New Jersey Democratic Congressman Donald Payne Jr. passed away at the age of 65 on Wednesday, April 24th due to illness.
The Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, announced on social media X: “We were saddened to learn that Congressman Donald M. Payne Jr. passed away today.”
Payne had been hospitalized for treatment since April 6th. His office had stated in a previous announcement that he was hospitalized due to a “heart attack caused by complications of diabetes.”
In a statement released on Wednesday, his office mentioned: “During the treatment of this health issue, he faced medical complications caused by diabetes and high blood pressure, leading to subsequent cardiac arrest. Despite the healthcare professionals’ best efforts to treat and improve his health condition, they were unable to prevent his untimely passing.”
Representing New Jersey’s 10th congressional district, Payne had been serving in Congress since 2012, winning a special election previously to fill the vacancy left by his father’s passing. His father, Donald Milford Payne, was the first African American congressman to represent the state and served from 1989 until his death in 2012.
New Jersey Democratic Governor Phil Murphy expressed deep sorrow in a statement posted on platform X, regarding the unfortunate death of their friend, staunch supporter of the people of New Jersey, and Congressman Donald Payne Jr.
According to New Jersey state laws, in the event of a vacancy in the state’s seat in the US House of Representatives, the Governor can arrange a special election to fill the position. The primary election for the special election must be held between 70 to 76 days after the Governor announces the election, and the general election must take place 64 to 70 days after the primary.
Payne’s passing will reduce the total number of House members to 430, following the resignation of four other members. Currently, there are 218 Republican members and 212 Democratic members in the House of Representatives.
As Republican Congressman Mike Gallagher from Wisconsin has also announced his resignation before the end of his term, it is expected that this number will decrease soon. Gallagher initially planned to resign next weekend but delayed his original plan while the Congress voted on a foreign aid package.
Gallagher’s office confirmed that the Congressman officially submitted his resignation on Wednesday.