NJ-10 Election Results: McIver Beats Bucco, Jenkins, Morton, AP Says

NEW JERSEY — LaMonica McIver has apparently emerged victorious in a special election to replace the late U.S. Rep. Donald Payne Jr., according to early results from the Associated Press.

Residents of New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District were left without a voice in the U.S. House of Representatives following Payne's death in April. The district includes municipalities in Essex, Hudson and Union counties. Read More: Mourning Continues For NJ Congressman With ‘Big Heart’

Four candidates appeared on the ballot: LaMonica McIver (Democrat), Carmen Bucco (Republican), Russell Jenkins (Independent) and Rayfield Morton (Independent). The prize? Payne’s unexpired term in Congress – which runs out at the end of the year.

The Associated Press called the race in McIver's favor soon after polls closed at 8 p.m. The results remain uncertified. As of 8:30 p.m., here are the vote totals, as per The New York Times (32 percent of votes reported):

• LaMonica McIver - 13,877 (84%)
• Carmen Bucco - 2,196 (13.3%)
• Russell Jenkins - 258 (1.6%)
• Rayfield Morton - 194 (1.2%)

If the early results hold, McIver can’t be seated until all the votes are counted, confirmed and certified by the State Board of Canvassers. This would happen sometime between Oct. 8 and Oct. 14, NJ Spotlight News reported.

Voters will cast ballots for the seat again on Nov. 5, when they decide who will serve out a fresh term once Payne's fully expires.

"Thank you NJ-10!" McIver wrote Wednesday evening after the AP called the race. "Now let’s get back to work and win this in November."

Bucco congratulated McIver on her apparent victory in the special election, writing that "democracy has voted in who they want to fill in the late Congressman Donald Payne Jr.’s term." But he added that "for those who believe in me and my policies, I am not going anywhere ... we still have a second chance to make District 10 great again."

The 10th 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.

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