Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-Paterson), 87, is back in the hospital after being discharged from the hospital last week. He was admitted on July 14th for a fever and respiratory issues and was at a rehabilitation center when he was rushed back into the hospital. The congressman’s newest health issue proves to be problematic with his attempts to seek re-election. If he chooses not to run for re-election, he has until August 27 to withdraw from the race. Democratic county committee members in New Jersey’s 9th district, covering Bergen, Passaic, and Hudson municipalities, have until August 29 to select a replacement candidate.
If Pascrell wins this November, he will become the oldest member of the House, following the retirement of 87-year-old Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-California), and the second-oldest member of Congress overall, after Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley. The 15th term he is pursuing this year would conclude just shy of his 90th birthday. Due to his illness, Pascrell missed a week of votes in Congress. The House has been on its August recess since July 25 and won’t reconvene until early September. He will not attend the Democratic National Convention next week.
