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LaMonica McIver

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LaMonica McIver
Official portrait, 2025
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Jersey's 10th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
September 23, 2024
Preceded byDonald Payne Jr.
President of the Newark Municipal Council
In office
July 1, 2022 – September 17, 2024
Preceded byLuis A. Quintana
Succeeded byLawrence Crump
Member of the Newark Municipal Council
from the Central Ward
In office
July 1, 2018 – September 23, 2024
Preceded byGayle Cheneyfield-Jenkins
Succeeded byVacant
Personal details
Born (1986-06-20) June 20, 1986 (age 38)
Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationBloomfield College (BA)
Seton Hall University (MA)
Kean University (EdD)
WebsiteHouse website

LaMonica R. McIver (born June 20, 1986) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for New Jersey's 10th congressional district since 2024. A member of the Democratic Party, she served on the Newark municipal council from 2018 to 2024.

McIver won the September 2024 special election to succeed Donald Payne Jr. in Congress, who died in office in April 2024. On June 10, 2025, McIver was indicted by a grand jury for "forcibly impeding and interfering with federal officers", which carries a maximum sentence of 17 years in prison.[1][2]

Early life and career

McIver was born in Newark, New Jersey, on June 20, 1986,[3] the oldest of four children.[4] She grew up in the city's Central Ward, and graduated from Central High School in 2004.[5] Her mother struggled with substance abuse as McIver was growing up.[4] McIver was the first in her family to attend college,[4] and she graduated from Bloomfield College with a degree in English Literature and from Seton Hall University with a master’s degree in educational leadership and policy. Prior to entering politics, McIver worked as a personnel director for Montclair Public Schools and public affairs manager for Newark's Public Service Enterprise Group.[6] She co-founded a non-profit, Newark G.A.L.S., to foster leadership in young women and girls, and was active with another Newark non-profit, the Believe in Newark Foundation. She is married, and she and her husband have a daughter.[7]

Ras Baraka was her fifth grade teacher, and McIver first developed an interest in politics while handing out flyers to support his campaign for city council. The New York Times described Baraka as playing "a key role in shepherding her career".[4]

McIver was elected to the Municipal Council of Newark in 2018[8] and became its president in 2022.[9] She resigned from the council presidency in 2024 (while remaining a council member) to focus on her congressional campaign.[10]

U.S. House of Representatives

Election

Following the death of Donald Payne Jr., who represented New Jersey's 10th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives, in April 2024, McIver announced her candidacy in the special election to fill the seat in May.[11] She won the Democratic Party primary election in July[12] and won the general election in September. She was sworn in on September 23, 2024.[13] She won her first full term in the November 5, 2024, general election.[14]

Newark immigration detention center incident

Main article: Newark immigration detention center incident

On May 9, 2025, McIver performed an oversight visit at an ICE detention facility in Newark, along with two other Democratic representatives from New Jersey, Bonnie Watson Coleman and Rob Menendez. Mayor Ras Baraka, who arrived a half hour later, was invited onto the property, where he waited for the congressional delegation. He was later asked to leave, which he did, and he was then arrested for trespassing, though the charges were subsequently dropped. McIver and others attempted to protect Baraka from arrest. On May 19, 2025, interim U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey Alina Habba announced that McIver had been charged with assaulting, impeding, and interfering with law enforcement in connection with the incident.[15] On May 20, 2025, McIver stated that she rejected a plea deal from the United States Department of Justice.[16] On June 10, McIver was indicted by federal prosecutors led by Alina Habba for her actions at the Newark immigration center.[17]

Caucus memberships

Electoral history

2024 New Jersey's 10th congressional district special election[19]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic LaMonica McIver 26,269 81.17% +3.53%
Republican Carmen Bucco 5,126 15.84% −6.20%
One For All...[a] Russell Jenkins 515 1.59% N/A
Creating Real Progress[a] Rayfield Morton 454 1.40% N/A
Total votes 32,364 100.00%
Democratic hold
2024 New Jersey's 10th congressional district general election[20]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic LaMonica McIver (incumbent) 182,020 74.4% −6.77%
Republican Carmen Bucco 54,405 22.2% +6.36%
Green Jon Serrano 3,198 1.3% N/A
Independent Cynthia Johnson 2,132 0.9% N/A
Independent Michelle Middleton 1,686 0.7% N/A
Independent Donna Weiss 1,136 0.5% N/A
Total votes 244,577 100.0
Democratic hold

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b Not an actual political party. In New Jersey, independent candidates are allowed to choose a ballot label

References

  1. ^ Mitchell, Ottilie (June 11, 2025). "US Congresswoman LaMonica McIver indicted for impeding law enforcement". BBC.
  2. ^ "Congresswoman Charged for Forcibly Impeding and Interfering With Federal Officers". Department of Justice. United States Federal Government]]. June 10, 2025. Retrieved June 11, 2025.
  3. ^ United States Congress. "LaMonica McIver (id: M001229)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d Tully, Tracey (May 26, 2025). "New to Congress, She's in the Cross Hairs of Trump's Justice Department". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 26, 2025.
  5. ^ Wiedmann, Tom. "Central Ward Councilwoman McIver Announces Bid For Reelection", TAPinto Newark, January 27, 2022. Accessed September 19, 2024. "Born and raised in the Central Ward, McIver attended Warren Street School and graduated from Morton Street School. She attended Central High School, where she graduated in 2004."
  6. ^ "Meet LaMonica | Congresswoman LaMonica McIver". mciver.house.gov. November 5, 2024. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  7. ^ Strunsky, Steve (July 17, 2024). "Who is LaMonica McIver, who just won primary to replace late Donald Payne Jr. in Congress?". NJ.com. Retrieved June 1, 2025.
  8. ^ "Newark City Council President LaMonica McIver brings monthly "Inside Newark" segment to the WBGO Journal". WBGO.
  9. ^ Wildstein, David (July 1, 2022). "McIver elected Newark Council President". New Jersey Globe.
  10. ^ Kiefer, Eric (September 17, 2024). "McIver Steps Down As Newark Council President, Continues Congress Bid". Patch Media. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  11. ^ https://newjerseyglobe.com/congress/mciver-i-am-running-for-congress/
  12. ^ Friedman, Matt (July 16, 2024). "LaMonica McIver wins special primary for late NJ Rep. Donald Payne Jr.'s seat". Politico. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  13. ^ Wildstein, David (September 23, 2024). "McIver will be sworn in today". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved September 23, 2024.
  14. ^ Fox, Joey (November 6, 2024). "LaMonica McIver re-elected to first full term in Congress". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  15. ^ Davis, Aaron C.; Baran, Jonathan (May 22, 2025). "Body slamming? Officer aggression? How an ICE clash led to charges against a congresswoman". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved May 31, 2025.
  16. ^ "NJ congresswoman rejects plea deal, denies wrongdoing at ICE detention center". ABC7. May 20, 2025. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  17. ^ "US Rep. LaMonica McIver indicted on federal charges from skirmish at New Jersey immigration center". AP News. June 10, 2025. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  18. ^ "Caucus Members". Congressional Progressive Caucus. Retrieved June 10, 2025.
  19. ^ "Official List, Candidates for House of Representatives For SPECIAL GENERAL ELECTION 09/18/2024 Election" (PDF). Secretary of State of New Jersey. July 31, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
  20. ^ "Candidates for House of Representatives For GENERAL ELECTION 11/05/2024 Election, * denotes incumbent" (PDF). nj.gov. December 5, 2024. pp. 14–15. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 7, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2025.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Jersey's 10th congressional district
2024–present 		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States representatives by seniority
369th 		Succeeded by
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