A whopping 12 candidates — almost all Democrats, led by Newark’s council president — have jumped into a special election this summer for the unexpired term of the northern New Jersey seat in Congress vacated when U.S. Rep. Donald Payne Jr. died last month.
Gov. Phil Murphy ordered the election to fill the final three months of Payne’s term representing the state’s 10th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. The heavily Democratic district, incudes parts of Newark and half of Jersey City — the state’s two largest cities — as well as surrounding areas. It is New Jersey’s only Black-majority congressional district.
Friday was the deadline to file petitions to run in the July 16 primary.
After securing the endorsement of local Democratic Party leaders, Newark Council President LaMonica McIver is considered the early favorite to take over the seat Payne held since 2012. The other Democrats running are:
- Linden Mayor Derek Armstead
- Brittany Claybrooks, a former East Orange councilwoman and the North Jersey political director for U.S. Rep. Andy Kim’s U.S. Senate campaign
- John Flora, a Jersey City resident who lost the 2020 Democratic primary to Payne
- Darryl Godfrey, chief operating officer of the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority
- Alberta Gordon, a Democratic district leader in Newark
- Eugene Mazo, a Rutgers university law professor
- Shana Melius, a former digital coordinator and press assistant to Payne
- Sheila Montague, a professor at Essex County College
- Debra Salters, a community activist in Newark
- Hudson County Commissioner Jerry Walker
Only one Republican is running: Carmen Bucco, a small business owner who was already running for the party’s nod to challenge Payne and has the backing of local GOP leaders. He has lost several races in the past.
Independents have until July 16 to file.
Whoever wins the Democratic and Republicans nominations in the primary will face off in the Sept. 18 general election, with the winner serving until Payne’s term expires in January.
Because the district — which includes parts of Essex, Hudson, and Union counties — is deep blue, whoever wins the Democratic nod is expected to win the general election.
This race is separate from the bigger November election for the seat’s next, full two-year term, which begins in January.
Payne’s name will remain on the Democratic primary ballot in June for that election because he died after the deadline to change it. He was running unopposed for a sixth term.
Voters won’t have a say in Payne’s replacement on November’s ballot for that race. It’s up to Democratic Party leaders to choose a new candidate — and thus the election’s heavy favorite — by Aug. 29.
Democrats are expected to pick McIver for that race, as well, which leaves open the possibility that she could lose the special election for the final months of Payne’s current term and then win November’s election for the full term.
This will mark the first time in 35 years the district won’t be represented by a member of the Payne family. Payne Jr. succeeded his late father, Donald Payne Sr., the first Black person to serve New Jersey in Congress. And before Payne Sr.’s election, Peter Rodino held the seat for 40 years.
McIver, 37, was elected to Newark’s council, representing the city’s Central Ward, in 2018 as a member of Mayor Ras Baraka’s slate. She was re-elected in 2022.
“I am deeply committed to continue to serve our community with integrity, compassion, and a steadfast determination to address the challenges we face and fight for the issues that matter most to all of us,” McIver said in a recent statement.
Essex County Democratic Party Chairman LeRoy Jones called McIver “a passionate and dedicated public servant” who will “no doubt continue and honor Congressman Payne’s legacy” and “also establish herself as a force to be reckoned with in Congress.”
Armstead has been mayor of Linden for 10 years.
Claybrooks said it’s “time for fresh, young leadership dedicated to making public service work for the people, not just those in power.”
Godfrey, a Newark native, has helped lead economic development projects in the state and also worked with then-Newark Mayor Cory Booker at the Brick City Development Corporation.
“I’ve devoted my professional life to helping urban communities thrive by leveraging both private and public sector resources, and I know that with my experience and perspective I can deliver real progress to Essex, Union and Hudson counties,” Godfrey said.
Melius, a U.S. Army veteran, said she aspires to be “the type of leader that Congressman Payne was,” noting he was a mentor.
Walker, a former Seton Hall University basketball star who is in his third term as Hudson County commissioner, told Hudson County View that “there are things I think I can get done in Washington and I think this is my opportunity to do it.”
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Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X at @johnsb01.
