New Jersey Democratic Rep. Bill Pascrell Passes Away at 87

Rep. Bill Pascrell, a Democratic member of the House of Representatives from New Jersey, passed away on Wednesday morning at the age of 87, according to a statement from his office.

Pascrell had been hospitalized since July due to a respiratory infection, requiring a stay in intensive care. He was discharged to a rehabilitation facility earlier this month but was readmitted to the hospital shortly afterward.

In a heartfelt tribute on his social media account, Pascrell’s family expressed their deep sorrow: “It is with deep sadness that we announce that Bill Pascrell Jr., our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away this morning. 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 had a long and impactful career in the House of Representatives, serving for nearly 30 years after being first elected in 1996. He won election to represent New Jersey’s 8th Congressional District, defeating then-Rep. Bill Martini. Redistricting later shifted him to the 9th Congressional District, where he continued his work on Capitol Hill.

Throughout his time in Congress, Pascrell was a member of the Ways and Means Committee and became known for his outspoken criticism of former President Trump in his later years of service. Before joining Congress, he held the position of mayor of Paterson and was also a member of the New Jersey General Assembly.

As his passing leaves a significant vacancy, the timeline for replacing Pascrell on the ballot has been set for August 29. Democratic county committee members from the 9th District will be responsible for selecting a new candidate, according to the New Jersey Monitor.

The new nominee will face Republican candidate Billy Prempeh in the upcoming November general election. In the 2022 election, Pascrell defeated Prempeh by more than 11 percentage points, and the district favored President Biden over former President Trump by over 18 percentage points in 2020.

Checking into the hospital on July 14 after experiencing a fever, Pascrell’s office confirmed he was suffering from a respiratory infection. After being released from the hospital on August 7, he briefly moved to a rehabilitation facility, but complications led to his early return to the hospital, though the specifics of his condition upon readmittance were not disclosed.

The news of Pascrell’s death elicited responses from lawmakers across the political spectrum, who expressed their condolences and shared their memories of working alongside him.

New Jersey Rep. Andy Kim, a Democrat, took to social media to share his grief, stating, “My heart is breaking right now. What profound sadness falls upon New Jersey for the loss of Bill Pascrell. I miss him and give all the love and strength I can muster to his family and community.”

Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. also remembered Pascrell fondly, calling him “a great friend and colleague,” reflecting on his dedication to public service. “Bill was a dedicated public servant, a tireless advocate for his constituents, and a passionate supporter of firefighters. We worked closely together on many issues. My deepest condolences go out to his family during this difficult time. Bill will be dearly missed,” Kean added.