Dem
50
GOP
50
It takes a while to replace a deceased member of Congress, since there has to be some version of a primary, and some version of a general election. This is assuming there is any replacement at all; many states allow a seat to remain vacant if the death happens too close to a regularly scheduled election.
In the case of Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (D-NJ), who died in April, there was indeed time for a special election. And given that his now-former district, NJ-10, is D+30, there was absolutely no question he'd be replaced by another Democrat. Since July 16, we've even known which Democrat it would be: LaMonica McIver, president of the Newark Municipal Council since 2022, and member of the Council since 2018.
Since we are on the subject of Congress anyhow (see above), we will pass along that the special election was finally held this week, and McIver won in a walk, taking 81.2% of the vote, as compared to 15.8% for Republican Carmen Bucco. So, McIver will take her seat next week, giving Mike Johnson even less wiggle room than he had this week. And since McIver is not even 40 yet, she is in position to have a nice, long career in the House, if that's what she wants. Eventually, she might consider a U.S. Senate run, but one New Jersey seat is currently occupied by the 55-year-old Cory Booker (D), and the other is about to be occupied by the 42-year-old Andy Kim (D). Given how long Senate careers tend to last, McIver may need to make her Senate plans for, oh, the late 2040s. (Z)