Murphy Wins GOP Senate Nod, Faces Booker Showdown

New Jersey Republicans have chosen a challenger to take on Democratic Sen. Cory Booker this fall, setting the stage for a race that will test whether the GOP can make gains in a state that has long resisted Republican…

Andrew PowellJun 3, 20263 min read

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On his

campaign website

, Murphy described his candidacy as an opportunity to reshape New Jersey

Politics

.

“I will convey my Conservative principles with confidence, energy, and optimism. 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 said.

He also emphasized his experience as a small-business owner.

“Being self-employed, I can identify with middle-class voters. I know firsthand financial struggle, debt, and stress. I know the long hours and countless weeks without a paycheck that many small business owners experience as a normal part of their working adult lives. Small business owners will have no better friend in Washington.”

Murphy now advances to face Booker, one of the Democratic Party’s most recognizable senators and a frequent critic of President Donald Trump.

Booker, who first won the Senate seat in a 2013 special election, faced no opposition in the Democratic primary as he seeks another term. He was re-elected in 2020 by more than 16 percentage points.

The Republican primary unfolded without a Trump endorsement. While the president weighed in on several New Jersey congressional races ahead of Election Day, he did not back a candidate in the Senate contest.

Murphy did receive support from two county Republican organizations and appeared on some county ballots under the slogan “American Conservative Republican.”

The general election will be closely watched, but history presents a challenge for Republicans. New Jersey has not elected a Republican to the U.S. Senate in more than five decades, and early race ratings have generally categorized Booker’s seat as safely Democratic heading into November.

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