With the New Jersey primary weeks away, Republicans have been figuring out who will challenge Senator Cory Booker this fall. Booker is currently serving in his second full term in the Senate. He was last up for re-election in 2020, defeating Republican Dr. Rik Mehta. Despite the loss, Mehta received the most votes out of any statewide GOP candidate in state history, breaking a record previously held by GOP Senator Clifford Case.
Booker first arrived in the Senate after he won a special election in 2013 to replace the late Senator Frank Lautenberg, finishing his term in office. He defeated former Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan. The following year, Booker won his full term in the Senate, where he soundly defeated Republican nominee Jeff Bell, a former Reagan speechwriter.
The fight over who will take on Senator Cory Booker this fall runs through this intense Republican primary battle. Alex Zdan, a former News 12 New Jersey anchor, and New Jersey State Trooper Richard Tabor have been the top candidates in this race for the GOP. Zdan has already run for U.S. Senate in 2024, although he withdrew his candidacy and endorsed eventual Republican nominee Curtis Bashaw. Tabor, meanwhile, is more of a political unknown.
Zdan has had a lengthy career in journalism before launching his political career. A graduate of TCNJ, Zdan currently runs ALFA PAC and anchors TV Asia. After being laid off by News 12 in 2023, Zdan launched his political career, where he has been outspoken on several issues, especially bringing in more authentic leaders into politics.
Before becoming a State Trooper, Tabor served in the U.S. Army during the War in Iraq. On April 9, Tabor was suspended by the New Jersey State Police due to his candidacy because active-duty state troopers are restricted from engaging in partisan political activity while serving as sworn law enforcement officers. Tabor’s candidacy resulted in his suspension since officers need to remain nonpartisan for ethics. Pete Stilianessis, a former president of the New Jersey State Troopers Non-Commissioned Officers Association, said that it would be okay to take a leave of absence and run or resign and run, but doing both is not allowed.
Whoever gets the GOP nod will have an uphill battle against Booker, especially since major GOP donors have not provided sufficient funds to any of the senatorial candidates, as they have all raised less than $10,000. Compare those numbers to Booker, who is sitting on over $22 million in campaign donations.
This Senate seat will not be up until 2032.
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