects that Democrat Analilia Mejia will win the special election in New Jersey's 11th Congressional District, a seat formerly held by Gov. Mikie Sherrill.

Mejia cruised to victory Thursday over Republican Joe Hathaway and independent Alan Bond.

She will serve out the remainder of Sherrill's term, which ends in January. The district encompasses parts of Essex, Morris and Passaic counties. 

The seat was a longtime Republican stronghold, but has become increasingly Democratic since President Donald Trump's first term. Voter registration records show Democrats outnumber Republicans in the district by more than 60,000 voters.

"We did the impossible and we won"

Not long after being projected the winner, Mejia spoke to an enthusiastic crowd of supporters in Montclair who called out in unison with her that she was an "unbought, unbossed, sassy new member of Congress."

"The odds were stacked against us, but we did the impossible and we won," Mejia said.

Mejia, the daughter of a Dominican factory worker and a Colombian seamstress, touted herself as a candidate with community. During her victory speech, she called out Hathaway.

"My opponent, he, I am going to I guess be political and say he ran the best race he could. However, he spent the majority of his campaign calling me little boy and saying my ideas were too radical. But you know what? That was a mind trick. It is not radical to say that in the wealthiest nation in the world that we should do more to protect the health of its people," Mejia said.

Hathaway released a statement following his defeat, writing, in part, "I want to congratulate Analilia Mejia on her victory in this special election," adding, "This was a unique and, frankly, unusual election. The structure and timing, set by a partisan Democratic governor, produced exactly the kind of low-turnout environment that benefits one party."

Mejia will have to run again in November if she wants to keep the seat for a full two-year term.

Democrat Analilia Mejia's platform  

Mejia is a progressive who is the former head of the Working Families Alliance. She emerged from a crowded Democratic field in February, when she held a very slim lead. 

Mejia also worked for U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders as his political director during his 2020 presidential bid. She is endorsed by him, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. 

She campaigned on populist economic policies and pushed to abolish U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Some of Mejia's priorities include taxing billionaires, raising wages and universal child care and health care.

"I think that we should ensure that not only homeowners have greater economic stability by making SALT tax deductions permanent, but we should also ensure that renters have affordability. We are on track to have close to 40% of rental markets to be snatched up by private equity firms," Mejia said.

Republican ads painted Mejia as a socialist -- a question she was asked about Thursday.

"I think my opponent is super desperate. The truth is, he plays it fast and loose with the truth. I have been a Democratic county committeewoman for 13 years in this district," she said. "I've helped to let Democrats, I've help to push for smart policy. And I think, you know, again, my opponent doesn't have a track record that is worth running on. So instead, he's defaulted to spurious attacks."