TRENTON, NJ– U.S. Rep. Donald Payne Jr., a New Jersey Democrat and member of the Congressional Black Caucus who replaced his father in the seat, died Wednesday after a heart attack this month left him in the hospital, officials said. He was 65.
Gov. Phil Murphy called his fellow Democrat a “steadfast champion for the people of New Jersey” in a statement confirming Payne’s death.
Payne served 12 years in the Newark-area seat his father had held for more than 20 years. Payne represented a heavily Democratic district with a majority black majority and received strong endorsements from liberal organizations for his voting record.
“With his signature bow tie, big heart and tenacity, Donald embodied the very best in public service,” Murphy said. to meet their needs every day.”
New Jersey Democratic Party Chairman LeRoy Jones Jr. called Payne a “towering figure in both our party and our community.”
The Congressional Black Caucus said Payne would be remembered for his kindness and generosity and called him an advocate for progressive causes including making college tuition free, expanding voting rights and fighting climate change.
Payne previously served as chairman of the city council in Newark, New Jersey’s largest city, and as a member of the Essex County Board of Commissioners.
Payne’s office had said his heart attack was related to complications from diabetes. Payne’s father, Donald Milford Payne, held the congressional seat before him. When the elder Payne died in 2012, the younger one successfully ran in a special election to succeed him.
Payne had since been re-elected six times. The district covers parts of Newark and its densely populated suburbs.
Murphy’s office declined to comment Wednesday on the governor’s plans to call a special election for the remainder of Payne’s current term, which ends Jan. 3, 2025.
Payne filed all the paperwork to run for re-election before the March deadline and will appear uncontested in the June 4 primary. Should he remain in the primary and win the nomination, Democratic Party committee members in his district could choose a replacement candidate who would run in the November general election.
The district will likely remain in Democratic hands, with registered Democrats outnumbering Republicans by more than 6 to 1.
A colleague from New Jersey, Democratic U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, called Payne a “truly great public servant” who liked to call him “Uncle Frank” and had fought to raise awareness of diabetes and colorectal cancer prevention and to end lead pipes in to replace Newark.
Another colleague, Democratic U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, called Payne a “thoughtful legislator, a dear friend, and a man of such a kind and affable nature that he was loved and respected” by both Democrats and Republicans.
“Most importantly, he was a dedicated family man, and it was this role that fueled his passion for the policies he pursued,” Thompson said.
As a member of the Committee on Homeland Security, Payne made school safety a priority, helping create a School Safety Task Force at the Department of Homeland Security and urging federal agencies to take extra precautions for children and schools during emergencies , Thompson said.
“He leaves an important legacy through his congressional service: making children safer. In his honor, we will continue that legacy,” Thompson said.
Payne’s survivors include his wife Beatrice and their three children, Murphy said.