TRENTON, NJ – The conspiracy has always been that Democrats in New Jersey load up the voter rolls with deceased voters. This week, the party went one step further and actually elected a dead man to run for Congress.
In a rare and unexpected political event, Representative Donald Payne Jr. was posthumously elected in the Democratic primary for New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District. Rep. Payne, a respected member of the Congressional Black Caucus, suffered a fatal heart attack on April 24, as reported by the New York Post.
Despite his untimely death, Payne was the only candidate registered for the primary, with the filing deadline having passed in March. The congressman had been a dominant political figure in the district, holding the seat since 2012 following his father, who also passed away while in office after serving for 20 years.
Given the timing of his death and the election laws in New Jersey, Payne’s name remained on the ballot. New Jersey law stipulates that in such cases, Payne cannot be replaced on the ballot.
Consequently, a special primary election is scheduled for July 16 to select a candidate who will likely hold the seat given the district’s strong Democratic leaning.
The 10th district, which includes Newark and other parts of Hudson, Union, and Essex counties, has not seen a Republican representative since 1946 and currently shows a significant Democratic registration advantage of 6-1. The seat’s high Democratic hold and the historical context of the Payne family’s political legacy make this upcoming special primary a critical and highly watched event, with nearly a dozen Democrats expressing interest in running.
