by Daniel O’Connor, New Jersey Monitor
Democrat LaMonica McIver, the former president of the Newark City Council, won a special election Wednesday to succeed the late Donald Payne Jr. as the 10th Congressional District’s representative in the House.
McIver defeated chief rival Republican Carmen Bucco 81% to 16%, according to preliminary vote totals (two independent candidates nabbed less than 2% each). The Associated Press called the race for McIver within 10 minutes of polls closing.
McIver will serve the remainder of Payne’s term, which ends Jan. 3. Payne died in April following a heart attack. He was 65.
McIver became the heavy favorite to finish Payne’s term after winning a crowded Democratic special primary in July.
Reached by email, Bucco offered congratulations to McIver.
“Democracy has voted in who they want to fill in the late Congressman Donald Payne Jr’s term. However, God has given me a second chance to continue to address the needs of all the constituents of district 10. For those who believe in me and my policies I am not going anywhere we still have a second chance to make district 10 great again!” he said.
McIver and Bucco will face off again in November’s election, which is expected to send her back to Washington, D.C., for a full term when Congress reconvenes in January. The 10th District, which includes parts of Essex, Hudson, and Union counties, hasn’t sent a Republican to the House in nearly 80 years.
As one of the most urban and diverse districts in the nation, winning is a steep climb for the GOP — Democrats outnumber Republicans there 6 to 1. It is considered one of the safest Democratic seats as Republicans and Democrats battle for control of Congress.
McIver’s campaign cited several priorities for her upcoming term, including universal health care, gun control, and addressing environmental racism.
McIver will be the first Black woman to represent the district and the second to represent New Jersey. The Newark native was the youngest woman ever elected to the Newark City Council in 2018. She stepped down from her role as council president on Tuesday.
Payne was first elected to Congress in 2012 when he succeeded his late father, Donald Payne Sr. The elder Payne had served as the district’s representative since 1989.
New Jersey’s congressional delegation saw multiple shake-ups this year. Democrat Bob Menendez left the U.S. Senate last month after a bribery conviction. Rep. Andy Kim, a Democrat, is hoping to succeed him in a November race that pits him against Republican Curtis Bashaw. And Rep. Bill Pascrell died last month at age 87, with state Sen. Nellie Pou replacing him as the Democratic nominee in the 9th District.