By Moira Warburton
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell has died at age 87, his family said on social media on Wednesday.
Pascrell, a Democrat representing a northern New Jersey district in the House of Representatives, was repeatedly hospitalized this summer with a respiratory illness.
"As our United States Representative, Bill fought to his last breath to return to the job he cherished and to the people he loved," his family said in a message posted to Pascrell's congressional social media account. "He is now at peace after a lifetime devoted to our great nation America."
Pascrell served in the House since 1997 and was running for reelection in the Nov. 5 U.S. general election. Had he won, he would have been the oldest serving member of the House.
As a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, Pascrell led the fight for access to former Republican President Donald Trump's tax returns while he was in office.
Prior to his House tenure, Pascrell served as mayor of his hometown of Paterson, New Jersey, and as a state lawmaker before that. He worked as a high school teacher and college professor before getting into politics.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said in a statement that he was deeply saddened by Pascrell's death, calling him "a unifier in every sense of the word."
Pascrell's district is considered a safe seat for Democrats. According to state law, county party leaders will choose a nominee to replace him before an Aug. 29 deadline.