Carmen Bucco, left, and LaMonica McIver are facing off in a special election to fill the term of the late Donald Payne Jr. (Photos courtesy of Bucco campaign/New Jersey Monitor)
Voters in New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District will decide in a special election Wednesday who fills the remainder of the late Donald Payne Jr’.s term.
The two leading contenders are Newark City Council President LaMonica McIver, a Democrat, and Republican Carmen Bucco. McIver is the heavy favorite to win this largely Democratic district that includes parts of Essex, Hudson, and Union counties. Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans here more than 6-to-1.
McIver said it’s been a whirlwind few months campaigning to succeed Payne while also mourning his loss. Payne died April 24 after suffering a heart attack.
“Family and friends are still grieving, and then to jump into a campaign for a special election, it was very chaotic,” she said. “I will have been through four campaigns in less than six months, so it’s been quite wild.”
Wednesday will be the first of two elections in this district between now and November. The results of the first election will determine who represents the district until Payne’s term expires Jan. 3. In November, voters will decide who succeeds Payne when the new Congress is seated (Bucco and McIver are also candidates in that election).
McIver, 38, a Newark native, said her interest in government began as a fifth grader at the Warren Street school when a council member invited students to visit their campaign office. She soon after began leading youth teams for local candidates and get-out-the-vote campaigns.
McIver noted a long list of priorities, including housing affordability, health care, NJ Transit, and local infrastructure projects like Newark’s replacement of lead service pipes.
“Everything’s your problem when you’re elected locally, so you’re dealing with issues all the time,” she said.
She wants to push for child care tax credits with higher income caps. She said families need more help, and said she’s spoken to moms who say they quit their jobs because child care cost more than they were making. She also wants to advocate for lower prescription drug prices and dental care for Medicaid users.
As the founder of Newark Gals, a nonprofit that aims to lift up girls and young women from Newark through educational planning, cultural experiences, and social skills, her community work sets her apart from her chief rival, McIver said. Independent candidates Russel A. Jenkins and Rayfield Morton are also on the ballot.
Bucco agreed McIver has an advantage, with the backing of powerful county chairs, a steady stream of funding, and far more registered Democrats. Bucco, who grew up in the foster care system and is a recovered addict, said he’s “no stranger to the David versus Goliath situation.”
“I got to face reality. I’m going up against the machine. It’s an uphill battle, but it’s an uphill battle that God put me on, and I will keep running until the people wake up and realize that the bleeding stops when they decide it stops, and I am the fixer,” he said, noting this is his 11th election.
Bucco, a Kenilworth resident and men’s clothing store owner, also heads a nonprofit, Bucco’s Rising Stars, which mentors and helps youth exiting the foster care system.
If he won election to Congress, his first plan would be to “stop the political corruption and get the resources where they need to be sent.” He wants more funding for “underserved” school districts and bemoaned that residents of the district can pay upwards of $1,600 in monthly rent and still face bad living conditions.
He called himself a moderate Republican who advocates for small businesses. He said immigration is a “necessity,” but suggested undocumented immigrants are getting services that should be going to citizens.
“Our vets and our homeless people are still on the street. Our kids aren’t getting good lunches at school. When do we say, ‘it’s about us first,’ and then once we take care of ourselves, then we can go out and help everybody else?” he said.
McIver said Bucco’s views do not align with the those of the district’s voters, saying they echo the views of former President Donald Trump. Residents of the district “do not share any views focused on Project 2025 or any MAGA initiatives” with Republicans, she said.
If elected, McIver would be the second Black woman elected to represent New Jersey in Congress, after Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, who has represented the 12th District since 2015.
“We have the opportunity to send a very diverse group of folks to Congress this year, a nice balance of leaders with experience from different cultural backgrounds,” McIver said. “Our delegation should look like what New Jersey looks like, like the people we represent.”
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