Compare candidates running in this New Jersey federal race. Review their positions, voting records, campaign promises, and donor information.
Party: Republican
Party: Republican
Party: Republican
Party: Republican
Party: Democrat
This race will not determine Senate control. New Jersey is a safe Democratic state, and incumbent Cory Booker is heavily favored for re-election.
Dr. Robert S. Lebovics is a 68-year-old Englewood-based physician and nationally-known otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat specialist) with expertise in infectious and inflammatory disorders, nasal and sinus surgery, and disorders of the special senses. He is co-director of the Advanced Lung and Airway Center at Hackensack Meridian Health's John F. Kennedy Medical Center and previously maintained a faculty appointment at Georgetown University where he lectured and taught medical residents. Lebovics describes himself as a centrist Republican and has hired Jamestown Associates, one of the top Republican media consulting firms, to manage his campaign. He was previously a candidate for New Jersey's 37th State Senate District in 2011 and 2005. Lebovics is expected to pursue the Republican nomination with a sophisticated media campaign, benefiting from his name recognition as a medical professional and his ability to self-fund portions of his campaign.
Justin Murphy is a former Tabernacle Deputy Mayor and self-employed small business owner from the Pinelands region of New Jersey. A U.S. Navy veteran, Murphy has run for office multiple times, including unsuccessful Republican primary bids for Congress in 2008, 2010, and for U.S. Senate in 2024, where he finished a distant third with 11.3% of the vote. He is running again in 2026 with a campaign emphasizing conservative principles, parental rights, and small business support. Murphy has won endorsements from Mercer County and other county Republican organizations. His campaign materials emphasize commitment to preserving the New Jersey Pinelands and Jersey Shore while prioritizing parental rights and medical freedom.
Richard Tabor is a New Jersey State Trooper and U.S. Army combat veteran who served in Iraq and the New Jersey National Guard. He has founded New Life Direction, a community initiative focused on empowering youth through mentorship and rebuilding trust between law enforcement and communities. Tabor is running for U.S. Senate positioning himself as a candidate with real-life experience in service to others, both military and law enforcement. As of early 2026, he has won endorsements from multiple county Republican organizations including Atlantic, Union, Hudson, and Ocean counties, establishing himself as a leading Republican candidate in the primary. Tabor's candidacy would make him the first Black Republican to face a Black Democrat in a New Jersey statewide race if he wins the primary.
Alex Zdan is a 38-year-old former News 12 New Jersey political reporter and host of the weekly program 'Power & Politics.' He spent six years reporting for News 12 before being laid off in 2023, developing a reputation for aggressive questioning style. Zdan subsequently pivoted to conservative politics and media commentary, becoming a regular on Fox News, Newsmax, News Nation, and other conservative outlets. He launched his own political group, ALFA PAC (Authentic Leadership for America), and serves as a political contributor to TV Asia. Running for the second time for Senate after withdrawing from the 2024 race to endorse Curtis Bashaw, Zdan positions himself as an outsider fighting against corruption and Democratic governance. He has received endorsements from multiple county Republican organizations including Passaic, Ewing Township, Mercer, and Cape May.
Cory Booker has served as U.S. Senator from New Jersey since 2013, first elected in a special election to replace Frank Lautenberg. Born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Harrington Park, New Jersey, Booker is a Rhodes Scholar graduate of Stanford University and Yale Law School. He previously served as Mayor of Newark from 2006 to 2013 and on the Newark Municipal Council from 1998 to 2002. Booker has established himself as a national figure within the Democratic Party, having run for president in 2020 before suspending his campaign in January 2020. He is known for his social media engagement, particularly on Twitter/X, and his advocacy on issues including criminal justice reform, gun violence prevention, and economic justice.
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Tabor's military and law enforcement credentials superior to Murphy's
Tabor won county endorsements defeating Murphy significantly (e.g., Ocean County 167-17 margin)
Zdan is better positioned to challenge Booker as front-runner
Zdan framed as establishment media figure and 'front-runner' while Murphy characterized as longer-shot perennial candidate
Facing questions about legal matters and State Police internal investigation
Party leaders expressed concerns about wrongful death lawsuit and internal investigation impact on general election viability
Zdan is a partisan operative with limited qualifications
Booker campaign notes Zdan's lack of elected office experience and partisan media background
Zdan lacks military and law enforcement credentials
Tabor, a state trooper and Army combat veteran, contrasts his experience with Zdan's background
Booker is focused on 'greater Washington ambitions' rather than delivering for New Jersey residents
GOP Executive Director Luke Ferrante stated: 'New Jerseyans across the state are eager to elect a statewide representative that is focused on delivering for its residents, not their greater Washington ambitions'
Booker's record in Newark as Mayor left residents with lead-contaminated water
Campaign materials reference Booker's role as Mayor when Newark's water system was mismanaged, causing high lead levels that sickened thousands
Booker is bankrolled by 'Pharma and healthcare industries' and is 'buddies' with those sectors
Campaign website states: 'Cory Booker's buddies in the Pharma and healthcare industries have made Americans sicker while bankrolling Booker's political career'
No endorsements listed.