Payne has strong fundraising for 2nd quarter

Rep. Donald Payne, Jr. (D-Newark) posted robust fundraising numbers for the 2nd quarter of 2021, bringing in $105,165 and bumping his cash-on-hand to $214,271.

Payne faces opposition in the Democratic primary from Imani Oakley, who has held a series of short-term political gigs over the last few years.

New Jersey’s 10th district is among the most Democratic in the nation.  Joe Biden carried the 10th by an 83%-16% margin in 2020.  Just 16 districts in the U.S. gave Biden a higher percentage against Republican Donald Trump.

A former Essex County Freeholder and Newark City Councilman, Payne won a 2012 special election following the death of his father, 11-term Rep. Donald M. Payne.  He won a three-way Democratic primary with 88% of the vote in 2020 and won 83% in the general election.

One of his 2020 primary opponents, Rutgers University law professor Eugene Mazo, has suggested in court filings that he intends to run again.  Mazo is among the plaintiffs in a lawsuit seeking to end party organization lines.