while all eyes were on the Menendez jury decision yesterday voters in the 10th congressional district watched L LaMonica McIver LaMonica McIver win the special election to replace the late Congressman Donald Payne Jr who died in April now MacGyver Who currently serves as the Newark city council president was favored to win the primary race given her ability to fund raise and gain party leadership support and she won in a big way securing nearly 48% of the vote in a primary field that included 10 other Challengers she now goes on to a special general election in September where she'll face off against Republican Carmen bugo who won his primary uncontested so what message is she bringing to voters in the 10th congressional district she joins us now to talk about [Music] it l Monica mcgyver so great to have you with us tonight congratulations on a huge win last night uh you are running to take over the seat of the late Donald uh Congressman Donald Payne Jr what is your message Mage to voters in the 10th congressional district as to why they should vote for you so one I believe voters should vote for me because I'm a leader that they can depend on a true Advocate um that is going to stand for them when it's good when it's bad um when it's ugly all the above and that's why they should support me that's why many supported me last night um and I hope that that support continues throughout the uh next election which is September 18th the winner will only of that special election in September will only serve out the term until January 3rd I believe um and then after that party leaders will appoint a new representative there is a convention tomorrow to select who that person will be are you in conversation with Party leaders will it be you don't know um you know I followed the process as um they indicated they put out an announcement online uh for uh those interested to enter into a letter of intent um and that's what I did me and my team you know worked together got it in um and we're hoping for the best tomorrow we've been in conversation with many uh Democratic uh District leaders across nj10 you know over these last eight weeks but we don't take anything for granted I don't take anything for granted um and we're hoping you know that tomorrow is definitely successful for me to be on November ballot but definitely don't want to take it for granted so you know we we're hoping um and asking and pleading uh with those Democratic stakeholders across nj10 to select me but nothing's for granted here you are favored to be that uh selected appointee in you know kind of the inner back room conversations in New Jersey if you are appointed if you are elected um you would replace someone who was well regarded in the 10th congressional district how would you carry on the Legacy uh the mission of Congressman Donald Payne Jr versus charting your own course of priorities so for sure there's no mistake making Donald Payne Jr was a legend as so was Donald Payne Senor um it definitely were great large Giants of leadership here in the city um and you know one thing about a congressman Payne Junior's leadership especially as the council president and working with him here as the council president now and him as the Congress person you know definitely he was a Gentle Leader he was strong he might have been quiet but he was very strong in his leadership and I look forward to carrying that on to being strong and delivering um for our folks here in in jt0 but at the same time as I was the youngest woman elected to the city council and the youngest member on the council definitely I look forward to being a you know bringing forward a breath of fresh air a breath of you know new ideas um you know and new ways how we can you know do things you know to start you know my legacy um into this role if all goes well and we know that right now in New Jersey there is only one member of the House Democrat excuse me congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman uh you would be potentially if you won the second black woman to serve in the house here in New Jersey we'll be watching that race to see how it unfolds LaMonica McIver thank you so much today thank you so much thank you for having me [Music]