Donald Payne Jr. facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Donald Payne Jr.
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 10th district
In office November 15, 2012 – April 24, 2024
Preceded by	Donald M. Payne
Succeeded by	Vacant
Personal details
Born	Donald Milford Payne Jr. (1958-12-17)December 17, 1958 Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	April 24, 2024(2024-04-24) (aged 65) Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse	Beatrice Payne
Children	3
Relatives	Donald M. Payne (father) William D. Payne (uncle) Craig A. Stanley (cousin)
Education	Kean University

Donald Milford Payne Jr. (December 17, 1958 – April 24, 2024) was an American politician who was the U.S. representative for NJ's 10th congressional district from 2012 until his death in 2024. A member of the Democratic Party, Payne served as president of the Newark city council from 2010 to 2012.

Following the death of his father, U.S. Representative Donald M. Payne, on March 6, 2012, Payne ran in the primary to succeed him in Congress. His father was first elected in 1988 and reelected 11 times without significant opposition. Payne Jr. won the June 5, 2012 Democratic primary election, which is tantamount to election in the heavily Democratic district, and the November 6, 2012 general election. Payne Jr. was re-elected five times prior to his death in office in 2024.

Early life, education, and early career

Payne was born on December 17, 1958 in Newark, New Jersey, where he was also raised alongside his two sisters, Wanda and Nicole. He was a 1976 graduate of Hillside High School. His father, Donald M. Payne, served in the United States House of Representatives from 1989 until his death in 2012, and was the first African-American to represent the state of New Jersey in Congress. His mother, Hazel Payne (née Johnson), died in 1963 when Payne was five years old. As a teenager, he founded and was the first president of the Newark South Ward Junior Democrats. He studied graphic arts at Kean University. He was an adviser at the YMCA Youth in Government program.

Payne worked for the New Jersey Highway Authority from 1991 until he joined the Essex County Educational Services Commission in 1996, where he worked as the Supervisor of Student Transportation.

Newark Municipal Council

In 2010, Payne was reelected to the Municipal Council of Newark with 19% of the vote, serving from July 1, 2006 to November 6, 2012. Other candidates elected were Mildred C. Crump, Luis Quintana, and Carlos Gonzales.

As a city councilman, Payne supported stem cell research, Medicaid and education funding.

In July 2010, Payne was elected president of the Newark City Council, succeeding Crump.

Payne's committee assignments included Health, Education and Recreation.

Essex County Board of Freeholders

In 2005, Payne was one of four candidates elected to the at-large seat, serving from January 1, 2006 to November 6, 2012. He finished first with 19% of the vote. In 2008, he was reelected to a second term with 20% of the vote. In 2011, he was reelected to a third term with 18% of the vote.

U.S. House of Representatives

2012 special election

After his father's death, Payne declared his intention to run in the special election to fill the remainder of his father's 12th term, and the regularly scheduled election for the full two-year term beginning in January 2013. The primaries for both elections were held on June 5, and the general elections on November 6.

According to documents filed on May 24 with the Federal Election Commission, Payne both raised and spent more money than any other Democratic candidate. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi endorsed Payne on May 22.

In the Democratic primary for the special election, Payne faced Ronald C. Rice (son of State Senator Ronald Rice) and Irvington Mayor Wayne Smith. He won the primary with 71% of the vote to Rice's 25% and Smith 5%.

In the Democratic primary for the full term, Payne faced Rice, Smith, State Senator Nia Gill, Cathy Wright of Newark, and Dennis R. Flynn of Glen Ridge. He won with 60% of the vote, to Rice's 19%, Gill's 17%. Smith, Wright and Flynn combined for about 5% of the vote.

After the election, Payne said, "I've said that I'm following a legacy and I'm not backing away from that."

2012

In the November 6 general election, Payne defeated Republican nominee Brian C. Kelemen with 87% of the vote. He ran unopposed for the special election to fill the remainder of his father's term. The 10th is a heavily Democratic, black-majority district, and Payne had effectively assured himself election with his primary victory. He is only the fourth person to represent this district since 1929.

2014

2016

2018

2020

2022

Tenure

Payne was sworn into office on November 15, 2012. He thus had two months more seniority than other members of the 2012 House freshman class. He co-sponsored the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 and the Paycheck Fairness Act, a bill aimed at expanding the scope of the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and Fair Labor Standards Act. Payne also co-sponsored H.R. 41, authorizing $30.4 billion from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's National Flood Insurance Program to victims of Hurricane Sandy.

On March 24, 2014, Payne introduced the Department of Homeland Security Interoperable Communications Act (H.R. 4289; 113th Congress) a bill that would require the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS), within 120 days of the bill's enactment, to devise a strategy to improve communications among DHS agencies. DHS would be required to submit regular reports to Congress on its progress and the decisions it makes.

Payne voted with President Joe Biden's stated position 100% of the time in the 117th Congress, according to a FiveThirtyEight analysis.

Committee assignments

• Committee on Homeland Security
  • Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology
  • Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security
• Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
  • Subcommittee on Aviation
  • Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials

Caucus memberships

• Congressional Black Caucus
• Congressional Caucus on Sudan and South Sudan
• Congressional Small Business Caucus
• Ports, Opportunity, Renewable, Trade, and Security (PORTS) Caucus
• Congressional Arts Caucus
• United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus
• Blue Collar Caucus

Electoral history

* In 2018, Libertarian candidate Scott DiRoma achieved 0.3% of the vote. In 2020, Libertarian candidate John Mirrione achieved 0.4%. In 2022, Independent candidate Clenard J. Childress, Jr. achieved 0.3%.

Personal life and death

Payne lived in Newark with his wife, Beatrice, and their triplets.

On April 6, 2024, Payne was hospitalized following a "cardiac episode". He remained unconscious and on a ventilator until his death on April 24, at the age of 65.

See also

• List of African-American United States representatives
• List of United States Congress members who died in office (2000–)
• Final Report of the Task Force on Combating Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel