Governor Murphy orders special elections to fill Rep. Donald Payne Jr.’s unexpired term

Rep. Donald Payne Jr. at a get-out-the-vote rally on Oct. 23, 2021. (Daniella Heminghaus for New Jersey Monitor)

Gov. Phil Murphy has ordered special elections to be held in July and September to fill the unexpired term of Rep. Donald Payne Jr., who died last month after suffering a heart attack.

Murphy issued a writ of election Friday afternoon setting a special primary election on July 16 and a special general election on Sept. 18.

Nomination petitions for candidates seeking a party nomination are due next Friday afternoon. Direct nominations by petition for independent candidates must be filed by July 16.

Payne, 65, was serving his sixth term and running for reelection in North Jersey’s 10th Congressional District when he passed away on April 24 after spending 18 days in the hospital. Payne replaced his father, who also died while in office, in 2012.

Murphy’s announcement comes one day after the Congressman’s funeral in Newark.

The district covers parts of Essex, Hudson, and Union counties.

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