LaMonica McIver wins Democratic nod to seek House vacancy in 10th District

LaMonica McIver beat 10 other Democrats and is now heavily favored to succeed the late Donald Payne Jr. in Congress. (Courtesy of Newark)

Newark City Council President LaMonica McIver has secured the Democratic nomination to seek the 10th District House seat left vacant when Rep. Donald Payne Jr. died in April.

McIver, 38, who was the favorite to win Tuesday’s primary, handily defeated 10 other Democrats and will now face Republican Carmen Bucco in the Sept. 18 special election. The winner of that election will serve out the remainder of Payne’s term, which ends Jan. 3, 2025. 

“Thank you to everyone who made this possible,” McIver told a crowd of her supporters Tuesday night. “To the voters who put their trust in me, I am profoundly grateful.”

Preliminary vote totals show McIver winning 47%  of the vote. Her closest competitor, Linden Mayor Derek Armstead, nabbed about 14%, and in third place is Hudson County Commissioner Jerry Walker, at 10%.

Tuesday’s victory makes McIver the favorite to replace Payne on November’s general election ballot. Democratic officials in the district’s three counties will meet Thursday to select their candidate for that race, which will determine who represents the district when the new Congress convenes in January.

Bucco is the GOP nominee for the November election, too.

Democrats are heavily favored to win the September and November elections. Republicans have not won the 10th District, which includes towns in Essex, Hudson, and Union counties, in nearly 80 years.

Payne died in April at age 65 after suffering a heart attack. His death came too late to replace him on the ballot for June’s primary (he was running unopposed).

Payne was first elected to Congress in 2012 to succeed his father, Donald Payne Sr., after the elder Payne’s death.