LaMonica McIver | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2025 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew Jersey's10th district | |
| Assumed office September 23, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Donald Payne Jr. |
| President of theNewark Municipal Council | |
| In office July 1, 2022 – September 17, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Luis A. Quintana |
| Succeeded by | Lawrence Crump |
| Member of theNewark Municipal Council from the Central Ward | |
| In office July 1, 2018 – September 23, 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Gayle Cheneyfield-Jenkins |
| Succeeded by | Vacant |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1986-06-20)June 20, 1986 (age 39) Newark, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Bloomfield College (BA) Seton Hall University (MA) Kean University (EdD) |
| Signature |  |
| Website | House website Campaign website |
LaMonica R. McIver (born June 20, 1986) is an American politician serving as theU.S. representative forNew Jersey's 10th congressional district since 2024. A member of theDemocratic Party, she served on theNewark municipal council from 2018 to 2024. McIver was first elected to Congress in a September 2024special election to succeedDonald Payne Jr. inCongress, who died in office in April.
On June 10, 2025, McIver wasindicted by agrand jury for "forcibly impeding and interfering with federal officers", which carries a maximum sentence of 17 years in prison.[1][2] She has disputed the charges, claiming that they are political in nature.[3]
McIver was born inNewark, New Jersey, on June 20, 1986,[4] the oldest of four children.[5] She grew up in the city'sCentral Ward, and graduated fromCentral High School in 2004.[6] Her mother struggled with substance abuse as McIver was growing up.[5] McIver was the first in her family to attend college,[5] and she graduated fromBloomfield College with a degree in English Literature and fromSeton Hall University with a master’s degree in educational leadership and policy. Prior to entering politics, McIver worked as a personnel director forMontclair Public Schools and public affairs manager for Newark'sPublic Service Enterprise Group.[7] 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.[8]
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".[5]
McIver was elected to theMunicipal Council of Newark in 2018[9] and became its president in 2022.[10] She resigned from the council presidency in 2024 (while remaining a council member) to focus on her congressional campaign.[11]
Following the death ofDonald Payne Jr., who representedNew Jersey's 10th congressional district in theUnited States House of Representatives, in April 2024, McIver announced her candidacy in the special election to fill the seat in May.[12] She won the Democratic Party primary election in July[13] and won the general election in September. She was sworn in on September 23, 2024.[14] She won her first full term in the November 5, 2024, general election.[15]
On May 9, 2025, McIver performed anoversight visit at an ICE detention facility in Newark, along with two other Democratic representatives from New Jersey,Bonnie Watson Coleman andRob 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, interimU.S. Attorney for the District of New JerseyAlina Habba announced that McIver had been charged withassaulting, impeding, and interfering with law enforcement in connection with the incident.[16] In a statement released on the same day, McIver said, of the charges, that "they mischaracterize and distort [her] actions, and are meant to criminalize and deter legislative oversight."[3] On May 20, 2025, McIver stated that she rejected a plea deal from theUnited States Department of Justice.[17] On June 10, McIver was indicted by federal prosecutors led by Alina Habba for her actions at the Newark immigration center.[18] At her arraignment hearing, McIver pleaded not guilty, and JudgeJamel Semper set a trial date of November 10.[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% | |||
| Democratichold | |||||
| 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 | |||
| Democratichold | |||||
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromNew Jersey's 10th congressional district 2024–present | Incumbent |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded by | United States representatives by seniority 368th | Succeeded by |