LaMonica McIver

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LaMonica McIver
BornLaMonica R. McIver
20 6, 1986
BirthplaceNewark, New Jersey, U.S.
NationalityAmerican
OccupationPolitician, educator
TitleMember of the United States House of Representatives
Known forU.S. Representative for New Jersey's 10th congressional district
EducationBloomfield College (BA)
Seton Hall University (MA)
Kean University (EdD)
Website[[mciver.house.gov mciver.house.gov] Official site]

LaMonica R. McIver (born June 20, 1986) is an American politician and educator serving as the U.S. representative for New Jersey's 10th congressional district since September 2024. A member of the Democratic Party, McIver rose through Newark city politics, serving on the Newark Municipal Council from 2018 to 2024 and as its president from 2022 to 2024, before winning a special election to succeed Donald Payne Jr., who died in office in April 2024. Born and raised in Newark, McIver earned three degrees from New Jersey institutions, culminating in a Doctor of Education from Kean University. Her congressional tenure has been marked by involvement in immigration oversight controversies, including a federal indictment stemming from an attempted visit to an ICE detention facility in Newark, charges she has contested as politically motivated. McIver was the first woman elected to represent New Jersey's 10th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives.[1]

Early Life

LaMonica R. McIver was born on June 20, 1986, in Newark, New Jersey.[2] She was raised in the city and remained rooted in the Newark community throughout her education and subsequent political career. McIver grew up in the Central Ward of Newark, the neighborhood she would later go on to represent on the municipal council.[3]

Details about McIver's family background and childhood have not been extensively documented in published sources. Her professional biography emphasizes her longstanding ties to Newark and her commitment to public service and education as formative influences.[4]

Education

McIver pursued her higher education at three New Jersey institutions. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bloomfield College, a small liberal arts college located in Bloomfield, New Jersey, near her hometown of Newark. She subsequently obtained a Master of Arts degree from Seton Hall University in South Orange, New Jersey. McIver later completed a Doctor of Education (EdD) from Kean University in Union, New Jersey.[5][6] Her educational background in the field of education informed her work both as an educator and in her approach to public policy.

Career

Newark Municipal Council

McIver began her career in elected office when she won a seat on the Newark Municipal Council, representing the Central Ward. She assumed office on July 1, 2018, succeeding Gayle Cheneyfield-Jenkins as the council member for the Central Ward.[7]

During her time on the council, McIver became an active presence in Newark municipal governance. She sought reelection to her Central Ward seat, emphasizing her record of service to the community.[8]

President of the Newark Municipal Council

On July 1, 2022, McIver was elected president of the Newark Municipal Council, succeeding Luis A. Quintana in the leadership role.[9] As council president, McIver presided over meetings and served as a key liaison between the council and the administration of Mayor Ras Baraka.

During her tenure as council president, McIver launched a monthly media segment called "Inside Newark" on WBGO, the Newark-based public radio station. The segment, which appeared on the WBGO Journal program, provided McIver with a platform to discuss municipal affairs and issues affecting Newark residents.[10]

McIver served as council president until September 17, 2024, when she stepped down from the position as she prepared to take her seat in the U.S. Congress. Lawrence Crump succeeded her as council president.[11] She formally vacated her Central Ward council seat on September 23, 2024, the same day she was sworn into Congress.[12]

2024 Congressional Campaign

Following the death of longtime U.S. Representative Donald Payne Jr. on April 24, 2024, McIver announced her candidacy for the vacant seat in New Jersey's 10th congressional district.[13] The 10th district encompasses much of Newark and surrounding communities in northeastern New Jersey, and had been represented by Payne since 2012 and by his father, Donald M. Payne, before him.

McIver won the special Democratic primary election on July 16, 2024, securing the party's nomination to fill the remainder of Payne's term.[14] In the heavily Democratic district, McIver was favored in the general election.

McIver won the special general election in September 2024 to serve the remainder of the 118th Congress.[15] She was sworn into office on September 23, 2024, succeeding Donald Payne Jr.[12]

Simultaneously, McIver ran for a full term in the November 2024 general election for the 119th Congress. She won that election decisively, securing her first full term in the U.S. House of Representatives.[16][17]

U.S. House of Representatives

McIver began her service in the U.S. House of Representatives on September 23, 2024, during the final months of the 118th Congress.[12] She was then seated for a full term in the 119th Congress beginning in January 2025 following her November 2024 election victory.[16]

As a member of Congress, McIver has focused on issues relevant to her district and has been vocal on matters of immigration policy, civil rights, and democratic governance.[18]

ICE Detention Facility Incident and Indictment

In 2025, McIver was among a group of politicians who attempted a congressional oversight visit to an ICE detention facility in Newark, New Jersey. The visit, which McIver and other lawmakers described as a lawful exercise of congressional oversight authority, resulted in a confrontation with federal officers at the facility.[19]

McIver was subsequently indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of "forcibly impeding and interfering with federal officers," a felony charge carrying a maximum sentence of 17 years in prison.[20] The charges were brought under the Trump administration and represented an unusual federal prosecution of a sitting member of Congress.

McIver rejected a plea deal offered by prosecutors, denying wrongdoing and maintaining that her actions constituted legitimate congressional oversight.[21] She characterized the charges as politically motivated, stating that the Trump administration was "using me as an example."[19]

McIver filed motions to dismiss the charges, citing congressional immunity protections under the Speech or Debate Clause of the U.S. Constitution. A federal judge denied the motion to dismiss, ruling that the prosecution could proceed.[22] McIver subsequently announced she would appeal all charges, continuing to assert congressional immunity.[23][24]

In an interview with Democracy Now!, McIver stated: "Not going to bully me," expressing her resolve to fight the charges and continue her congressional duties.[20] The case attracted national attention as a focal point in broader debates about immigration enforcement, congressional oversight powers, and the relationship between the executive and legislative branches of government.

State of the Union Prebuttal

In February 2026, McIver delivered a prebuttal address ahead of President Donald Trump's State of the Union address, in coordination with Democracy Defenders Action. In the address, McIver warned that democracy was "on the brink," framing her remarks around what she described as threats to democratic norms and institutions.[25][26] The selection of McIver for the prebuttal was seen by political observers as notable given her ongoing legal conflict with the Trump administration.

Public Speaking and Advocacy

In addition to her legislative work, McIver has participated in public speaking engagements. In February 2026, she was announced as a featured speaker at Caldwell University's Social Justice Symposium, organized by the university's Social Justice Institute.[27]

Personal Life

McIver has maintained her residence in Newark, New Jersey, throughout her political career.[28] Additional details about her personal life, including family information, have not been extensively documented in published sources.

Electoral History

McIver's electoral record includes her initial election to the Newark Municipal Council representing the Central Ward in 2018, her election as council president in 2022, her victory in the July 2024 special Democratic primary for New Jersey's 10th congressional district,[14] her win in the September 2024 special general election,[29] and her reelection to a full term in November 2024.[16][30]

References

  1. ↑ "Meet LaMonica".Office of U.S. Representative LaMonica McIver.https://mciver.house.gov/about/meet-lamonica.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  2. ↑ "McIver, LaMonica R.".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=M001229.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  3. ↑ "Central Ward Councilwoman McIver Announces Bid for Reelection".TAPinto Newark.https://www.tapinto.net/towns/newark/sections/central-ward/articles/central-ward-councilwoman-mciver-announces-bid-for-reelection.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  4. ↑ "Meet LaMonica".Office of U.S. Representative LaMonica McIver.https://mciver.house.gov/about/meet-lamonica.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  5. ↑ "Meet LaMonica".Office of U.S. Representative LaMonica McIver.https://mciver.house.gov/about/meet-lamonica.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  6. ↑ "McIver, LaMonica R.".Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=M001229.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  7. ↑ "Central Ward Councilwoman McIver Announces Bid for Reelection".TAPinto Newark.https://www.tapinto.net/towns/newark/sections/central-ward/articles/central-ward-councilwoman-mciver-announces-bid-for-reelection.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  8. ↑ "Central Ward Councilwoman McIver Announces Bid for Reelection".TAPinto Newark.https://www.tapinto.net/towns/newark/sections/central-ward/articles/central-ward-councilwoman-mciver-announces-bid-for-reelection.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  9. ↑ "McIver Elected Newark Council President".New Jersey Globe.https://newjerseyglobe.com/local/mciver-elected-newark-council-president/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  10. ↑ "Newark City Council President LaMonica McIver Brings Monthly 'Inside Newark' Segment to the WBGO Journal".WBGO.2023-11-08.https://www.wbgo.org/show/wbgo-journal/2023-11-08/newark-city-council-president-lamonica-mciver-brings-monthly-inside-newark-segment-to-the-wbgo-journal.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  11. ↑ "McIver Steps Down as Newark Council President, Continues Congress Bid".Patch.https://patch.com/new-jersey/newarknj/mciver-steps-down-newark-council-president-continues-congress-bid.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 "McIver Will Be Sworn In Today".New Jersey Globe.https://newjerseyglobe.com/congress/mciver-will-be-sworn-in-today/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  13. ↑ "McIver: I Am Running for Congress".New Jersey Globe.https://newjerseyglobe.com/congress/mciver-i-am-running-for-congress/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "LaMonica McIver Wins Special Primary".Politico.2024-07-16.https://www.politico.com/news/2024/07/16/lamonica-mciver-wins-special-primary-00168817.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  15. ↑ "2024 Official Special General Election Results — U.S. House 10th Congressional District".New Jersey Division of Elections.https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2024/2024-official-special-general-candidates-us-house-10cd.pdf.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 "LaMonica McIver Re-Elected to First Full Term in Congress".New Jersey Globe.https://newjerseyglobe.com/congress/lamonica-mciver-re-elected-to-first-full-term-in-congress/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  17. ↑ "2024 Official General Election Results — U.S. House".New Jersey Division of Elections.2024.https://web.archive.org/web/20241207010146/https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2024/2024-official-general-results-us-house.pdf.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  18. ↑ "Meet LaMonica".Office of U.S. Representative LaMonica McIver.https://mciver.house.gov/about/meet-lamonica.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Staff"Congress member who faces charges for visiting ICE facility says Trump is 'using me as an example'".The Guardian.2025-12-17.https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/17/lamonica-mciver-congress-new-jersey-charge.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 ""Not Going to Bully Me": Rep. LaMonica McIver Faces 17 Years in Prison over ICE Jail Inspection".Democracy Now!.2026-01-29.https://www.democracynow.org/2026/1/29/lamonica_mciver.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  21. ↑ "NJ Rep. LaMonica McIver rejects plea deal, denies wrongdoing at ICE detention center Delaney Hall in Newark".ABC7 New York.https://abc7ny.com/post/nj-rep-lamonica-mciver-rejects-plea-deal-denies-wrongdoing-ice-detention-center-delaney-hall-newark/16482891/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  22. ↑ "McIver files appeal after judge rejects effort to dismiss charges against her".The Hill.2025-12-29.https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5665543-congresswoman-mciver-fights-charges/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  23. ↑ "Rep. LaMonica McIver to appeal all the charges against her, citing congressional immunity clause".Politico.2026-01-20.https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/20/rep-lamonica-mciver-to-appeal-all-the-charges-against-her-citing-congressional-immunity-clause-00737494.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  24. ↑ "Rep. LaMonica McIver to appeal judge's decision on her assault charges".New Jersey Monitor.https://newjerseymonitor.com/briefs/lamonica-mciver-appeal-assault-charges/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  25. ↑ "McIver and Democracy Defenders Action Warn That Democracy Is "On the Brink" in State of the Union Prebuttal Address".Insider NJ.https://www.insidernj.com/mciver-and-democracy-defenders-action-warn-that-democracy-is-on-the-brink-in-state-of-the-union-prebuttal-address/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  26. ↑ "LaMonica McIver to deliver prebuttal to Trump's State of the Union".Washington Examiner.https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/house/4467531/lamonica-mciver-deliver-action-rebuttal-union/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  27. ↑ "Lt. Governor Caldwell and Congresswoman McIver Join List of Speakers at Caldwell University's Upcoming Social Justice Symposium".Caldwell University.https://www.caldwell.edu/lt-governor-caldwell-and-congresswoman-mciver-join-list-of-speakers-at-caldwell-universitys-upcoming-social-justice-symposium/.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  28. ↑ "Meet LaMonica".Office of U.S. Representative LaMonica McIver.https://mciver.house.gov/about/meet-lamonica.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  29. ↑ "2024 Official Special General Election Results — U.S. House 10th Congressional District".New Jersey Division of Elections.https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2024/2024-official-special-general-candidates-us-house-10cd.pdf.Retrieved 2026-02-24.
  30. ↑ "2024 Official General Election Results — U.S. House".New Jersey Division of Elections.2024.https://web.archive.org/web/20241207010146/https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2024/2024-official-general-results-us-house.pdf.Retrieved 2026-02-24.

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