Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. defeats mayor who accused Pascrell of turning his back on Muslims

Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. is projected to win the Democratic nomination for the 9th Congressional District, defeating a challenger who said Pascrell turned his back on his Muslim constituents with his support of Israel.

The Associated Press called the race for Pascrell over Prospect Park Mayor Mohamed Khairullah about 40 minutes after polls closed at 8 p.m. Tuesday.

“I will never stop fighting for our neighbors. I love New Jersey! American democracy itself is on the ballot this fall,” Pascrell said in a celebratory social media post.

Pascrell will again face Republican Billy Prempeh in November. Pascrell has defeated Prempeh in the last two election cycles.

Progressive critics of Pascrell have hammered him over his response to the war in Gaza, saying his March call for a cease-fire was slow to come and inadequate.

Pascrell’s home base of Paterson — he was once the city’s mayor — is home to one of the largest Muslim communities in the nation, if not the largest. The city also boasts that it has the largest Palestinian American enclave in the United States, Little Ramallah.

Pascrell, who at 87 is one of the oldest members of Congress, has been in the House for more than 25 years. If he wins reelection in November, his next term will be his 15th.

Incumbent Reps. Chris Smith (R-04), Frank Pallone (D-06), Tom Kean Jr. (R-07), Mikie Sherrill (D-11), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-12) also won their contested primaries.