A dozen candidates have entered the race to replace the late Rep. Donald Payne Jr. in representing New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District.
Friday was the filing deadline for candidates to enter the special election. The special election’s primary will be on July 16, and the general vote will be held on Sept. 18. The winner will serve the remainder of Payne’s term.
According to the state Division of Elections, 11 candidates have entered the Democratic primary:
- LaMonica McIver, the president of the Newark City Council
- Derek Armstead, the mayor of Linden
- Jerry Walker, a Hudson County commissioner
- Darryl Godfrey, the chief operating officer of the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority
- Brittany Claybrook, a former campaign staffer for Rep. Andy Kim (D-3rd) and a former East Orange councilwoman
- Shana Melius, a former staffer for Rep. Payne
- Sheila Montague, a community activist in Newark
- John J. Flora, a Jersey City teacher
- Debra Salters, a community activist in Newark
- Eugene Mazo, a lawyer who formerly taught at Rutgers Law School in Newark
- Alberta Gordon, a Democratic district leader in Newark
McIver is the early front-runner, garnering endorsements from local leaders and the state Democratic Party.
On the Republican side, small-business owner Carmen Bucco is the only candidate.
The 10th District, centered on Newark, contains parts of Essex, Hudson and Union counties. It’s a heavily Democratic district — Payne won 77% of the vote in 2022 and President Joe Biden won 84% of the vote in 2020.
The regularly scheduled general election is proceeding on the normal timeline, with a primary on June 4 and a general vote in November. The winner of that election will take the seat in January.
