Donald Payne Jr. Explained

Donald Payne Jr.
State:New Jersey
Term Start:November 15, 2012
Term End:April 24, 2024
Predecessor:Donald M. Payne
Successor:Vacant
Birth Name:Donald Milford Payne Jr.
Birth Date:17 December 1958
Birth Place:Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Death Place:Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Spouse:Beatrice Payne
Children:3
Relatives:Donald M. Payne (father)
William D. Payne (uncle)
Craig A. Stanley (cousin)
Education:Kean University

Donald Milford Payne Jr. (December 17, 1958 – April 24, 2024) was an American politician who was the U.S. representative for from 2012 until his death in 2024. A member of the Democratic Party, Payne served as president of the Newark city council from 2010 to 2012.[1] [2]

Following the death of his father, U.S. Representative Donald M. Payne, on March 6, 2012, Payne ran in the primary to succeed him in Congress. His father was first elected in 1988 and reelected 11 times without significant opposition.[3] [4] [5] Payne Jr. won the June 5, 2012, Democratic primary election, which is tantamount to election in the heavily Democratic district,[6] and the November 6, 2012, general election.[7] Payne Jr. was re-elected five times prior to his death in office in 2024.

Early life, education, and early career

Payne was born on December 17, 1958, in Newark, New Jersey,[8] where he was also raised alongside his two sisters, Wanda and Nicole. He was a 1976 graduate of Hillside High School.[9] His father, Donald M. Payne, served in the United States House of Representatives from 1989 until his death in 2012, and was the first African-American to represent the state of New Jersey in Congress.[10] His mother, Hazel Payne (née Johnson), died in 1963 when Payne was five years old.[11]

As a teenager, he founded and was the first president of the Newark South Ward Junior Democrats.[12] He studied graphic arts at Kean University. He was an adviser at the YMCA Youth in Government program.[13]

Payne worked for the New Jersey Highway Authority from 1991 until he joined the Essex County Educational Services Commission in 1996, where he worked as the Supervisor of Student Transportation.[14]

Newark Municipal Council

In 2010, Payne was reelected to the Municipal Council of Newark with 19% of the vote. Other candidates elected were Mildred C. Crump, Luis Quintana, and Carlos Gonzales.[15]

As a city councilman, Payne supported Planned Parenthood, stem cell research, Medicaid, and education funding.[16]

In July 2010, Payne was elected president of the Newark City Council, succeeding Crump.[17]

Payne's committee assignments included Health, Education, and Recreation.[14]

Essex County Board of Freeholders

In 2005, Payne was one of four candidates elected to the at-large seat, serving from January 1, 2006, to November 6, 2012. He finished first with 19% of the vote.[18] In 2008, he was reelected to a second term with 20% of the vote.[19] In 2011, he was reelected to a third term with 18% of the vote.[20] [21]

U.S. House of Representatives

2012 special election

See also: 2012 New Jersey's 10th congressional district special election.

After his father's death, Payne declared his intention to run in the special election to fill the remainder of his father's 12th term, and the regularly scheduled election for the full two-year term beginning in January 2013.[22] The primaries for both elections were held on June 5, and the general elections on November 6.

According to documents filed on May 24 with the Federal Election Commission, Payne both raised and spent more money than any other Democratic candidate.[23] House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi endorsed Payne on May 22.[24]

In the Democratic primary for the special election, Payne faced Ronald C. Rice (son of State Senator Ronald Rice) and Irvington Mayor Wayne Smith. He won the primary with 71% of the vote to Rice's 25% and Smith 5%.[25]

In the Democratic primary for the full term, Payne faced Rice, Smith, State Senator Nia Gill, Cathy Wright of Newark, and Dennis R. Flynn of Glen Ridge.[26] He won with 60% of the vote, to Rice's 19%, Gill's 17%. Smith, Wright, and Flynn combined for about 5% of the vote.[27]

After the election, Payne noted, "I've said that I'm following a legacy and I'm not backing away from that."[28]

2012

In the November 6 general election, Payne defeated Republican nominee Brian C. Kelemen with 87% of the vote.[29] He ran unopposed for the special election to fill the remainder of his father's term. The 10th is a heavily Democratic, black-majority district, and Payne had effectively assured himself election with his primary victory. He is only the fourth person to represent this district since 1929.

2014

Payne faced three minor opponents in the Democratic primary, but was handily renominated with over 91% of the vote.[30] Payne faced Republican Yolanda Dentley and two independents in the general election, and was re-elected with 85.4% of the vote.[31]

2016

Payne was unopposed in the Democratic primary in 2016.[32] He faced Republican David Pinckney and two independents in the general election, and won with 85.7% of the vote.[33]

2018

Payne easily dispatched his only challenger in the primary, Aaron Walter Fraser, with a margin of 91.7%–8.3%.[34] Payne would defeat Republican Agha Khan, Libertarian Scott DiRoma, and two independents in the general election, receiving 86.7% of the vote.[35]

2020

Payne faced two challengers in the 2020 Democratic primary, but won renomination with 88.5% of the vote.[36] Then in the general election he defeated Republican Jennifer Zinone, Libertarian John Mirrione, and two independents, receiving 83.3% of the vote.[37]

2022

Payne faced two challengers, Imani Oakley and Akil Khafani. He defeated both of them, receiving 83.3% of the vote.[38] Then in the general election he faced Republican David Pinckney, Libertarian Kendal Ludden, and two independents. He would be re-elected with 77.6% of the vote.[39]

Tenure

Payne was sworn into office on November 15, 2012. He thus had two months more seniority than other members of the 2012 House freshman class.[40] [41] He co-sponsored the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 and the Paycheck Fairness Act, a bill aimed at expanding the scope of the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and Fair Labor Standards Act.[42] [43] Payne also co-sponsored H.R. 41, authorizing $30.4 billion from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Flood Insurance Program to victims of Hurricane Sandy.[44]

On March 24, 2014, Payne introduced the Department of Homeland Security Interoperable Communications Act (H.R. 4289; 113th Congress) a bill that would require the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), within 120 days of the bill's enactment, to devise a strategy to improve communications among DHS agencies.[45] [46] DHS would be required to submit regular reports to Congress on its progress and the decisions it makes.[46]

Payne voted with President Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time in the 117th Congress, according to a FiveThirtyEight analysis.[47]

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Personal life and death

Payne lived in Newark with his wife, Beatrice. They were the parents of triplets.[50]

On April 6, 2024, Payne was hospitalized at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center following a heart attack that his office said was a complication of diabetes.[51] [52] He remained unconscious and on a ventilator until his death on April 24, at the age of 65.[53] He would posthumously win the New Jersey Primary on June 4, 2024, in which he was the only candidate on the ballot.[54]

Electoral history

Year!!
DemocraticVotesPctRepublicanVotesPct3rd PartyPartyVotesPct3rd PartyPartyVotesPct
2012 (special) align="right" 166,41397.4%Joanne Miller rowspan="7" Independent align="right" 4,500 align="right" 2.6%
2012 align="right" 201,43587.6% align="right" 24,27110.5%Joanne Miller align="right" 3,127 align="right" 1.4%Robert ShapiroLibertarian align="right" 1,227 align="right" 0.5%
2014 align="right" 95,73485.4% align="right" 14,15412.6%Gwendolyn A. Franklin align="right" 1,237 align="right" 1.1%Dark Angel rowspan="4"Independent align="right" 998 align="right" 0.9%
2016 align="right" 190,85685.7% align="right" 26,45011.8%Joanne Miller align="right" 3,719 align="right" 1.7%Aaron Walter Fraser align="right" 1,746 align="right" 0.8%
2018 align="right" 175,25387.6% align="right" 20,19110.1%Cynthia Johnson align="right" 2,070 align="right" 1.0%Joanne Miller align="right" 2,038 align="right" 1.0%
2020 align="right" 241,52283.3% align="right" 40,29813.9%Akil Khalfani align="right" 3,537 align="right" 1.2%Liah Fitchette align="right" 3,480 align="right" 1.2%
2022 align="right" 99,61377.6% align="right" 25,79220.1%Cynthia Johnson align="right" 1,955 align="right" 1.5%Kendal LuddenLibertarian align="right" 624 align="right" 0.5%

See also

References

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Council President Donald M. Payne Jr.. The Ujima Awards. May 26, 2012.
  2. Web site: Fox . Joey . Wildstein . David . April 24, 2024 . Donald Payne, six-term congressman from New Jersey, dies at 65 . April 24, 2024 . New Jersey Globe . en-US . April 24, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240424222823/https://newjerseyglobe.com/in-memoriam/donald-payne-dies-at-65/ . live .
  3. Friedman, Matt. "Pascrell, Donald Payne Jr. win key races in highly contested N.J. Congressional primaries", The Star-Ledger, June 5, 2012. Accessed April 18, 2019.
  4. Rizzo, Salvador "N.J. 10th Congressional District winner: Donald Payne Jr.", The Star-Ledger, November 6, 2012. Accessed April 18, 2019.
  5. https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/07/nyregion/donald-m-payne-first-black-elected-to-congress-from-new-jersey-dies-at-77.html Donald M. Payne, First Black Elected to Congress From New Jersey, Dies at 77
  6. Friedman, Matt. "Pascrell, Donald Payne Jr. win key races in highly contested N.J. Congressional primaries", The Star-Ledger, June 5, 2012. Accessed June 9, 2012.
  7. Rizzo, Salvador "N.J. 10th Congressional District winner: Donald Payne Jr.", The Star-Ledger, November 6, 2012. Accessed November 7, 2012.
  8. Web site: PAYNE, Donald, Jr. – Biographical Information. February 23, 2017. December 14, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161214235413/http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=P000604. live.
  9. News: Donald M. Payne, First Black Elected to Congress From New Jersey, Dies at 77 . . Raymond Hernandez . March 6, 2012 . February 14, 2013 . December 20, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161220132751/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/07/nyregion/donald-m-payne-first-black-elected-to-congress-from-new-jersey-dies-at-77.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1352490806-4XRIyukaxH0IO89Ax+rZrA&_r=0 . live .
  10. Web site: PAYNE, Donald Milford, (1934–2012) . bioguide.congress.gov . February 14, 2013 . December 30, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111230164517/http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=P000149 . live .
  11. Book: Wasniewski, Matthew . Black Americans in Congress, 1870–2007 *Current Members* Donald M. Payne 1934 – United States House of Representatives Democrat From New Jersey 1989– . 9780160801945 . February 14, 2013 . October 3, 2008 . Government Printing Office . April 24, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240424222748/https://books.google.com/books?id=-cNiPp-D260C&q=Donald+M.+Payne+hazel+johnson+died&pg=PA726#v=snippet&q=Donald%20M.%20Payne%20hazel%20johnson%20died&f=false . live .
  12. Web site: N.J. congressman Donald Payne Jr. dies. Brent Johnson | NJ Advance Media for. NJ.com. April 24, 2024. nj. April 25, 2024. April 24, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240424213459/https://www.nj.com/politics/2024/04/nj-congressman-donald-payne-jr-dies.html. live.
  13. Web site: NJ congressman Donald Payne Jr. dies following hospitalization earlier in April. NBC New York. Staff • •. April 24, 2024. April 25, 2024. April 24, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240424190702/https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/nj-congressman-donald-payne-jr-dies/5350444/. live.
  14. Web site: Full Biography. December 27, 2013. February 23, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170224055309/http://paynejrforcongress.ngpvanhost.com/about. February 24, 2017. dead.
  15. Web site: Our Campaigns – Newark City Council At Large Race – May 11, 2010. February 23, 2017. February 24, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170224133034/http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=625136. live.
  16. http://ci.newark.nj.us/government/the_municipal_council/donald_m_paynejr/ Donald M. Payne Jr. President, Newark City Council Freeholder-at-Large, Essex County
  17. http://ci.newark.nj.us/government/the_municipal_council/donald_m_paynejr/2010_07_01_01.php "Councilman-At-Large Donald M. Payne Elected New President of Newark Municipal Council"
  18. Web site: Our Campaigns – Essex County Freeholder At-Large Race – Nov 08, 2005. February 23, 2017. February 24, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170224052650/http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=554616. live.
  19. Web site: Our Campaigns – Essex County Freeholder At-Large Race – Nov 04, 2008. February 23, 2017. February 24, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170224052337/http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=554617. live.
  20. Web site: Our Campaigns – Essex County Freeholders At-Large Race – Nov 08, 2011. February 23, 2017. February 24, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170224133022/http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=720163. live.
  21. Web site: The County of Essex Board of Chosen Freeholders. February 23, 2017. February 24, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170224052454/http://essex-countynj.org/freeholders/site/index.php?section=dp. live.
  22. Web site: Giambusso . David . March 17, 2012 . Donald Payne Jr. to seek father's Congressional seat . April 24, 2024 . nj . en . September 7, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230907054258/https://www.nj.com/news/2012/03/donald_payne_jr_to_seek_father.html . live .
  23. News: Payne Jr. leading Dem. primary fundraising battle . Associated Press . May 25, 2012 . . May 26, 2012.
  24. News: Nancy Pelosi endorses Donald Payne Jr. to replace late father in N.J.'s 10th District . Giambusso . David . May 22, 2012 . . May 26, 2012 . May 26, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120526010506/http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/05/nancy_pelosi_endorses_donald_p.html . live .
  25. Web site: Unofficial Primary Election Results: Special Election – US House of Representatives . New Jersey Division of Elections . June 9, 2012 . June 17, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120617041543/http://www.nj.gov/state/elections/2012-results/2012-unofficial-primary-results-special-house-0606-415.pdf . live .
  26. News: In packed 10th District congressional election, Donald Payne Jr. is viewed as front-runner . Giambusso . David . May 24, 2012 . . May 26, 2012 . May 25, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120525203430/http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/05/in_packed_10th_district_congre.html . live .
  27. News: Donald Payne Jr. wins Democratic nomination for House seat in N.J.'s 10th District . Giambusso . David . June 5, 2012 . . June 8, 2012 . June 8, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120608224623/http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/06/donald_payne_jr_wins_democrati.html . live .
  28. News: New Jersey City Councilman Succeeds Late Father In Congress . Huffington Post . Sabrina . Siddiqui . June 5, 2012 . February 18, 2020 . September 24, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924160534/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/06/05/donald-payne-jr-new-jersey-primary_n_1572602.html . live .
  29. Web site: Official List Candidates for House of Representatives For GENERAL ELECTION 11/06/2012 Election . nj.gov . . January 22, 2013 . February 18, 2013 . March 9, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130309063958/http://nj.gov/state/elections/2012-results/2012-official-general-results-house-of-representatives-020513.pdf . live .
  30. Web site: NJ Division of Elections . July 2, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140714134348/http://www.njelections.org/2014-results/2014-unofficial-primary-results-us-house.pdf . July 14, 2014 . dead .
  31. Web site: Election Information . NJ Department of State . November 4, 2014 . January 2, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141206135355/http://www.njelections.org/2014-results/2014-official-general-results-us-house.pdf . December 6, 2014 . dead .
  32. Web site: Official Results . New Jersey Secretary of State . April 24, 2024 . September 20, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160920170138/http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2016-results/2016-official-primary-results-house-of-rep.pdf . live .
  33. Web site: Election Information . NJ Department of State . November 8, 2016 . April 24, 2024 . December 20, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20161220102551/http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2016-results/2016-official-general-results-house-of-representatives.pdf . live .
  34. Web site: 2018 Official Primary Results for the U.S. House. April 24, 2024. October 28, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201028125415/https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2018/2018-official-primary-results-us-house.pdf. live.
  35. Web site: Johnson. Cheryl L.. Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 6, 2018. Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. April 24, 2024. February 28, 2019. January 3, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130103115258/http://history.house.gov/Institution/Election-Statistics/Election-Statistics/. live.
  36. Web site: 2020-official-primary-results-us-house.pdf . New Jersey Division of Elections . August 9, 2020 . April 24, 2024 . September 13, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200913102130/https://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2020/2020-official-primary-results-us-house.pdf . live .
  37. Web site: Official General Election Results: U.S. House of Representatives . New Jersey Department of Elections . April 24, 2024 . December 29, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201229053955/https://nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2020/2020-official-general-results-us-house.pdf . live .
  38. Web site: 2022 Official Primary Election Results: U.S. House of Representatives . New Jersey Department of State – Division of Elections . April 24, 2024 . February 5, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230205173526/https://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2022/2022-official-primary-results-us-house.pdf . live .
  39. Web site: 2022 Official General Election Results: U.S. House of Representatives . New Jersey Department of State – Division of Elections . April 24, 2024 . February 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230224054918/https://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2022/2022-official-general-results-us-house.pdf . live .
  40. Web site: House Floor Activities: Legislative Day of November 15, 2012. Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives. Washington, D.C.. February 3, 2019. February 4, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190204014208/http://clerk.house.gov/floorsummary/floor.aspx?day=20121115. live.
  41. Web site: Payne Takes Office . payne.house.gov . November 15, 2012 . February 17, 2013 . February 17, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130217020221/http://payne.house.gov/press-release/payne-takes-office . live .
  42. Web site: H.R.11 – Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 . congress.gov . January 29, 2013 . February 17, 2013 . March 5, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130305040918/http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/11/cosponsors . live .
  43. Web site: H.R.377 – Paycheck Fairness Act . congress.gov . January 23, 2013 . February 17, 2013.
  44. Web site: H.R.41 – To temporarily increase the borrowing authority of the Federal Emergency Management Agency for carrying out the National Flood Insurance Program. . congress.gov . January 7, 2013 . February 17, 2013 . January 27, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130127033113/http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/41 . live .
  45. Web site: CBO – H.R. 4289. June 19, 2014. Congressional Budget Office. July 9, 2014. July 7, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140707032507/http://www.cbo.gov/publication/45459. live.
  46. News: DHS Interoperable Communications Act Aims To Achieve Interoperable Communications. July 10, 2014. Homeland Security Today. July 9, 2014. September 24, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924031637/http://www.hstoday.us/briefings/daily-news-analysis/single-article/dhs-interoperable-communications-act-aims-to-achieve-interoperable-communications/0cd188ce2dbfad9c092188cd41e5303a.html. dead.
  47. Web site: Bycoffe . Aaron . Wiederkehr . Anna . April 22, 2021 . Does Your Member Of Congress Vote With Or Against Biden? . November 15, 2023 . FiveThirtyEight . en . November 15, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231115121219/https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/biden-congress-votes/house/ . live .
  48. Web site: Membership. Congressional Arts Caucus. March 13, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180612140644/https://artscaucus-slaughter.house.gov/membership. June 12, 2018. dead.
  49. Web site: Our Members. U.S. House of Representatives International Conservation Caucus. August 5, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180801155201/https://royce.house.gov/internationalconservation/members.html. August 1, 2018. dead.
  50. Web site: Heroes Who Walk Beside Us: Congressman Donald Payne, Jr.. April 18, 2024. Insider NJ. April 24, 2024. April 18, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240418151102/https://www.insidernj.com/heroes-who-walk-beside-us-congressman-donald-payne-jr/. live.
  51. Web site: Wildstein . David . Fox . Joey . April 17, 2024 . Donald Payne remains unconscious eleven days after heart attack . April 17, 2024 . New Jersey Globe . en-US . April 17, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240417200803/https://newjerseyglobe.com/congress/donald-payne-remains-unconscious-eleven-days-after-heart-attack/ . live .
  52. Web site: Suter . Tara . April 10, 2024 . NJ Democrat hospitalized following 'cardiac episode' . April 17, 2024 . The Hill . en-US . April 17, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240417194856/https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4585448-nj-democrat-donald-payne-hospitalized-cardiac-episode/ . live .
  53. News: Fox . Joey . Wildstein . David . Donald Payne, Six-Term Congressman From New Jersey, Dies At 65 . April 24, 2024 . New Jersey Globe . April 24, 2024 . April 24, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240424222823/https://newjerseyglobe.com/in-memoriam/donald-payne-dies-at-65/ . live .
  54. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-payne-jr-wins-new-jersey-primary/ CBS News June 5, 2024

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