Justin Murphy won the Republican U.S. Senate primary in New Jersey late Tuesday night, setting up a general election contest against Democratic Sen. Cory Booker. The race was close among the top three candidates with 90% of the votes counted.
Murphy, a U.S. Navy veteran and attorney from Tabernacle, New Jersey, previously ran unsuccessfully for the GOP Senate nomination in 2024, finishing third. He describes himself as a conservative, pro-Trump grassroots candidate focusing on issues such as pollution cleanup, parental rights, medical freedom, and Medicare expansion. Murphy also emphasizes his background as a small business owner and former deputy mayor of Tabernacle.
The Republican primary was competitive, with Murphy receiving support from two county GOP organizations. He ran under the slogan “American Conservative Republican” and positioned himself as a candidate representing a new day in New Jersey politics. Despite this, the party has not won a U.S. Senate race in the state since 1972.
In the general election, Murphy will face incumbent Sen. Booker, a high-profile Democrat seeking his third term. Booker, first elected in a 2013 special election, is running unopposed on the Democratic side. Early ratings suggest the seat remains safely Democratic, but the race will test whether Republicans can make gains in a state that has historically favored Democrats in Senate races.
Trump has not endorsed a candidate in New Jersey’s primary, though late endorsements went to House Republicans Tom Kean Jr., Jeff Van Drew, and Chris Smith. Murphy received support from two county Republican organizations, according to NJ Spotlight News. The November contest will determine if the GOP can break its long streak without a Senate victory in the state.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
