Booker, Murphy Make Final Pitches Before Senate Vote
Incumbent Cory Booker and Republican challenger Justin Murphy urged New Jersey voters ahead of Tuesday's U.S. Senate election.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Elections
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Democratic Sen. Cory Booker and Republican nominee Justin Murphy made final campaign appeals to New Jersey voters ahead of the U.S. Senate election scheduled for Tuesday, November 3. Booker is seeking a third full term.
Why it matters
The race has drawn attention because of the gap in name recognition and funding between the two candidates. Rutgers' Ashley Koning said Booker looks likely to win comfortably.
Booker is seeking a third full term, while Republicans last won a New Jersey Senate seat in 1972. Final results depend on votes cast Tuesday, and the margin remains unknown until counting is complete.
The players
Cory Booker
Democratic U.S. senator from New Jersey seeking a third full term, known for his long career in public office and advocacy on criminal justice and civil rights.
Justin Murphy
Republican nominee for U.S. Senate in New Jersey and former deputy mayor of Tabernacle, a first-time statewide candidate.
Ashley Koning
Director of the Rutgers University Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling, a widely cited expert on New Jersey politics and elections.
The details
Murphy, a former deputy mayor of Tabernacle in southern New Jersey who won the Republican primary earlier this year, focused his campaign on affordability and rising living costs. Booker tied economic concerns to President Donald Trump and highlighted his record of bipartisan cooperation during the race.
Timeline
Early October 2026: Booker and Murphy debated at Rider University, hosted by the New Jersey Globe.
Earlier in 2026: Murphy won the Republican primary.
Tuesday, November 3, 2026: New Jersey Senate election votes are cast and counted.
Season Trajectory
New Jersey has not elected a Republican to the U.S. Senate since 1972, a pattern this race continues. Booker's expected win would extend that Democratic streak in a state where statewide funding gaps have shaped the contest.
New Jersey voters will decide whether Booker returns for a third full term on Tuesday. The outcome determines which senator represents the state for the next six years.
The takeaway
Turnout and funding gaps can shape Senate races even when a strong favorite leads, so voters should check their polling place and ballot details before Tuesday.
What happens next
Votes are cast on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, with results expected once counting is complete.
Further reading
For more on the state's contests, see Elections coverage across New Jersey.
Source note: This article includes information reported by ABC7 New York.
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