LaMonica McIver was sworn into Congress on September 23 to serve out the remaining term of the late Representative Donald J. Payne, Jr. after winning the special election on September 18 and the special primary on July 16. McIver is the first Black woman to represent the CD-10 and the youngest ever to be elected to the United States House of Representatives from New Jersey, a member of the House Small Business and Homeland Security Committees.
Since her start in public service, McIver has shattered records in elected office. In 2018, she was elected as the youngest woman ever to the Newark Council, where she proudly served as Council President for seven years. She was a stalwart champion for the needs and aspirations of every resident of Newark’s Central Ward, and now she’s doing the same for all who live and work in CD10.
McIver ran for Congress because she knows far too many families are struggling to make ends meet, facing skyrocketing costs of food, housing, healthcare, and education. She’s also seeing the devastating impact of climate change playing out throughout the district in the form of catastrophic flooding that is threatening lives, homes, and livelihoods. Too often, these challenges are treated as separate issues, but they are deeply interconnected and require comprehensive solutions that McIver is committed to working on in Washington.
McIver was born and raised in Newark’s Central Ward, where she still resides with her husband and daughter. As a proud product of Newark’s educational system, influential mentors like Mildred Crump, Ras Baraka, and other local leaders ignited her passion for public service early.
McIver’s journey into politics began at 13 when she mobilized youth and highlighted the importance of civic engagement. Her early experiences and academic achievements—a degree in English Literature from Bloomfield College and a master’s in educational leadership and policy from Seton Hall University—set her on a path that seamlessly merged education and public service.
Her leadership in the education sector, including her role as Personnel Director for Montclair Public Schools, underscores her commitment to institutional growth. McIver has consistently demonstrated vision, adaptability, and dedication to education from her start as a Future Business Leader for Newark Public Schools to holding key HR roles across multiple school districts. Most recently, she served as Public Affairs Manager for PSE&G.
In 2012, McIver founded Newark G.A.L.S., Inc., a nonprofit devoted to nurturing future female leaders. Under her leadership, the organization has impacted over 3,000 young women through transformative programs, leaving a lasting imprint on Newark’s future.
As the youngest woman ever elected to the Newark Municipal Council and now to Congress from New Jersey, McIver is redefining what’s possible for future leaders. From her roots in Newark to her rise as a national thought leader, she stands as a symbol of empowerment, leadership, and transformative change—and her journey is only just getting started.