WASHINGTON — Longtime Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-N.J., was readmitted to the hospital Sunday night, just days after he was released from a weeks-long hospital stay to a rehabilitation facility, a source close to the congressman confirmed Monday.
Pascrell is now receiving care at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, N.J., the source said. It is unclear why his medical team made the decision to send Pascrell back to the hospital but he has been dealing with health issues for much of the summer.
Pascrell checked himself into a hospital on July 14 with a fever, which his staff said may have been caused by a respiratory illness. At times, he required “breathing assistance” and wasn’t discharged until 24 days later.
At 87 years old, Pascrell is the second-oldest House member, only behind retiring Rep. Grace Napolitano, D-Calif. He is seeking re-election in November and his office didn’t say whether his latest hospitalization would impact those plans.
A former member of the New Jersey General Assembly and a former Patterson mayor, Pascrell was first elected to Congress in 1996. He is seeking a 15th term and will face Republican Billy Prempeh, his GOP opponent during his last two elections. In 2022, Pascrell defeated Prempeh by double digits, 55% to 43%, and President Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump in New Jersey’s 9th District by 19 points.
Local news outlets pointed out there is a fast-approaching deadline for Democrats to replace Pascrell on the ballot should he choose to step aside.
If Pascrell bows out by a Aug. 27 deadline — 70 days before the general election — county party leaders would be able to handpick a new nominee by Aug. 29, according to state election law. Otherwise, Pascrell’s name will remain on the ballot.
A debate about age and health of candidates dominated the Democratic Party in recent weeks following President Joe Biden’s disastrous June 27 debate performance against Donald Trump where Biden tripped over his words, misspoke and lost his train of thought.
It sparked calls from all corners of the party for Biden, 81, to step aside and hand over the reins to someone younger. Reluctantly, Biden did just that, quitting the race and quickly endorsing his vice president, Kamala Harris.
If Pascrell wins re-election in November, he will become the oldest sitting House lawmaker. And he would become the second oldest member of Congress, only behind Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, who turns 91 on Sept. 17.
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