Rep. Donald Payne Jr. died nearly three weeks after suffering “cardiac episode”

Rep. Donald Payne Jr., who followed his father into politics and represented Newark in Congress for more than a decade, died Wednesday — nearly three weeks after suffering a heart attack that had left him in a coma.

The 65-year-old Democrat had served in Congress since 2012, representing New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District, which covers parts of Essex, Hudson and Union counties. He was first elected to the House in a 2012 special election to fill the seat left open after the death of his father, Donald Payne.

Before going to Congress, Payne served as president of the Newark city council and as a member of the Essex County Board of Freeholders.

While in Washington, Payne chaired the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials in the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. He played a role in securing $900 million for the state’s Gateway Project in 2017.

He was also an advocate for health care opportunities, lead-testing in school water and cancer prevention awareness.

Payne is survived by his wife Beatrice and their three children, Donald III, Jack and Yvonne, who were born triplets.

On April 6, 2024, Payne was hospitalized following a “cardiac episode” that left him unconscious and on a ventilator until his death on April 24, at the age of 65.

“As the son and namesake of the first African-American to represent New Jersey as a U.S. Congressman, Representative Payne had leadership and love for Newark in his DNA,” said Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. “All Newarkers mourn the loss of this great, compassionate man today.”

“His dogged determination to win appropriations to win federal funding for the Gateway Project resulted in a $900 million appropriation to upgrade and refashion the infrastructure connecting downtown New York City to the heart of Newark, and reinvigorate the greater Northeast transportation corridor,” said Baraka.

“Through his career, Representative Payne gained expertise in transportation, bridges, and tunnels, but his personal traits also fostered connections,” said Baraka. “He had a talent for engaging a wide spectrum of collaborators for projects he promoted, and strived to increase inclusive opportunities and diversity by inviting women- and minority-owned businesses.”

His office reported that the Congressman was in “stable condition” at a local hospital under a doctor’s care, adding “While we hope for a full recovery, we ask everyone to keep him in your prayers.”

Payne’s death will bring the total number of members in the House to 430 members, after four other lawmakers resigned in the middle of the session. The breakdown will be 218 Republicans and 212 Democrats.

That number is expected to shrink soon as Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) plans to resign from Congress ahead of the end of his term. Gallagher was initially supposed to resign at the end of next week, but put off those plans amid the vote on a foreign aid package.

Payne’s congressional colleagues remembered him fondly as word of his passing spread.

Rep. Frank Pallone said that the state “lost a truly great public servant far too soon” and that Payne was more than just a member of the delegation but was “part of our family.”

“Don affectionately called me ‘Uncle Frank’ whenever I saw him, because we cherished the strong relationship we forged following the death of his father,” Pallone said. “We worked together to improve the lives and health of New Jerseyans. His fight to raise awareness for diabetes and colorectal cancer prevention as well as his advocacy for replacing lead pipes in Newark epitomized the very definition of public service.”

“Like his father, Donald gave his entire life to the people of Newark. I cannot think of any member at any time who embodied the compassion, kindness, honesty, big heart, and humble demeanor central to public service more than Donald,” said Rep. Bill Pascrell. “Donald will be tremendously missed and he brought peace and comfort to the Congress in everything he did. Sometimes leaders come and go but that is not the case here. We have lost Donald far too soon but the Payne name will live on in Newark and North Jersey forever.”

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. noted that Payne was a “passionate leader and advocate” and that the “Payne family has a legacy of public service and Donald Payne Jr. continued that tradition.”