Donald Payne Jr., a member of a prominent Newark political family who represented the city and nearby communities in Congress for more than 11 years, died Wednesday after suffering a heart attack caused by complications from diabetes, his office said.
Payne, 65, reluctantly joined Congress in 2012 after the death of his father, Rep. Donald Payne Sr., the first Black person elected to Congress in New Jersey and who during his more than two decades was one of the became the city’s celebrities. in Congress.
Although he never developed his father’s high profile and was struck by health problems in recent years that led to him regularly voting by proxy, Payne Jr. beloved by his colleagues, he served as chairman and ranking member of the House Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials.
On that committee, he was instrumental in securing funding for the largest infrastructure project in the state: the Gateway Project to replace the dilapidated, century-old train tunnels between New Jersey and Manhattan.
“It has been my great honor to work side by side with Donald to build a stronger and fairer New Jersey, and we will hold his memory close to our hearts as we build on the Payne family’s deep legacy of service in advocating for the communities they served so much,” Governor Phil Murphy said in a statement announcing the congressman’s death.
Payne’s district, which includes parts of Essex, Hudson and Union counties, is one of the most Democratic districts in the country. Primary ballots were scheduled to be mailed on April 20, so his name will remain on the ballot. His successor as candidate for the general election is expected to be determined by members of the Democratic county committees in the cities covered by his district.
The governor has the authority to call a special election to replace Payne for the remainder of his current term. When his father died in March 2012, then-Gov. Chris Christie called a special election for November to coincide with the regularly scheduled general election.
While in Congress, Payne emphasized expanding access to health care.
In 2021, he sponsored legislation to promote screening for colorectal cancer, the cause of his father’s death. Last year, he introduced the Amputation Reduction and Compassion Act to promote screenings for peripheral arterial disease with the goal of reducing amputations due to the condition, which is often linked to diabetes.
Payne is survived by his wife Beatrice and their three adult triplets: Donald III, Jack and Yvonne.
The Payne family is one of the most prominent in Newark politics. In addition to the time of Donald Payne Sr. in Congress, Payne Jr.’s uncle William and cousin Craig Stanley both served long terms in the New Jersey Assembly.
Payne Jr., a Hillside High graduate who grew up on Newark’s Bock Avenue and lived on the streets his entire life, began his political career as a teenager when he founded the South Ward Junior Democrats.
He began working in government in 1990 at the former New Jersey Highway Authority and then from 1996 to 2006 at the Essex County Educational Services Commission, where he oversaw student transportation.
“As a former union worker and toll collector, he deeply understood the challenges our working families face, and he fought bravely every day to meet their needs,” Murphy said. “That purpose was the light that guided him through his early years as Newark City Council President and during his tenure on the Essex County Board of Commissioners. And it continued to guide him through his more than a decade of service in Congress.”
Payne was first elected in 2005 as an Essex County at-large owner, and just months later he successfully ran for an at-large seat on the Newark City Council. That was shortly before New Jersey banned dual office holdings for most politicians. Payne remained in both positions — he was appointed chairman of the Newark City Council in 2010 — until his father’s death and his election to Congress.
Payne often created a unique image on the House floor with his colorful dress and bow ties.
“Always dressed to the nines. During campaign time, you can see him wearing a ‘RUN DMP’ shirt, a witty play on the popular hip-hop group RUN DMC,” Sen. Britnee Timberlake, an Essex County Democrat, wrote after the announcement of Payne’s serious condition.