The 2012 special election in New Jersey's 10th congressional district was held on November 6, 2012. Incumbent Democrat Donald M. Payne Sr. died in March 2012. His son Donald Payne Jr. won the June 5, 2012 Democratic special and regular primaries for this seat and the subsequent special and regular general elections, winning all in landslides.
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New Jersey's 10th congressional district | |||||||||||||||||
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Schedule
As a matter of convenience and cost saving, this special election was held in conjunction with the regularly scheduled general election on November 6, 2012. Voters were asked to select two candidates: one to serve the remainder of Payne's term in the 112th Congress, and the other to serve the full 2-year term in the 113th Congress beginning in January 2013.[1]
Candidates
Democratic
The following Democratic candidates ran in the special election primary on June 5, 2012:
- Donald Payne Jr., President of the Newark Municipal Council, member of the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders, and son of former U.S. Representative Donald M. Payne[2]
- Ronald C. Rice, member of the Newark Municipal Council[3]
- Wayne Smith, Mayor of Irvington[4][5]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Donald Payne Jr. | 32,951 | 70.67 | |
| Democratic | Ronald C. Rice | 11,503 | 24.67 | |
| Democratic | Wayne Smith | 2,175 | 4.67 | |
| Total votes | 46,629 | 100 | ||
Republican
No Republicans declared their intent to run in the special election for the unexpired term. Brian Kelemen ran as the Republican candidate for the full term.
Independent
General election
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Donald Payne Jr. | 166,413 | 97.37 | |
| Independent | Joanne Miller | 4,500 | 2.63 | |
| Majority | 161,913 | 94.73 | ||
| Democratic hold | ||||