A lawmaker from New Jersey has joined a short list of Congress members who have given birth while in office – although she faces the possibility of ending her term in prison.
U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) announced the birth of her second child on Thursday: a healthy baby girl.
McIver is only the 15th-ever member of Congress to give birth while serving. She also has a 10-year-old daughter, and is one of only a small group of congresswomen with school-aged children.
The Democratic lawmaker from Newark has been sharing her tumultuous reproductive health journey during her pregnancy, including her battle with uterine fibroids, which required multiple surgeries. One such surgery had her in New Jersey in the morning and rushing to Washington D.C. that same night to make it in time for a vote on the House floor.
The stress hasn't dampened the thrill of motherhood, however.
"Being a mom is one of the greatest joys of my life, and I feel deeply grateful to welcome this beautiful, healthy baby into the world," McIver said, calling the birth a "symbol of hope" for her family.
"Getting the chance to raise a family is a priority and a delight for me, something I hope everyone who wants to gets the chance to do," she said.
The congresswoman announced that she is pregnant in May. She and her husband had been trying for a second child since before she was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, the lawmaker told People.com.
Because members of Congress are not entitled to maternity leave, McIver said she plans to be back in Washington D.C. in November to vote after taking the month of October to heal, be with her family and bond with her new child – who is reminding McIver of why she entered politics in the first place.
"Bringing a child into the world is a reminder not only of why we fight for maternal health care and reproductive rights, but of why we fight for the rights and freedoms of our most vulnerable – they are someone's babies too," McIver said.
McIver represents the state's 10th district (Essex, Hudson, Union counties). She is up for re-election in the November midterm, and faces a challenge from Republican nominee Carmen Bucco.
The district includes the following municipalities: Caldwell, East Orange, Essex Fells, Irvington, Montclair (part), Newark (part), Orange, Verona, West Orange in Essex County; Jersey City (part) in Hudson County; Cranford, Garwood, Hillside, Kenilworth, Linden (part), Roselle, Roselle Park, Union Township in Union County.
FEDERAL CHARGES
McIver is also in the middle of a serious legal battle against allegations brought by the U.S. Department of Justice. The stakes? A potential 17 years in jail on federal assault charges.
The charges are linked to a clash that took place last year outside Delaney Hall in Newark, a privately owned prison that houses ICE detainees from across the state.
A trio of Democratic House members – McIver, Bonnie Watson Coleman and Rob Menendez Jr. – visited the prison, demanding entry to carry out their oversight authority and inspect the prison firsthand. Congress members are legally authorized to enter federal immigration facilities, even without advance notice.
Their visit coincided with a heated pro-immigration protest – and the arrest of Newark Mayor Ras Baraka.
Homeland Security officials have accused the lawmakers of "storming the gate," alleging that McIver slammed her forearm into the body of a law enforcement officer during the chaos and used her forearms to forcibly strike a second officer.
Federal authorities previously shared video footage from the scene and encouraged viewers to "check the tape."
"Yes, check the tape," insisted Baraka, sharing footage of the incident.
"The aggression was from the people in masks, hiding their identity," he said. "And the whole world has seen it."
Charges against Baraka were eventually dropped. No charges were filed against Watson Coleman and Menendez.
In the following video shared by Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver, who is wearing a red jacket, can be seen outside Delaney Hall in Newark, NJ on May 9, 2025 (article continues below):
McIver has denied the accusations from federal prosecutors, alleging that ICE agents needlessly ramped up the confrontation and created chaos. She is also accusing former U.S. Attorney Alina Habba of being motivated politically by the Trump administration to pursue the assault charges.
McIver was indicted in June 2025. She pleaded not guilty to all charges, arguing that her behavior is protected under the Speech and Debate Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which shields lawmakers for activities carried out as part of their legislative duties.
In August, the Third Circuit Court refused to dismiss McIver's case. According to a ruling from the three-judge panel, McIver was protected from prosecution while she was inspecting the prison – but her intervention in Baraka's arrest was not.
Despite the ruling, McIver and her attorneys continue to argue that she has "legislative immunity" as a member of Congress performing her duties – which she was doing when she visited Delaney Hall last year.
If a sitting Congress member can face prosecution for trying to do their job, it sets a dangerous precedent, her legal team said.
"To protect the people, their elected representatives must be authorized to conduct oversight of the executive branch without fear of retaliation," McIver said.
"I will not fold to this administration," she insisted. "We are exploring every possible option. The administration will not stop me from doing my job or standing for what is right. This is not over."
The next major deadline in the case is slated for Oct. 9.
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