Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) will face Republican Justin Murphy in the 2026 New Jersey Senate race. Murphy, an attorney and former local politician, currently has a cash-on-hand balance of -$23.71, according to Federal Election Commission data from May 13. Despite previously placing third in the 2024 Senate Republican primary, Murphy received 33% of the vote in the recent primary, surpassing his three opponents.
Booker, who has served in the Senate for nearly 13 years, won his last election by over 16 percentage points. Murphy expressed confidence that his campaign will appeal to younger voters, stating, "New Jersey has not elected a Republican to serve in the U.S. Senate since 1972, but I know the conservative principles that my campaign espouses... will resonate with people and voters, especially our young voters."
Murphy's primary turnout was lower than expected, typical for non-presidential election years. In 2024, he lost to GOP candidate Curtis Bashaw, who received nearly double the votes Murphy garnered in 2026. Murphy faces a significant challenge against Booker, who has over $22.6 million in cash on hand, contrasting sharply with Murphy's negative balance. The Cook Political Report has categorized the race as a solidly Democratic seat.