A wild special election primary in New Jersey may be a sign of things to come

Residents of a mostly suburban New Jersey congressional district in Morris, Essex and Passaic counties, are getting a moment in the political spotlight.

A crowded, 11-person Democratic primary in a special election has finally settled, and now we know what the general election looks like for the House seat vacated by Governor Mikie Sherrill. Democrat Analilia Mejia will face Republican Joe Hathaway in the April election. 

But that's just the beginning of the story.

WNYC New Jersey Politics Reporter Mike Hayes joins Weekend Edition host David Furst to explain. He's been looking into why this result resonates beyond the Garden State's 11th district in this midterm election year.