OAN Staff Sophia Flores
8:17 AM – Wednesday, June 3, 2026
On Tuesday, self-employed attorney Justin Murphy defeated three other competitors to secure the Republican nomination in New Jersey’s U.S. Senate race. He will now face Senator Cory Booker in November, aiming to unseat the incumbent, who has held the seat since 2013.
According to the Associated Press, with 93% of the votes counted, Murphy, 40, won with 80,000 votes, or 33.3%.
The other competitors in the four-way Republican primary were Richard Tabor, Alex Zdan and Robert Lebovics.
Tabor, an Army veteran and a former New Jersey State Trooper, ran on the platform “service before self, country before politics, God, country, family.” According to his campaign website, he ran “to give New Jersey a fighter who understands real life, real pain and real responsibility because New Jersey doesn’t need another career politician.”
Zdan, a former local TV news reporter and political commentator, ran an “America First” campaign under the slogan “America First, Authenticity First.” His platform focused on breaking the perceived stranglehold of big pharma and healthcare companies, addressing chronic illness and pollution, and promoting safer food standards.
Lebovics led the Republican field in total campaign fundraising. The physician, who specialized in infectious and inflammatory disorders, ran on a platform focused on the cost of living, health care affordability, educational equity, Social Security solvency, and preparing for the future of artificial intelligence.
Murphy is a former Tabernacle Deputy Mayor and recurring candidate who managed to lock down backing from three southern county Republican committees. He campaigned on an “America First” platform that proposes abolishing the IRS in favor of a 10% to 12% flat tax, utilizing the U.S. military to secure the southern border, and expanding domestic energy production to combat inflation. He also strongly advocates for strict pro-life policies and a “peace through strength” national defense strategy capable of managing two global conflicts simultaneously.
President Donald Trump stayed neutral in the race by not endorsing anyone.
Booker (D-N.J.) ran unopposed in the primary.
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