In a special Democratic primary held in New Jersey, Newark City Council President LaMonica McIver has emerged victorious, poised to succeed the late Congressman Donald Payne Jr. in the House of Representatives.In a special Democratic primary held in New Jersey, Newark City Council President LaMonica McIver has emerged victorious, poised to succeed the late Congressman Donald Payne Jr. in the House of Representatives. McIver’s victory comes after a crowded field of candidates competed for the seat, vacated by Payne’s untimely passing in April. Governor Phil Murphy initiated the special primary to fill the position until January 2025, while the regular election process will determine the full-term successor. The 10th Congressional District, where the election took place, is predominantly Democratic, with a significant African American population. McIver received support from Payne’s family, party leaders, and Senator Cory Booker, positioning her as a frontrunner. In an interview after her victory, McIver outlined her policy priorities, emphasizing affordability, infrastructure, abortion rights, and strengthening democracy. She plans to pursue a full term in the upcoming regular election. The Democratic Party in New Jersey has faced challenges this year, including the indictment of Senator Bob Menendez on bribery charges and the dismantling of the county party line system. McIver’s victory, however, suggests the party’s resilience and its ability to retain seats in heavily Democratic areas.
TRENTON, NJ — Newark City Council President LaMonica McIver has won the special Democratic primary to succeed her in the House of Representatives. the late Donald Payne Jr. in Congress.
McIver emerged victorious on Tuesday amid a crowded field of competitors, succeeding Payne, who died in April after serving more than two decades in the House of Representatives.
Democratic Governor Phil Murphy the establishment of the special primary under state law after Payne’s deathwith the special general election scheduled for September 18.
The special election will determine who will serve out the remainder of Payne’s term, which ends Jan. 3, 2025, while the regular election process, which is being held in parallel, will determine who will fill the seat afterward. McIver will not automatically be on the ballot for the full term in the seat, though she will have an inside track. That candidate will be chosen next month by Democratic committee members from cities in the district.
The 10th Congressional District is in an overwhelmingly Democratic and overwhelmingly black area in northern New Jersey, where Republicans outnumber Republicans by more than 6 to 1.
Republican Carmen Bucco was uncontested in the Republican Party primaries and is also nominated in the regular election.
Who is LaMonica McIver?
Since 2018, she has served on the city council of the state’s largest city and was director of human resources at Montclair Public Schools.
McIver emerged as a leading candidate in the 11 primary races last summer, with the support of Payne’s family, party leaders and Democratic Senator Cory Booker.
In an interview with The Associated Press after she was declared the winner, McIver said she plans to seek a full term.
She said her top policy priorities are affordability, infrastructure, abortion rights and “protecting our democracy.”
“In the short time I’ve been campaigning, I’ve spent a lot of time talking to different residents about their livelihood options,” she said, noting that policies are needed to curb rent increases and drug prices, among other things.
A turbulent year for Democrats in New Jersey
It’s been a turbulent year for Democrats in New Jersey, where the party holds majorities in the state legislature and congressional delegation.
Developments include: the indictment on federal bribery charges against U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, who denies the allegationsAnd the demise of the so-called county party line — a system whereby local political leaders give their preferred candidates a favorable position on the primary ballot.
Kim and other Democrats have filed a federal lawsuit challenging the practice as part of his campaign to oust Menendez, who was sentenced on Tuesday.
Democrats have abandoned MenendezAnd he has promised to run as an independent candidatebut he challenged the system during a match against State First Lady Tammy Murphy, who had the support of party leader. She withdrew from the raceBut a federal judge temporarily halted the years-long practice, upending the system and cornering party leaders.
