Credit: (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Editor’s note: With all 12 of New Jersey’s congressional districts topping the ballot in the closely watched midterm elections, NJ Spotlight News is previewing each of those races with a focus on the major party candidates. Today it’s the 10th District. For more details on the district and for all the election coverage from NJ Spotlight News, visit our NJ Decides 2022 page.

The 10th District may be one of the state’s most Democratic congressional districts, covering parts of Essex, Hudson and Union counties. Incumbent Rep. Donald Payne Jr., a Democrat, won the 2020 general election with 83.3% of the vote. Payne, who is from Newark, has been in office since 2013, taking over the position from his father who died in early 2012. Challenging Payne is Republican David Pinckney of Irvington.

Donald Payne Jr. (incumbent)

Democrat

Rep. Donald Payne Jr. is running for his sixth term in Congress since he was sworn in in January 2013. Before that, Payne was the president of the Municipal Council of Newark from 2006 to 2012, overlapping with his time on the Essex County Board of Freeholders.

Some of Payne’s top issues are civil rights and job growth. Payne co-sponsored the End Racial Profiling Act, which would end racial profiling in law enforcement. He has also supported the Reparations Task Force bill in the Legislature, which would create a committee to review the lingering effects of slavery. He established a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program within the Federal Railroad Administration to help increase participation of minority- and women-owned businesses in federal projects, and helped create the Minority Business Development Agency in New Jersey. Payne has been vocal about tackling student loan debt, saying that canceling it is a matter of “racial justice.”

Health care is also an area of interest for Payne. He has sponsored legislation to recognize the importance of screenings for colorectal cancer; his father died from the disease. And he co-sponsored the Affordability is Access Act, ensuring health insurance coverage of over-the-counter contraceptives; the Health Equity and Accountability Act, to direct the Department of Health and Human Services to reduce health disparities; as well as other bills to increase access to PrEP, a medicine that reduces the chance of contracting HIV.

Improving infrastructure is also important to Payne. He helped secure $1.1 billion in funding for New Jersey to repair bridges.

Payne is on the Committee on Homeland Security and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, as well as a handful of subcommittees under each. He is the chairman of the Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials.

Payne, 63, lives in Newark with his wife Beatrice. They have three children.

Inflation

Payne voted for the Inflation Reduction Act, saying in a news release that he was proud it included provisions to clean the environment, create new green jobs and help control prescription prices. He said he was disappointed, however, that it didn’t include a provision to cap insulin prices at $35.

Voting and elections

Payne says President Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election. He also voted for the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement bill, which would allow the Department of Justice to have jurisdiction over districts found to be engaging in disenfranchisement.

Climate change

Much of Payne’s climate change work has focused on protecting jobs and improving infrastructure. His bill to improve how America handles natural disasters passed the House this summer. He has also sponsored and co-sponsored nearly 50 environmental protection bills during his time in office. More recent ones include the Climate Resilience Workforce Act and the Environmental Justice for All Act.

Abortion rights

Payne believes in a person’s right to choose whether to carry their pregnancy. He called the Supreme Court’s reversal of federal abortion protections a “tragic day in America.” Payne voted in support of the Ensuring Access to Abortion Act of 2022 and the Right to Contraception Act. He also voted for the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2022 and the Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act.

Gun control

Gun control has been an area of concern for Payne since he came into office. He created a Gun Violence Prevention Task Force in 2013, has co-sponsored legislation to strengthen background checks for those purchasing guns, has introduced gun buyback bills and has voted for a federal assault weapon ban.

Social justice

Social justice is a key issue for Payne, who has said that he was inspired by his mentor, the late Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga). Protecting marriage rights and reproductive health access, as well as economic justice for non-white Americans, are also priorities for Payne. More information can be found here.

David Pinckney

Republican

David Pinckney is a public school teacher from Irvington. He unsuccessfully ran for state Assembly in 2011 and 2015. In 2016, Pinckney challenged Payne for his congressional seat, but won only 12% of the vote.

Pinckney does not have much of a public online presence or campaign. He does not appear to have a campaign website or campaign social media profiles.