NJ Rep. Bill Pascrell hospitalized again

New Jersey Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. is once again in the hospital, just days after being discharged following a lengthy stay and less than three months before Election Day, according to two people with knowledge of the situation.

Pascrell, 87, was discharged from St. Joseph’s in Paterson Wednesday following a three-week stay for a respiratory infection and fever, at one point being placed on breathing assistance. He checked out and entered a rehabilitation facility but checked into St. Barnabas in Livingston on Sunday evening, according to one of the people. Both sources were granted anonymity to discuss Pascrell’s health in advance of an official announcement.

The congressmember — the second oldest current member of the House and set to be the oldest next session if he wins reelection — easily won the Democratic primary in June and is seeking a 15th term in the House.

Pascrell also had heart surgery in 2020 to relieve blocked arteries.

Even before Pascrell’s recent health problems, his advanced age led to Democrats positioning themselves to run for his seat, though two high-profile potential Democratic contestants — state Assemblymember Shavonda Sumter and Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh — felt out runs this year before ultimately opting not to.

Prospect Park Mayor Mohamed Khairullah challenged Pascrell in the primary largely over the war in Gaza, but Pascrell won 77 percent of the vote.

Pascrell in November faces his third straight challenge from Republican Billy Prempeh, whom he defeated by 12 points in 2022. Though Pascrell’s district is less Democratic-dominated than before boundaries were redrawn in redistricting, no major publications that rate House elections have flagged the race as competitive.

It’s not yet clear whether Pascrell’s continued health problems will lead to pressure for him to step aside. The deadline to replace Pascrell on the ballot is August 29.

Pascrell’s hospital stay was not widely known in political circles until early Monday. Reached by phone on Monday morning, Passaic County Democratic Chair John Currie was shocked to hear the news.

Currie said he was relieved to hear he was in stable condition and expressed support for Pascrell so long as he chooses to seek reelection.

“I am confident, and until I have a conversation with him, I am 100 percent supportive of his candidacy,” Currie said. “He’s a reasonable man. We’ve worked together for a long time. And yes, I’m going to support him. If he’s not able to run, he will say so.”

If Pascrell opted to drop his reelection bid, his party’s nominee would be selected by Democratic committee members from the district’s towns in Passaic, Bergen and Hudson counties.

Sumter, in a brief interview Monday, said there was “no talk of any changes” to changing Pascrell as the nominee and said “right now we’re all just praying for his health and strength.”

Daniel Han contributed to this report.

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