Justin Murphy (New Jersey politician)

Justin Murphy is an American Republican politician and attorney from New Jersey who served on the Tabernacle township committee in Burlington County. He won the 2026 Republican U.S. Senate primary and challenged Democratic Senator Cory Booker Cory BookerCory Booker is an American Democratic politician who served as Mayor of Newark, New Jersey, from 2006 to 2013 and has represented New Jersey in the U.S. Senate since 2013. On November 3, 2026, he won re-election, defeating Republican Justin Murphy.Open the full entry in the November 3 general election, in which Booker won re-election.

Contents10 sections

Key facts

Background and Profession

Justin Murphy is a New Jersey attorney who describes himself as self-employed.⁠[1][2]

2000–2003Tabernacle Township Committee

Murphy was elected to the township committee of Tabernacle in Burlington County in 2000 and did not seek re-election in 2003. Tabernacle is a small town in the Pine Barrens.⁠[3][4]

2008–2010U.S. House Primary Campaigns

In 2008, Murphy ran in the Republican primary for the U.S. House seat of retiring Representative Jim Saxton and lost to Medford Mayor Christopher Myers; in 2010, he lost the Republican primary to Jon Runyan.⁠[3]

2024First U.S. Senate Campaign

In 2024, Murphy ran in the Republican U.S. Senate primary and finished third behind Christine Serrano Glassner and Curtis Bashaw with about 11% of the vote; he carried Tabernacle and was recommended by NJ Right to Life.⁠[3]

December 2025Second U.S. Senate Campaign

In December 2025, Murphy launched a campaign in Medford against Democratic Senator Cory Booker; at the time he was the only Republican to have entered the statewide Senate primary.⁠[3]

June 2, 2026Republican Primary

On June 2, 2026, Murphy won the Republican U.S. Senate primary over Robert Lebovics, Richard Tabor, and Alex Zdan. The Associated Press called the race for him at 11:25 p.m., when he had 33% of the vote.⁠[4]

November 3, 2026U.S. Senate General Election

In the November 3, 2026 general election, Murphy challenged Booker. New Jersey had not elected a Republican to the U.S. Senate since 1972. At 8:00 p.m. EST the Associated Press declared that Booker had won re-election.⁠[4][1][5]

Policy Positions

Murphy has said his top priorities are private sector growth, tax cuts, and spending reductions; he has said he is “committed to standing up to terrorism and crime” and supports securing the northern and southern borders and energy independence.⁠[4]

He has pledged to ensure older residents have the best Medicare program available and to keep the Jersey Shore “windmill free”; he has said China poses a serious threat and supports engaging with it “from a position of strength,” politically and economically, and he opposes the legalization of recreational marijuana.⁠[4][2]

Murphy has said he dedicated his campaign to the men and women of the U.S. military and is running because he cares about the nation’s culture, parental rights, health care, and economic opportunity.⁠[2]

Related Organizations, Websites, and Public Accounts

Justin Murphy campaign: Official website: https://jerseyjustin4senate.org/ (opens in a new window).⁠[2]