By Desiree Taylor
It’s the final push before election day and the Essex County Democratic Committee is deploying all of its manpower and resources to help get out the vote in the 10th district. “Just today we’re reaching out to 20,000 voters by phone,” said Leroy Jones, the East Orange Democratic Chairman. “On election day we’re putting 1,500 people on the street … so we’ve laid the groundwork for what will be a big show on election day.”
There are six Democratic candidates vying for the 10th district Congressional seat left vacant by the late Donald Payne Sr. His son, Newark Council President Donald Payne Jr. is among the frontrunners along with State Sen. Nia Gill and Newark Councilman Ron Rice, the son of State Sen. Ron Rice. The other candidates include Irvington Mayor Wayne Smith, Iraq War Veteran Dennis Flynn and AT&T Manager Cathy Wright of Newark. Payne Jr. will likely benefit from name recognition. And he has the support of the Essex County Democratic Committee. Gill, the only woman candidate, has the backing of the Hudson County Democratic Organization. Rice has key endorsements from union officials.
The redrawn 10th district changed slightly due to redistricting. It’s now comprised of all or parts of 18 municipalities in Essex, Hudson and Union counties. Tuesday is also a special election to determine who will serve out the remainder of the term of the late Donald Payne Sr. Payne Jr., Rice and Smith are taking part in that contest. Then when the new Congress is sworn in in January, the winner of the general election in November will begin to serve a full two-year term to represent the newly configured 10th district.
WATCH VIDEO: