Who's running and top issues: What to know about NJ's 10th Congressional District primary
The races for the 10th District are crowded on both sides. Incumbent Democrat Donald Payne Jr. faces two challengers and on the Republican ballot, longtime candidate David Pinckney squares off with a newcomer. The district includes densely populated parts of Hudson, Essex and Union counties. Payne has held the seat for nearly a decade. He succeeded his late father, who held the spot from 1989 until his death in 2012.
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NJ 10th Congressional District Candidates
Democrats
Donald Payne Jr., the incumbent. He was first elected in 2012 during a special election and fended off five challengers to win a full term the following year. Before that, he served on the council in Newark and the Essex County Board of Commissioners.
Akil Khalfani is the director of the Africana Institute at Essex County College. He ran against Payne as an independent in 2020.
Imani Oakley is the former New Jersey Working Families legislative director.
Republicans
David Pinckney, of Irvington, has run unsuccessfully for Congress and the State Assembly for the last decade.
Garth Stewart is from Minnesota but resides in Jersey City. He is an Army veteran.
District makeup
Democratic-leaning towns in Essex County make up the bulk of the 10th District with a few towns from Hudson and Union counties also included.
More: What you need to know to vote in the 2022 primary election
Priorities
Payne has worked for infrastructure, health care and the economy during his time in office. Khalfani is focused on job creation, rebounding from the pandemic and healthcare reform while Oakley wants to work for housing justice, racial justice, a Green New Deal, Medicare for All, workers’ rights, innovative infrastructure and demilitarization.
Pinckney’s main priority is environmentalism while Stewart seems focused on individual freedoms.
Money raised
Payne has more than $800,000 while Oakley has less than half of that at about $389,000. Khalfani, Pinckney and Stewart have no financial information readily available at the Federal Election Commission.
In their words
"I'm proud of my record of getting the job done for my district, like creating 400,000 high-quality jobs in New Jersey by writing the House version of the bipartisan infrastructure bill, delivering funding for local municipalities to hire more police officers and make our communities safer, expanding access to affordable health care coverage and much more," Payne said.
“This is my second time running and the same issues are relevant. Folks currently in office are not attending to the needs and desires of their constituency. People feel underrepresented. I want to create space for people to have a dialogue,” Khalfani said.
"New Jersey’s 10th District deserves a Representative in Congress who isn’t afraid to take on the establishment, stand up for democracy, and fight for marginalized communities that are too often shunned aside for the benefit of corporations and the politically connected. Our communities deserve a fierce advocate for the types of policies that will help our communities to thrive,” Oakley said.
“I’m very conservative but am pro-choice. My slogan is ‘Try god’s way for a change’ because I don’t think anyone is doing that. I also believe in focusing on the environment. We really have to start taking care of this planet now,” Pinckney said.
"As a soldier, I was taught my life was beneath the nation, and that I needed to be ready to sacrifice. I assure you; I am no stranger to bleeding for you; you have your 'pound of flesh' from me," Stewart said. "'Protection' by men with guns should never cost a six figure income plus overtime and pension; the average enlisted Infantryman private does more for $1,600 a month."
"I have faith in American gun owners, I think they are good people who would intervene in an emergency, and when our State chases them away, it makes everyone less safe. I took an Oath to uphold the Constitution. I want you and all other New Jersey citizens to be able to own a gun."
Katie Sobko is a reporter in the New Jersey Statehouse. For unlimited access to her work covering New Jersey’s governor and political power structure, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: sobko@northjersey.com
Twitter: @katesobko
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ primary election 2022: 10th Congressional District candidates
