U.S. Rep. Donald Payne Jr., a six-term Democratic congressman from New Jersey, has died, Fox News confirmed Wednesday.
Mr. Payne was 65 years old and had long-standing health problems. His father, the late Congressman Donald Payne Sr. (DN,J.), also died while in office in 2012.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s office said in a statement that he and his wife are “deeply saddened by the tragic death of Congressman Donald Payne Jr., a friend of ours and a steadfast advocate for the people of New Jersey.” said.
On Wednesday, January 10, 2024, Congressman Donald Payne (D.N. .J.). (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc, via Getty Images)
According to the New Jersey Globe, Payne suffered a heart attack on April 6 and has been in the hospital on a ventilator ever since.
Republicans maintain a slim majority in the House. Congressman Mike Gallagher. The Republican Wisconsin congressman was scheduled to resign last week. But he isn’t. There are currently 218 Republicans and 212 Democrats in the House, with five vacancies left due to Payne’s death. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is joined by former Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Ohio), former Rep. Brian Higgins (New York), and former Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colorado). He also resigned.
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