A deceased Democratic congressman won New Jersey’s U.S. House elections on Tuesday.
New Jersey Representative Donald Payne Jr., a Democrat who died a few weeks after suffering a heart attack in April, won the Democratic primary for New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District. according to To the New Jersey Globe.
It’s Primary Election Day in New Jersey! The only candidate in the 10th Congressional District, Donald Payne Jr., is now deceased. pic.twitter.com/q6PN2jzDO2
— Michael Tracey (@mtracey) June 4, 2024
The outlet noted that Payne was the only candidate in the district’s Democratic primary despite his death in office on April 24. The 65-year-old died after the March 25 election. Submission DeadlineIt blocked the Vacancies Commission from replacing him in a primary election.
Democrats in Essex, Union and Hudson counties must hold special election conventions to select a successor to the late Rep. Payne after his election was certified June 17. They have until Aug. 29 to select a new candidate for the November election, according to the outlet. (Related: Former governor, senator dies at 89)
Because Payne was serving as the district’s congressional representative at the time of his death, a special primary election with 11 Democratic candidates will be held on July 16, the New Jersey Globe reported. The general election is scheduled for Sept. 18, and whoever is elected could only serve three months before being replaced in January 2025.
According to the outlet, most Democratic leaders in the district are backing Newark City Council Speaker LaMonica McIver to fill Payne’s vacant seat. The Democratic candidate will face off against Carmen Bucco in both the regular and special elections.
Payne has represented New Jersey’s 10th congressional district since November 2012, and her father Donald Payne Sr.passed away due to colon cancer.
