2024 New Jersey's 10th congressional district special election

The 2024 New Jersey's 10th congressional district special election was held on September 18, 2024, to fill the vacant seat in New Jersey's 10th congressional district. The winner will serve in the United States House of Representatives for the remainder of the 118th United States Congress. The seat became vacant on April 24, 2024, when Donald Payne Jr. died following a heart attack related to complications from diabetes. The urban district is considered a safely Democratic seat; Payne Jr. had won all 7 bids for this seat with at least 77.6% of the vote.

On May 3, Governor Phil Murphy scheduled the special election for September 18, with primaries being held on July 16. This was the first non-November special election for a vacant House seat in New Jersey since 1950 which Republican William Widnall won after incumbent Representative J. Parnell Thomas was convicted on corruption charges. This was the first time since 1989 where no one from the Payne family represented this district.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• LaMonica McIver, president of the Newark Municipal Council (2022–present) from the Central Ward (2018–present)

Eliminated in primary

• Derek Armstead, mayor of Linden (2014–present) and Linden Democratic municipal chair
• Brittany Claybrooks, former East Orange city councilor (2019–2023)
• John Flora, teacher and candidate for this district in 2020
• Darryl Godfrey, COO of the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority
• Alberta Gordon, data engineering manager
• Eugene Mazo, Rutgers Law School professor and candidate for this district in 2020
• Shana Melius, former constituent services staffer to Donald Payne Jr.
• Sheila Montague, teacher and candidate for mayor of Newark in 2022
• Debra Salters, community activist and independent candidate for New Jersey's 29th assembly district in 2021
• Jerry Walker, Hudson County commissioner from the 3rd district (2018–present) and candidate for mayor of Jersey City in 2013

Declined

• Ras Baraka, mayor of Newark (2014–present) (running for governor in 2025, endorsed McIver)
• Ronald Slaughter, pastor (endorsed McIver)

Endorsements

Fundraising

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Carmen Bucco, businessman, perennial candidate, and nominee for this seat in the regular 2024 election

Endorsements

Fundraising

Results

Independents

Declared

• Russell Jenkins (One For All...), financial advisor
• Rayfield Morton (Creating Real Progress), former Orange city councilor

General election

Results

By county

Notes

References

External links

Official campaign websites

• Carmen Bucco (R)
• LaMonica McIver (D)