U.S. House, New Jersey 10th Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in New Jersey's 10th Congressional District?
LaMonica McIver has the strongest record in New Jersey's 10th Congressional District. LaMonica McIver scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. LaMonica McIver's highest marks are command of the job and showing up. Carmen Bucco (6 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican
Carmen Bucco
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Democratic · incumbent
Strongest record
LaMonica McIver
On the ballot as LaMonica R. McIver
65 / 100
Public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 56
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 58
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Carmen Bucco
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
LaMonica McIver
- Unresolved2025-06-11
Indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of forcibly impeding and interfering with federal officers during the May 9, 2025 Delaney Hall confrontation; she pleaded not guilty and says she was conducting oversight.
Where it stands: Pending in federal court in New Jersey. On Aug. 26, 2026 a Third Circuit panel rejected most of her immunity appeal, clearing trial on at least two of three counts; a rehearing request was due Oct. 9, 2026. No trial date reported.
Sources: BBC News, June 11, 2025, New Jersey Monitor via Yahoo News, Aug. 27, 2026
- On the record2025-05-20
Said she rejected a plea deal offered by federal prosecutors because it required admitting conduct she denies.
Source: abc7NY, May 20, 2025
- On the record2025-09-03
A resolution to censure her and remove her from the Homeland Security Committee was tabled by the House, 215 to 207.
Source: House Clerk Roll Call 223, 2025
- Credit2026-09
Missed 3 of 753 House roll call votes from September 2024 to September 2026, 0.4 percent.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
- Credit2022
Served as president of the Newark City Council from 2022 to 2024 before her election to Congress.
Source: abc7NY, May 20, 2025
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Carmen Bucco. Campaign committee reports and House candidate financial disclosures are on file. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00927533
LaMonica McIver. Her 2025 annual financial disclosure was filed June 18, 2026, after an extension; no stock transaction reports are indexed for her. No FEC fine found; pending charges (Record) do not move scores.
Sources: House Clerk financial disclosure, Filing ID 10076045, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00878603
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Carmen Bucco. No public record found.
LaMonica McIver. Voted against the 2025 GENIUS Act, the January 2026 appropriations package H.R. 7006 and the April 2026 FISA extension, each time opposite Democratic Leader Jeffries.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 200, 2025, House Clerk Roll Call 155, 2026
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Carmen Bucco. No public record found.
LaMonica McIver. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Carmen Bucco. No public record found.
LaMonica McIver. Former Newark City Council president and U.S. representative since 2024. No censure, reprimand or conduct finding; a 2025 censure resolution was tabled.
Sources: abc7NY, May 20, 2025, House Clerk Roll Call 223, 2025
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Carmen Bucco. No public record found.
LaMonica McIver. Took the oath as a Newark council member and U.S. representative; she was not in Congress for the 2017 or 2021 electoral vote objections. No official finding of misuse of office; federal charges are pending.
Sources: GovTrack member page, abc7NY, May 20, 2025
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Carmen Bucco. Owns a tailoring business, Bucco Couture, and runs a youth foundation; has not held public office.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Carmen Bucco, Campaign site, home page
LaMonica McIver. U.S. representative since a September 2024 special election; earlier Newark City Council member and its president from 2022 to 2024.
Sources: GovTrack member page, abc7NY, May 20, 2025
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Carmen Bucco. Publishes issue statements on public safety, law enforcement, corruption and the economy in general terms.
Source: Campaign site, home page
LaMonica McIver. Ranking member of the Homeland Security Transportation and Maritime Security subcommittee and the Small Business Economic Growth, Tax, and Capital Access subcommittee; publishes issue pages.
Sources: GovTrack, committee membership, Office site, home page
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Carmen Bucco. Publishes issue pages on his campaign site. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Source: Campaign site, home page
LaMonica McIver. Offers a newsletter, publishes issue pages and completed Ballotpedia's 2024 survey; has not completed the 2026 survey.
Sources: Office site, home page, Ballotpedia, LaMonica McIver
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Carmen Bucco. His filed address is in Kenilworth, which is in the 10th District.
Sources: New Jersey Division of Elections, official candidate list, Sept. 4, 2026, Wikipedia, New Jersey's 10th congressional district
LaMonica McIver. Born and raised in Newark's Central Ward, where she still lives. FEC by-state totals show about 37 percent of itemized individual contributions from New Jersey.
Sources: Office site, Meet LaMonica, Wikipedia, New Jersey's 10th congressional district, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Carmen Bucco. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00927533, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00869206
LaMonica McIver. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00878603
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Carmen Bucco. No public record found.
LaMonica McIver. Center for Effective Lawmaking rates her Below Expectations for the 118th Congress, which covered only her first four months; no sponsored bill has been enacted.
Source: Center for Effective Lawmaking House dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Carmen Bucco. No public record found.
LaMonica McIver. Missed 3 of 753 roll call votes, 0.4 percent, from September 2024 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Carmen Bucco. No public record found.
LaMonica McIver. Runs a Newark district office and offers help with federal agencies. No published casework totals found.
Source: Office site, home page
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Carmen Bucco. No public record found.
LaMonica McIver. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Carmen Bucco. No public record found.
LaMonica McIver. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in New Jersey's 10th Congressional District?
LaMonica McIver has the strongest record in New Jersey's 10th Congressional District. LaMonica McIver scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. LaMonica McIver's highest marks are command of the job and showing up. Carmen Bucco (6 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in New Jersey's 10th Congressional District in 2026?
Carmen Bucco (Republican), LaMonica McIver (Democratic, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Carmen Bucco a good candidate for Congress?
Carmen Bucco has public evidence on 6 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is LaMonica McIver a good candidate for Congress?
LaMonica McIver scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria: character 56 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance 58 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every New Jersey race scored, and the New Jersey 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.