Justin Murphy won New Jersey's Republican U.S. Senate primary late Tuesday night, setting up a general election fight against Democratic Sen. Cory Booker in a state where Republicans have not won a U.S. Senate race since 1972.
The race was close among the top three candidates with 90% of votes counted. Murphy was followed by suspended New Jersey State Trooper Richard Tabor and former News 12 New Jersey reporter Alex Zdan. Physician Robert Lebovics finished last. The general election will test whether Republicans can make inroads in a state that has remained stubbornly difficult for GOP Senate hopefuls.
What the Left Is Saying
Sen. Booker, a high-profile Democrat and frequent Trump critic, is running unopposed on the Democratic side of the ticket as he seeks another term after first winning the seat in a 2013 special election. The incumbent has not yet released a formal statement responding to Murphy's primary victory.
Booker won re-election in 2020 by more than 16 percentage points over Republican challenger Rik Mehta. Early race ratings have generally listed the seat as safely Democratic heading into November, reflecting the party's historical dominance in federal races across New Jersey.
Democrats are expected to frame the race as a choice between an experienced incumbent with national recognition and a relatively unknown primary winner who previously ran unsuccessfully for the GOP Senate nomination in 2024, finishing a distant third. Party strategists will likely emphasize Booker's committee assignments and constituent services as evidence of effective representation.
What the Right Is Saying
Murphy, an attorney and U.S. Navy veteran from Tabernacle, New Jersey, cast himself as a conservative, pro-Trump grassroots candidate. He previously served as a local committeeman and deputy mayor in Tabernacle before launching his bid to take on Booker.
"I will convey my Conservative principles with confidence, energy, and optimism," Murphy states on his campaign website. "The last time New Jersey elected a Republican to the US Senate was 1972; my campaign represents a new day in New Jersey politics."
Murphy ran on a platform emphasizing cleaning up the state's pollution, protecting New Jersey from expanding windmill construction, parental rights, medical freedom, and improving Medicare for seniors. "Being self-employed, I can identify with middle-class voters," he wrote. "Small business owners will have no better friend in Washington."
The GOP primary unfolded without an obvious Trump-backed favorite. The former president did not appear to have endorsed in New Jersey's Republican Senate primary, though his late endorsements ahead of Tuesday's contests went to House Republicans Tom Kean Jr., Jeff Van Drew and Chris Smith. Murphy received support from two county Republican organizations.
What the Numbers Show
Republicans have not won a U.S. Senate race in New Jersey since 1972, when they last captured a seat in the state. That 52-year losing streak represents one of the longest drought periods for either major party in Senate history.
Booker's 2020 re-election margin was more than 16 percentage points over Mehta, with the incumbent carrying every county except one. The senator first won his seat in 2013 by defeating Republican Steve Lonegan by about 10 percentage points in a special election following Frank Lautenberg's death.
In the 2024 cycle, Murphy previously ran for the GOP Senate nomination and finished third. He improved his performance significantly in 2026, winning the primary among multiple candidates with approximately 90% of votes counted at the time of projection.
The Bottom Line
The November matchup will test whether Republicans can make meaningful progress in a traditionally Democratic-leaning state or whether Booker's incumbency advantage and name recognition will prove decisive once again. Murphy enters the race as a significant underdog by historical and polling metrics, though he represents the official Republican nominee following his primary victory.
Both campaigns are expected to focus their resources on turning out their respective bases rather than pursuing crossover voters in a state where registered Democrats significantly outnumber Republicans. National party strategists will likely monitor whether shifting political winds or high-profile outside spending could alter the race's dynamics as Election Day approaches.