The race to fill the 9th Congressional District seat, left vacant by the death of Rep. Bill Pascrell, is intensifying. Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh is the latest to join the list of candidates for the Democratic nomination.
Sen. Nellie Pou (D-Passaic) seems to be a front-runner in the race, having been endorsed by the three Democratic county chairmen in the 9th District — Paul Juliano in Bergen County, John Currie in Passaic County and Craig Guy in Hudson County. Over the weekend, Rep. Rob Menendez (D-8th), New Jersey’s only Hispanic member of Congress, also endorsed Pou.
Pou, a 27-year veteran of the Legislature, would become New Jersey’s first Latina member of Congress if elected.
Other contenders vying for the Democratic nomination include Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter (D-Passaic) and Assemblyman Benjie Wimberly (D-Passaic). Others mentioned include Bergen County Commissioner Tracy Silna Zur and Bergen County Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese.
Assemblyman Gary Schaer has decided not to run, focusing instead on state-level politics.
Pascrell’s death last week gave the party just eight days to choose a nominee for the November election. A convention is set for Aug. 29.
