New Jersey Democrat wins special election to fill the late Donald Payne's House seat

Newark City Council President LaMonica McIver won a special election in New Jersey on Wednesday night, to fill the late Democratic Rep. Donald Payne Jr's vacant House seat, giving Democrats one more seat in the lower chamber ahead of the November elections.

McIver will serve the remainder of Payne's term, which ends in January, after the late lawmaker died in April from a heart attack at the age of 65. McIver defeated Republican businessman Carmen Bucco, but will face him again in November for a full term. 

The Democrat's victory was expected because the 10th district is a solidly blue seat. McIver celebrated her win in a statement to the Associated Press, claiming that she stood on the "shoulders of giants" which includes Payne. 

“I will fight because the purpose of politics and the purpose of our vote is to give the people of our communities and our nation a bold voice,” McIver said.

McIver has served on the Newark City Council since 2018, and has also worked for the Montclair Public Schools as a personnel director. McIver said her priorities include infrastructure, abortion rights, and "protecting our democracy."

The election comes amid an eventful year in New Jersey politics, which saw the conviction and removal of former Sen. Bob Menendez on federal bribery charges. Democratic Rep. Andy Kim is running for Menendez's full term, but George Helmy was selected by Gov. Phil Murphy to fill the seat through January.

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.