LaMonica McIver is an American politician serving in the U.S. Representative for New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District since September 2024, the first Black woman to hold that seat and the youngest person ever elected to the U.S. House from New Jersey. A lifelong Newark native with degrees in English Literature, educational leadership, and education, she spent six years on the Newark Municipal Council before winning a historic special election to Congress. In 2026 her name was in national headlines as a federal appeals court ruled that criminal charges against her stemming from a 2025 congressional oversight visit to a Newark immigration detention facility may proceed to trial.
LaMonica McIver Biography, Wiki
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | LaMonica R. McIver |
| Date of Birth | June 20, 1986 |
| Age (2026) | 39 years old |
| Birthplace | Newark, New Jersey, USA |
| Hometown | Newark, New Jersey (Central Ward) |
| Nationality | American |
| Religion | Not publicly confirmed |
| Caste or Community | Not applicable |
| Zodiac Sign | Gemini |
| Height | Not publicly confirmed |
| Weight | Not publicly confirmed |
| Eye Colour | Not publicly confirmed |
| Hair Colour | Not publicly confirmed |
| Profession | Politician, Educator, Nonprofit Executive |
| Known For | U.S. Representative, NJ-10; first Black woman elected to represent NJ-10; youngest ever elected to U.S. House from New Jersey |
| Father’s Name | Not publicly confirmed |
| Mother’s Name | Not publicly confirmed |
| Siblings | Not publicly confirmed |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Husband | Not publicly confirmed (name not in public record) |
| Children | One daughter (name not publicly confirmed) |
| School | Central High School, Newark, NJ (graduated 2004) |
| College or University | Bloomfield College (BA); Seton Hall University (MA); Kean University (EdD) |
| Degree or Qualification | BA, English Literature (Bloomfield College, 2008); MA, Educational Leadership and Policy (Seton Hall University, 2011); EdD, Education (Kean University) |
| Political Party | Democratic Party |
| Current Position or Role | U.S. Representative, New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District (September 2024 to present) |
| Net Worth (estimated) | $500,000 to $1 million (not officially confirmed) |
| Monthly Income (estimated) | Approx. $15,625/month (based on standard congressional salary of $174,000/year) |
| Twitter/X | @RepMcIver |
| Not publicly confirmed | |
| Not publicly confirmed | |
| YouTube | Not publicly confirmed |
| Official Website | mciver.house.gov |
LaMonica McIver Election History
| Year | Office | Constituency | Party | Result | Notes |
| 2018 | Newark Municipal Council | Central Ward, Newark | Democratic | Won | Youngest woman ever elected to the Newark Municipal Council |
| July 16, 2024 | Special Primary, U.S. House | NJ-10 | Democratic | Won | Primary for special election to fill vacancy caused by death of Donald Payne Jr. |
| September 18, 2024 | Special Election, U.S. House | NJ-10 | Democratic | Won | First Black woman elected to represent NJ-10; youngest ever elected to U.S. House from New Jersey |
| November 2024 | General Election, U.S. House | NJ-10 | Democratic | Won | Re-elected to the 119th Congress |
| June 2, 2026 | Democratic Primary, U.S. House | NJ-10 | Democratic | Declared candidacy | Primary for 2026 general election |
LaMonica McIver Events
| Year | Event |
| 1986 | Born June 20 in Newark, New Jersey |
| c. 1996 | Begins civic engagement, mobilising youth at approximately age 10 |
| 2004 | Graduates from Central High School, Newark |
| 2006-2013 | Works as staff at Newark Public Schools |
| 2008 | Graduates from Bloomfield College with BA in English Literature; first in her family to attend college |
| 2011 | Graduates from Seton Hall University with MA in Educational Leadership and Policy |
| 2012 | Founds Newark G.A.L.S., Inc., a nonprofit for young women leaders |
| 2013+ | Serves as personnel director at Montclair Public Schools |
| Pre-2024 | Serves as public affairs manager at PSE&G (Public Service Enterprise Group) |
| July 1, 2018 | Sworn in as Newark Municipal Council member, Central Ward; youngest woman ever elected to the council |
| July 1, 2022 | Elected Newark Municipal Council President; succeeds Luis A. Quintana |
| April 2024 | Donald Payne Jr. dies in office; vacancy opens in NJ-10 |
| July 16, 2024 | Wins Democratic special primary for NJ-10 |
| September 18, 2024 | Wins special election for NJ-10; official service begins |
| September 23, 2024 | Sworn in as U.S. Representative |
| January 2025 | Joins House Small Business and Homeland Security Committees |
| May 9, 2025 | Participates in congressional oversight visit to Delaney Hall ICE detention facility, Newark |
| May 2025 | Department of Justice files initial criminal complaint |
| June 2025 | Federal grand jury returns three-count indictment |
| October 2025 | Appears in federal court to contest charges |
| August 27, 2026 | U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, rules 2-1 that two of three charges may proceed to trial |
LaMonica McIver Awards and Achievements
| Year | Achievement | Notes |
| 2018 | Youngest woman ever elected to Newark Municipal Council | Historic first at time of election |
| 2024 | First Black woman to represent NJ-10 | Historic first |
| 2024 | Youngest person ever elected to U.S. House from New Jersey | Historic first at time of election |
LaMonica McIver Early Life and Family
Newark’s Central Ward produced LaMonica McIver on June 20, 1986, and it never really let her go. She grew up, went to school, built her career, and still lives in the same neighbourhood that shaped everything about her approach to public life. Few politicians of her generation can claim that kind of rooted continuity.
Her passion for civic engagement surfaced remarkably early. Multiple official sources, including her own congressional biography, document that she began mobilising youth peers and advocating for civic participation around the age of 10. Her path was shaped from that point forward by mentors within Newark’s civic and political world, including Mildred Crump and Ras Baraka, the mayor who would later become central to one of the most significant legal matters of her congressional career.
LaMonica McIver Father
Her father’s name is not publicly confirmed in any credible source. She has not referenced either parent by name in publicly available interviews or official biographies.
LaMonica McIver Mother
Her mother’s name is not publicly confirmed in any credible source. Wikipedia notes she was the first in her family to attend college, a detail that speaks to her family’s background without confirming specific parental details.
LaMonica McIver Siblings and Family Background
Details about siblings are not publicly confirmed in any credible source. She was born and raised in Newark’s Central Ward, a predominantly Black, working-class community in Essex County, and her background in that community underpins the legislative priorities she has carried into Congress.
LaMonica McIver Education
Being the first in her family to attend college shaped the way LaMonica McIver talks about education, not as a credential but as a path her community fought to access. She graduated from Central High School in Newark in 2004 and enrolled at Bloomfield College, graduating in 2008 with a BA in English Literature.
She went on to Seton Hall University, earning a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and Policy in 2011. Her academic journey did not stop there. She subsequently completed a Doctor of Education degree at Kean University, a qualification confirmed by Wikipedia and the Mabumbe profile. Her professional work in the education sector, including a role as personnel director for Montclair Public Schools, ran alongside and grew from that academic formation.
LaMonica McIver Career
From mobilising teenagers in the Central Ward at age 10 to chairing oversight visits to federal immigration facilities as a sitting member of Congress, LaMonica McIver’s career is a study in continuous escalation. Each chapter built on the last, and each came with a new record attached.
LaMonica McIver Before Politics
Before she held elected office, she spent years working within the institutions she would later represent. She served as staff at Newark Public Schools from 2006 to 2013, moved into a personnel director role at Montclair Public Schools, and later became public affairs manager at PSE&G, one of the largest public utility companies operating in New Jersey. In 2012, she founded Newark G.A.L.S., Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to developing leadership among young women and girls in Newark. She was also active with the Believe in Newark Foundation.
LaMonica McIver on the Newark Municipal Council
In 2018, she ran for the Newark Municipal Council from the Central Ward and won, becoming the youngest woman ever elected to that body. She served for six years, during which she led efforts on clean water infrastructure, helping oversee the replacement of 18,000 lead service lines in Newark’s water system, a project with significant public health implications. She also advanced affordable housing and educational access initiatives.
In 2022, she was elected Newark Municipal Council President, succeeding Luis A. Quintana. She held that position until September 2024, when her election to Congress required her to step down.
LaMonica McIver in Congress
Donald Payne Jr., the long-serving representative for New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District, died in office in April 2024. A special election was called. McIver won the Democratic primary on July 16, 2024, and the special election on September 18, 2024. Her official service began on that date, though her swearing-in took place on September 23, 2024.
She became the first Black woman to represent NJ-10 and the youngest person ever elected to the U.S. House from New Jersey. She was subsequently re-elected to the 119th Congress in the November 2024 general election and serves on the House Small Business Committee and the House Homeland Security Committee. She declared candidacy for the June 2026 Democratic primary.
LaMonica McIver Political Journey and Elections
LaMonica McIver built her political career entirely within Newark and its surrounding congressional district, moving from ward-level council politics to the national legislature in six years. Her record on the Newark council, particularly on water infrastructure and housing, gave her a set of concrete local achievements to carry into her congressional campaign.
LaMonica McIver Key Policy Positions
She has consistently prioritised affordable housing, clean water, climate resilience, healthcare costs, and educational access. She has spoken publicly about flooding in the 10th Congressional District and its connection to climate change. Her background in education and human resources informs her legislative focus on working families and economic opportunity.
LaMonica McIver and the 2026 Re-election Campaign
She declared candidacy for the June 2026 Democratic primary for NJ-10, seeking re-election to the 120th Congress. Her campaign is running simultaneously with the ongoing federal legal matter stemming from the May 2025 incident at Delaney Hall.
LaMonica McIver Religion and Community
What is LaMonica McIver’s Religion
LaMonica McIver’s religion is not publicly confirmed in any credible source. She has not made formal statements about her personal faith in any publicly available interview or official biography.
What is LaMonica McIver’s Community
She is an African American woman born and raised in Newark’s Central Ward, one of New Jersey’s historically significant Black communities. She has described herself as a product of Newark’s public schools and civic culture and has centred her entire political identity around her roots in that community.
LaMonica McIver Personal Life and Relationships
LaMonica McIver is married and has one daughter. She lives with her husband and daughter in Newark’s Central Ward, the same neighbourhood where she grew up, a choice that reflects the community-centred identity she projects in her public role.
Is LaMonica McIver Married
Yes, she is married. Her official congressional biography and multiple credible profiles confirm she is married and resides in Newark with her husband and daughter.
LaMonica McIver Husband
Her husband’s name is not publicly confirmed in any credible source. He does not appear in public-facing media, interviews, or social media activity, and multiple sources note that he maintains a deliberate private profile. No credible outlet has documented his identity or profession.
LaMonica McIver Children
She has one daughter. Her daughter’s name and age are not publicly confirmed in any credible source.
LaMonica McIver Height, Weight and Physical Appearance
LaMonica McIver’s height and weight are not publicly confirmed in any credible source. No verified measurements appear in official records or media profiles.
LaMonica McIver Net Worth and Earnings
LaMonica McIver’s net worth is estimated at between $500,000 and $1 million, according to third-party sources. This figure is not officially confirmed. Her income sources include her congressional salary, her prior work in education administration and public affairs, and her nonprofit leadership.
| Source | Estimated Amount | Notes |
| Congressional salary | $174,000 per year | Standard U.S. House member salary |
| Estimated net worth | $500,000 to $1 million | Per Mabumbe profile; not officially confirmed |
| Prior employment | Not publicly confirmed | Newark Public Schools, Montclair Public Schools, PSE&G |
LaMonica McIver Social Media
| Platform | Handle | Followers | Notes |
| Twitter/X | @RepMcIver | Not publicly confirmed | Official congressional account; active |
| Official Website | mciver.house.gov | N/A | Active; statements, committee work, constituent services |
| Not publicly confirmed | N/A | No confirmed official account | |
| Not publicly confirmed | N/A | No confirmed official account |
Her Twitter/X account and official House website are her primary public-facing communication channels. She uses them to post legislative updates, constituent messaging, and responses to national news events including the legal proceedings against her.
LaMonica McIver Controversies
LaMonica McIver and the Delaney Hall Incident
On May 9, 2025, McIver and two other Democratic members of Congress visited Delaney Hall, a federal immigration detention facility in Newark, to conduct an unannounced congressional oversight inspection. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was also present. Federal officers moved to arrest Baraka, who was ordered to leave a secured area and refused. Prosecutors allege that McIver intervened physically during the arrest.
A federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment against her in June 2025, charging her with forcibly impeding and interfering with federal law enforcement officers. McIver pleaded not guilty and described the proceedings as politically motivated. Her attorneys argued she was protected from prosecution under the Constitution’s Speech or Debate Clause, which shields members of Congress from legal action related to their legislative duties.
On August 27, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled 2-1 that two of the three charges against her may proceed to trial. The court found that the alleged physical conduct fell outside the constitutional protection afforded to members performing legitimate legislative functions. The third charge was sent back to a lower court for reconsideration. McIver stated she disagreed with the ruling and was exploring her options. The case is ongoing.
Lesser Known Facts About LaMonica McIver
- She was the first in her family to attend college, a distinction she has cited as central to her commitment to educational access as a policy priority.
- Her entry into civic life came at approximately age 10, when she began mobilising youth peers in Newark around issues of civic engagement, a starting point that predates most politicians’ public careers by more than a decade.
- She founded Newark G.A.L.S., Inc. in 2012, a nonprofit dedicated to developing leadership skills in young women and girls in Newark, more than six years before she won her first elected office.
- She helped oversee the replacement of 18,000 lead service lines in Newark’s water system during her time on the Newark Municipal Council, a project with direct public health consequences for thousands of residents.
- Before entering politics, she worked as a public affairs manager at PSE&G, one of New Jersey’s largest public utilities, giving her a private-sector perspective on energy and infrastructure that she has carried into her legislative work.
- She graduated from three different institutions across three degrees, earning her BA at Bloomfield College, her MA at Seton Hall University, and her EdD at Kean University, a sequence spread across more than a decade of study while working full time.
- Her mentors in Newark civic life included Mildred Crump and Ras Baraka, the latter of whom went on to become Newark’s mayor and was present at the May 2025 Delaney Hall incident that produced the federal charges she now faces.
- She was elected to the Newark Municipal Council in 2018 at age 31, becoming the youngest woman ever elected to that body, a record she then broke at the national level when she became the youngest person ever elected to the U.S. House from New Jersey in 2024.
Now 39 and navigating a federal legal matter while seeking re-election to Congress, LaMonica McIver continues to represent New Jersey’s 10th District from the same Central Ward neighbourhood where her story began. The appeals court ruling of August 27, 2026, ensures that her case will remain a national conversation as the 2026 election cycle advances. Whatever the outcome of the legal proceedings, her record of institutional firsts, from the Newark council to Capitol Hill, stands as a documented chapter in the history of New Jersey politics.
LaMonica McIver FAQ
Who is LaMonica McIver?
LaMonica McIver is an American politician born on June 20, 1986, in Newark, New Jersey. She is the U.S. Representative for New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District, first elected via special election in September 2024. She is the first Black woman to represent NJ-10 and the youngest person ever elected to the U.S. House from New Jersey. She is a Democrat and a member of the House Small Business and Homeland Security Committees.
How old is LaMonica McIver?
She was born on June 20, 1986. As of 2026, she is 39 years old.
What is LaMonica McIver’s net worth?
Her net worth is estimated at between $500,000 and $1 million, according to third-party sources. This is not officially confirmed. Her primary confirmed income is her congressional salary of $174,000 per year.
Is LaMonica McIver married?
Yes. She is married and lives with her husband and daughter in Newark’s Central Ward. Her husband’s name is not publicly confirmed.
Who is LaMonica McIver’s husband?
Her husband’s name is not publicly confirmed in any credible source. He does not appear in public-facing media or interviews and maintains a private profile.
What is LaMonica McIver’s religion?
Her religion is not publicly confirmed in any credible source. She has not made formal statements about her personal faith.
What is LaMonica McIver’s education?
She holds three degrees: a BA in English Literature from Bloomfield College (2008), a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and Policy from Seton Hall University (2011), and a Doctor of Education from Kean University. She was the first in her family to attend college.
Who were LaMonica McIver’s parents?
Neither parent’s name is publicly confirmed. Wikipedia notes she was the first in her family to attend college, but neither parent is identified by name in any credible source.
What is LaMonica McIver known for?
She is best known as the first Black woman elected to represent New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District and the youngest person ever elected to the U.S. House from New Jersey. She is also known for her six years on the Newark Municipal Council, including three years as council president, and for the federal charges stemming from the May 2025 Delaney Hall incident.
What is LaMonica McIver’s latest news in 2026?
On August 27, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled 2-1 that two of the three federal charges against her related to the May 2025 Delaney Hall incident may proceed to trial. McIver stated she disagreed with the ruling and was exploring her options. She has also declared candidacy for the June 2026 Democratic primary for NJ-10.
What happened at Delaney Hall?
On May 9, 2025, McIver and two other Democratic members of Congress conducted an oversight visit to Delaney Hall, a federal immigration detention facility in Newark. During the visit, federal officers moved to arrest Newark Mayor Ras Baraka. Prosecutors allege McIver physically interfered with that arrest. She was indicted on three federal counts in June 2025. McIver has pleaded not guilty and describes the charges as politically motivated. The case is ongoing.
Sources
U.S. House of Representatives History and Archives LaMonica McIver
https://history.house.gov/People/Detail/36507225357
Official Congressional Biography mciver.house.gov
https://mciver.house.gov/about/meet-lamonica
Congress.gov LaMonica McIver
https://www.congress.gov/member/lamonica-mciver/M001229
CAWP, Rutgers University LaMonica McIver Speaker Profile https://cawp.rutgers.edu/speaker/lamonica-mciver
Higher Heights for America PAC LaMonica McIver https://higherheightsforamericapac.org/candidate/lamonica-mciver/
ABC News Rep. LaMonica McIver indicted by grand jury over ICE detention facility
https://abcnews.com/Politics/rep-lamonica-mciver-indicted-grand-jury-incident-ice-detention-facility/story?id=122711570
NBC News McIver indicted on federal charges
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/lamonica-mciver-indicted-federal-charges-ice-new-jersey-rcna212221
CNN McIver appears in court to fight charges
https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/21/politics/lamonica-mciver-ice-hearing
UPI Appeals court allows charges against McIver to proceed
https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2026/08/27/LaMonica-McIver-charges-proceed/6031787805552/
JURIST US appeals court denies immunity for McIver in ICE case
https://www.jurist.org/news/2026/08/us-appeals-court-denies-immunity-for-new-jersey-rep-mciver-in-ice-case/
NPR McIver indicted federal charges immigration New Jersey
https://www.npr.org/2025/06/11/g-s1-72175/mciver-indicted-federal-charges-immigration-new-jersey