Former President Donald Trump has a large collection of critics and haters in Congress, but that list just grew shorter by one in a sad and unfortunate way.

Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-NJ), one of Trump's most outspoken political opponents on Capitol Hill, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 87, NBC News reported.

The long-serving New Jersey Democrat, who was seeking a 15th term in Congress, appears to have succumbed to a respiratory illness he'd been battling over the summer that had him hospitalized for several weeks and recently took a turn for the worst.

Had been sick and hospitalized for weeks

In an X post on Rep. Pascrell's official account, the congressman's family said in a statement, "It is with deep sadness that we announce that Bill Pascrell Jr., our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away this morning."

"As our United States Representative, Bill fought to his last breath to return to the job he cherished and to the people he loved," the family added. "Bill lived his entire life in Paterson and had an unwavering love for the city he grew up in and served. He is now at peace after a lifetime devoted to our great nation America."

According to Politico, Pascrell was hospitalized in mid-July for a persistent fever that grew worse and ultimately required breathing assistance, and though his condition improved enough for him to be released earlier this month, the illness quickly returned and had him back in a hospital just a few days later.

He is the second Democratic New Jersey lawmaker on Capitol Hill to die in office this year, as Rep. Donald Payne Jr. passed away from a heart attack in April. Pascrell's death also represents the state's third loss of political experience and seniority this year, as just days earlier ex-Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) resigned in disgrace following a corruption conviction earlier in the year.

Decades of political service

According to NJ Spotlight News, Pascrell, the grandchild of Italian immigrants, was born in 1937 and raised in Paterson, New Jersey, a city he would later represent as mayor, a member of the state Assembly, and as a member of Congress, after getting his political start on the local school board in the late 1970s.

He graduated from Fordham University and served several years in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve before working as a teacher and later launching his political career. He was also a talented baseball player who played semi-professionally in his youth, was a "diehard Yankees fan," and continued his passion for the game as a player and coach for the Democratic squad in the annual congressional diamond matchup against Republicans.

He is survived by his wife Elise and their three sons -- Bill, David, and Glenn -- plus six grandchildren.

A staunch and outspoken Trump hater

Despite his decades of service in politics, NBC News noted that Pascrell was perhaps best known in recent years for his near-daily critiques and trolling of former President Trump, whether in formal statements, floor speeches, or via social media posts.

He twice voted for Trump's impeachment and led the Democratic charge to obtain Trump's tax returns, and frequently called out the former president for his policies as well as his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. More recently, he constantly reminded voters that Trump is a convicted felon and warned of what he believed a second term for Trump would bring.

Per Politico, Democratic committee members in Pascrell's district have until the end of the month to choose a replacement for him on November's ballot.

Regardless of who that eventual replacement nominee might be, they will be heavily favored to defeat Republican challenger Billy Prempeh in the solidly blue district.