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Longtime NJ Congressmember Bill Pascrell dies in office, family announces
By
Nancy Solomon
Published Aug 21, 2024
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Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
By
Nancy Solomon
Published Aug 21, 2024
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Rep. Bill Pascrell — a fixture in New Jersey politics for decades — has died, leaving a second vacant seat in the state’s Democratic delegation just days from the deadline to get on the November ballot.
He was 87 and had been in and out of the hospital this summer after falling ill with a respiratory infection.
Pascrell's family announced his death from his X account on Wednesday.
“Our beloved husband, father and grandfather passed away this morning,” the post stated. “As our United States representative, Bill fought to his last breath to return to the job he cherished and to the people he loved. Bill lived his entire life in Paterson and had an unwavering love for the city he grew up in and served. He is now at peace after a lifetime devoted to our great nation America.”
Pascrell is the second congressmember from New Jersey to die this year. Donald Payne Jr. died in April from complications related to diabetes. A special election will be held in September to replace him in Congress, and party members in his district will appoint someone to run for his seat in November.
Because Pascrell's death came before the Aug. 27 deadline, Democratic Party leaders will likely replace him on the November ballot. The district is overwhelmingly Democratic.
Pascrell was born and raised in Paterson and represented his district in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1996. He fought to obtain funding for the Great Falls National Historical Park as well as federal grants for firefighters.
Prior to becoming a congressmember, Pascrell served as a New Jersey state assemblymember and as mayor of Paterson.
“I grew up in South Paterson, New Jersey,” Pascrell told Gothamist during his primary race last spring. “And I've worked hard for 28 years to show that I'm listening. Whether it's social issues, whether it's personal problems that people come to my office for, whether it's Social Security, whether it's health care, whether it's Medicare.”
He is survived by his wife Elsie, three children and five grandchildren.
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Nancy Solomon
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