Overview and Live Results: New Jersey Congressional Special Election

One of four U.S. House vacancies will be filled Wednesday by voters in New Jersey's 10th congressional district. The winner will complete the term of Democrat Donald Payne Jr., who died in April.

As the New Jersey Globe reports, "Democrats nominated LaMonica R. McIver, a two-term Newark city councilwoman, in a special primary election on July 16. She faces Republican Carmen Bucco, a Kenilworth businessman, and two independent candidates, Rayfield Morton and Russell Jenkins."

Payne was reelected in 2022 by a 78% to 20% margin over his Republican challenger in this deep blue Newark-area district. Republicans last won the 10th district in 1946.

Polls close at 8:00 PM Eastern.

Payne's death came after the filing deadline for the statewide June 4 primary. He was unopposed on that ballot, and thus posthumously renominated. Democratic officials in the affected counties chose McIver to replace Payne on the November ballot shortly after her special primary win. Bucco will again be her major party opposition.

House Vacancies

Republicans currently hold a 220-211 partisan edge over Democrats in the U.S. House, likely to move to 220-212 after Wednesday's special election.

Two of the other three vacancies will be filled in November 5 special elections, held concurrently with the general election. Winners will serve during the lame-duck session of Congress.

The incumbent party is expected to hold these seats, with Democrats favored in TX-18, Republicans in WI-08. Assuming no other vacancies, the House will complete this term with a 221-213 Republican margin.

The final vacancy, in NJ-09 will not be filled this term. Democratic Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. died last month.