PATERSON, NJ — Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. died in August while running for re-election. The 87-year-old Democrat was first elected to Congress in 1997.
Now, for the first time in decades, his name will not appear on the ballot.
CBS News New York’s Christine Sloan has more on the Democratic and Republican candidates for his seat.
Meet candidates Nellie Pou and Billy Prempeh
The late Pascrell was a fixture in the 9th Congressional District, which includes nine cities in Passaic County, two in Hudson County and 24 in Bergen County.
“I would probably follow whoever took his place,” Rutherford resident Frankie Bird said.
State Senator Nellie Pou is the Democrat chosen to replace Pascrell on the November ballot. She has served in the Legislature for 28 years and if elected, she would be the first Latina to represent the Garden State in Congress.
“I’m proud of my heritage. I’m proud of where I come from or where my parents come from, I should say,” Pou said. “But I also want to let everyone know that I will represent everyone.
“My approach is to find solutions, not to look for problems or create chaos. My opponent and the Trumpsters only believe in creating problems,” Pou added.
Pou’s Republican challenger is Billy Prempeh. He is a network engineer and the son of immigrants from Ghana in West Africa.
“I think what the Democratic Party has forgotten is that they are looking at people from the Arab community, the black community, the Spanish, the Israelis. I don’t look at people that way. I look at people as Americans because that’s what they do. we all are,” Prempeh said.
Where they stand on the issues
Prempeh, a U.S. Air Force veteran, is a staunch supporter of Donald Trump in a predominantly Democratic district. His headquarters are surrounded by photos of the former president.
“When I saw what he did, an ordinary person here from Paterson, saw how much violent crime is happening in our community, how we have been neglected for the last 27 years by the same Democratic leadership, I felt like if Trump could do that, If I come out of nowhere and get this done, I can do it in the 9th district,” Prempeh said.
Ralston Moore co-owns a Jamaican restaurant in the neighborhood. The city of Paterson, which fights crime and has a state-run police department, is across the street from his business.
“We’re on the border. It’s a big concern for us that we feel safe being here and taking care of our customers. Our customers feel safe too,” Moore said.
Pou and Prempeh both grew up in Paterson. Prempeh said bail reform is partly to blame. He said of his plan, if elected: “As a Congressman in Washington DC, I have access to those federal resources to help our community so we can address these crimes. Our police officers need it too.”
Pou said she supports resources for police, but wants to make sure law enforcement officers are properly trained.
“The most important thing is to make sure the community feels like they have full confidence in our law enforcement,” Pou said.
The war between Israel and Hamas is also a major problem. Paterson has a large Arab-American populationincluding many Palestinians. There is also a significant Jewish population in all counties in the district.
Prempeh says failed democratic policies led to the war.
“I am in favor of stopping… and not sending money to support this war,” Prempeh said when asked if he is in favor of a ceasefire.
“I believe it is important for us that the hostages return. I am convinced that they should be returned unharmed and I am convinced that there should be an immediate pause in terms of what is happening in Gaza,” Pou said.
Where they stand when it comes to women’s right to choose
“I am a Christian and I do not support abortion, but at this point it is a state issue and I do not intend to push for a federal ban because I believe the federal government has too much control,” Prempeh said.
“No one should stand in the way of a woman’s ability to decide for herself and that of her doctor what to do with her own body. That, in my opinion, is non-negotiable,” Pou said.
Christine Sloan
