Donald Payne Wins NJ-10 Congress Seat Again, AP Says (Updated Results)

This article was updated at 2 p.m. on Nov. 9

NEW JERSEY — New Jersey voters headed to the polls on Tuesday to cast ballots in the 2022 general election. Voters picked candidates for several offices, including a five-way race for a seat in the state's 10th Congressional district, currently represented by Rep. Donald Payne Jr.

This is a developing story. Check back for the latest election results as they come in, or get them sent to your inbox by signing up for Patch email newsletters here.

ELECTION RESULTS IN NJ-10

Payne earned the Democratic Party nomination again in this year’s primary election. David Pinckney, a public school teacher, clinched the Republican nomination, and Kendal Ludden ran on the Libertarian Party line. Other independent candidates included Clenard Howard Childress Jr. and Cynthia Johnson.

The election results are still uncertified. But as of Tuesday night, the Associated Press has declared Payne the winner. With 157 of 549 precincts reported, here are the unofficial results:

• Donald Payne Jr. - 60,863 votes (74.59%)
• David Pinckney - 18,928 votes (23.2%)
• Cynthia Johnson - 1,160 votes (1.42%)
• Kendal Ludden - 429 votes (0.53%)
• Clenard Howard Childress Jr. - 221 votes (0.27%)

Payne put out a statement on Wednesday about the early election results in NJ-10:

"I want to send my heartfelt thanks to the voters of New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District for re-electing me to serve as their representative in Congress. I am extremely grateful to continue my work for the people and communities of my district. I look forward to working to improve their access to health care, lower inflation for working families, increase jobs and opportunities for all Americans, and end gun violence. It is an honor and a privilege to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and fight for the people of the 10th Congressional District."

Payne added that it will still take time to certify the official vote. But the outcome is looking pretty good, he said.

If the current results are certified, Payne will serve his sixth term in Congress as the representative of New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District. He was first elected to Congress in 2012.

New Jersey’s recently redrawn 10th Congressional district includes the following municipalities:

• Essex County – Caldwell, East Orange, Essex Fells, Irvington, Montclair (part), Newark (part), Orange, Verona, West Orange
• Hudson County – Jersey City (part)
• Union County – Cranford, Garwood, Hillside, Kenilworth, Linden (part), Roselle, Roselle Park, Union Township

According to a statewide summary released on Sept. 1, there were 488,049 registered voters in the 10th district, including 272,698 Democrats, 39,434 Republicans and 169,843 voters not affiliated with any party.

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