Newark official wins special primary to fill late New Jersey congressman’s seat

Newark, N.J., City Council President LaMonica McIver has won the Democratic nomination for the special election to replace the late former Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (D-N.J.), according to Decision Desk HQ. 

McIver beat out nearly a dozen other candidates for the seat to serve the remainder of Payne’s term. She will be the heavy favorite to win the special general election set for September in the solidly Democratic New Jersey 10th Congressional District. 

Payne had held the seat for more than 10 years before he died in office in April following complications from a heart attack. Gov. Phil Murphy had set the primary for July and general election for September for someone else to represent the district for the last few months of Payne’s unexpired term. 

Payne was the only one on the ballot for the Democratic primary for another term and accordingly won the primary posthumously last month. For the upcoming regular November general election, New Jersey state law provides for the members of the county party committees that make up the district to select a replacement to stand in for Payne. 

The Essex, Union and Hudson county chairs would call for a convention of the committees’ members to meet to choose a new nominee. McIver will likely be chosen as the nominee for the November election given her win in the special primary, but the committee members are not required to pick her. 

The convention will need to take place by late August. 

McIver had rallied support from numerous top Democrats in the state, including Murphy, Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and state Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz (D). She also had endorsements from the county parties for Essex and Union counties. 

The Hudson County party had declined to endorse a candidate. 

McIver will face Republican Carmen Bucco, who is also the nominee for the general election, in the special election in September.