Newark City Council Speaker LaMonica McIver (Democrat) won the special election to fill the vacant House seat in New Jersey's 10th Congressional District, according to Decision Desk HQ.
McIver defeated Republican and businesswoman Carmen Bucco to fill the remaining term of the late Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (Democrat), who died in April from a heart attack caused by complications from diabetes. McIver's victory was not a surprise in the overwhelmingly Democratic district, which is one of the most liberal leaning in New Jersey.
McIver and Bucco are also candidates for full terms in their respective parties and will face off again on the November ballot.
Payne was nominated posthumously for another term because the voting deadline had passed at the time of his death and he was the only candidate running. The Democratic county committee members who make up the district nominated McIver in July, who won a hard-fought battle to replace Payne in a special June primary.
McIver's victory makes her the second black woman to serve in the New Jersey House of Representatives, joining Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (Democrat), who was first elected in 2014.
There has been significant change within New Jersey's congressional delegation this year due to deaths and resignations. Along with Payne, the late Rep. Bill Pascrill (D-N.Y.), who died in August at age 87 after being hospitalized for several weeks, brought an end to his nearly 30-year career in the House.
Democratic county officials selected State Sen. Nellie Poe (D) as the Democratic candidate for the next election in November, but with the election approaching, the seat will remain vacant for the remainder of the current term.
The state also has a new senator: Controversial former Sen. Bob Menendez (D), who resigned last month after being convicted of bribery and acting as a foreign agent, was appointed this month to replace Menendez. George Helmy, a former chief of staff to Gov. Phil Murphy (D), was named to the senate this month.
But Helmy is expected to step down after the November election. Menendez's seat is up for election, and Murphy is expected to appoint the winner — either Rep. Andy Kim (D-Calif.) or businessman Curtis Bashaw — to the Senate and swear him in early.
