U.S. Senate · New Jersey
Statewide, New Jersey.
General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026
RESULT · UNOFFICIAL UNTIL CERTIFIED
Cory Booker, projected winner
| Candidate | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Cory Booker | 1,822,397 | 62.4% |
| Justin Murphy | 1,024,279 | 35% |
| Veronica Fernandez | 48,357 | 1.7% |
| Joanne Kuniansky | 27,430 | 0.9% |
About 97% of the expected vote counted. As of November 9. Winners take office next year. Counts can change until states certify. NBC News ↗
Sources re-checked September 25, 2026 · How we research
- Incumbent Cory Booker (D) ran unopposed in the June 2, 2026 Democratic primary, winning 100% of the vote (587,980 votes).[1]
- Justin Murphy won a four-way Republican primary on June 2, 2026 with 33.4% of the vote (82,272 votes), ahead of Richard Tabor (29.2%), Alex Zdan (26.8%), and Robert Lebovics (10.7%).[1]
- Cook Political Report, Decision Desk HQ, Inside Elections, and Sabato's Crystal Ball all rated the general election Solid/Safe Democratic as of September 2026.[1]
- Eduardo Castillo, who did not run in the Democratic primary, is listed by Ballotpedia as a write-in candidate carrying a Democratic Party label in the general election.[1]
On the November 3 ballot · 5 candidates
Issue evidence — side by side
Recorded votes, documented positions and candidates’ own words are shown with sources. “In their own words” quotes a candidate on the topic without inferring a stance. Votes describe specific bills or motions; they do not establish overall support or opposition to a broad issue. A dash means our research has no evidence on that topic, not that the candidate has no position.
Protect legal access to abortion
- Cory BookerSupports[5]
His Senate issues page says he introduced the Protecting National Access to Reproductive Care Act, which would affirm FDA authority over state law for FDA-approved reproductive health products, including medication abortion drugs.
- Justin MurphyOpposes[4]
Describes himself as pro-life, with exceptions for the life of the mother and cases of rape/incest; opposes taxpayer funding of abortion and supports parental notification requirements.
- Veronica Fernandez—
- Joanne KunianskySupports[9]
In her 2021 official candidate statement (New Jersey governor race), called for fighting for women's right to family planning including birth control and abortion.
- Eduardo Castillo—
Stricter gun laws
- Cory BookerSupports[15]
Cosponsored S. 1531, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 (119th Congress), which would ban the sale and manufacture of many semiautomatic assault weapons.
- Justin MurphyOpposes[4]
Says he will oppose any government attempt to restrict Second Amendment rights and supports Constitutional Carry.
- Veronica FernandezSupports[7]
Supports passing gun control laws, citing gun deaths among children.
- Joanne Kuniansky—
- Eduardo Castillo—
Expand immigration enforcement and deportations
- Cory Booker
- Justin MurphySupports[4]
Supports completing the southern border wall, securing the northern border, expanding 287(g) state/local immigration enforcement partnerships, and stationing the U.S. military on the border.
- Veronica Fernandez
- Joanne KunianskyIn their own words[8]
“calling for an amnesty for workers in the U.S. without papers”
In an email to WHYY, per its Sept. 22, 2026 voter guide
- Eduardo Castillo—
Stronger rent regulation and tenant protections
- Cory Booker—
- Justin Murphy—
- Veronica Fernandez—
- Joanne Kuniansky—
- Eduardo CastilloSupports[10]
In his 2025 Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey, listed rent stabilization among his housing proposals.
Raise taxes on high earners or corporations
- Cory Booker
- Justin MurphyOpposes[4]
Calls for abolishing the IRS and current tax code in favor of a flat income tax of 10–12%, and eliminating the capital gains and estate taxes entirely.
- Veronica Fernandez—
- Joanne Kuniansky—
- Eduardo Castillo—
Expand public health coverage
- Cory Booker
- Justin MurphyOpposes[4]
Says he opposes government-run healthcare, instead proposing universal Health Savings Accounts, a national health-insurance marketplace across state lines, and anti-fraud enforcement in Medicare and Medicaid.
- Veronica Fernandez
- Joanne Kuniansky—
- Eduardo Castillo—
Faster transition away from fossil fuels
- Cory Booker
- Justin Murphy—
- Veronica Fernandez—
- Joanne Kuniansky—
- Eduardo Castillo—
Public funding for school choice (vouchers / charters)
- Cory Booker—
- Justin MurphySupports[4]
Supports school choice and competition between schools, and would redirect federal Department of Education funding to local school boards including for voucher programs.
- Veronica Fernandez—
- Joanne Kuniansky—
- Eduardo Castillo—
Raise the minimum wage
- Cory BookerSupports[16]
Cosponsored S. 1332, the Raise the Wage Act of 2025 (119th Congress), which would raise the federal minimum wage.
- Justin Murphy—
- Veronica Fernandez—
- Joanne Kuniansky—
- Eduardo CastilloSupports[10]
In his 2026 Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey, listed a $31 minimum wage indexed to inflation among his key campaign messages.
Continue U.S. military aid to Israel
- Cory Booker—
- Justin Murphy—
- Veronica FernandezOpposes[7]
Says she will not vote to continue arming Netanyahu's government.
- Joanne Kuniansky—
- Eduardo Castillo—
Broad tariffs on imported goods
- Cory BookerRecorded votes[20][21]
Voted yes on Resolution to end the global tariff emergency (S.J. Res. 49, 2025-04-30), which would have ended the emergency used to impose global tariffs. Voted yes on Resolution to end the global tariff emergency (S.J. Res. 88, 2025-10-30), which would end the emergency used to impose global tariffs.
- Justin Murphy—
- Veronica Fernandez—
- Joanne Kuniansky—
- Eduardo Castillo—
Universal, publicly funded child care
- Cory Booker—
- Justin Murphy—
- Veronica Fernandez—
- Joanne Kuniansky—
- Eduardo CastilloSupports[10]
In his 2026 Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey, listed free childcare, Pre-K and 4-year college for all among his key campaign messages.
Require Congress to approve U.S. military action abroad
- Cory Booker
- Justin Murphy—
- Veronica Fernandez—
- Joanne Kuniansky—
- Eduardo Castillo—
Research notes & limits
Cory Booker has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey and his campaign website (corybooker.com) is fundraising-only with no published issues platform, so his priorities/positions sections rely on recent official Senate actions rather than campaign statements; per the research brief his federal floor votes and FEC totals are added separately by script. Veronica Fernandez and Eduardo Castillo's entries rely entirely on their Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey responses. Joanne Kuniansky has published no detailed 2026 platform beyond her party affiliation and 2024 election result; her entry is marked minimal. Biography gaps: Eduardo Castillo and Joanne Kuniansky have very little public biographical information beyond Ballotpedia; Murphy's local-office title differs between Ballotpedia (deputy mayor) and InsiderNJ (Township Committee member), and both are given.
Sources · 40
Researched 2026-09-25. Green citations are official government records.
- 1.United States Senate election in New Jersey, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
- 2.Cory Booker · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
- 3.Booker, Espaillat Introduce Legislation to Expand Mental Health Workforce and Bring Care to Underserved Communities · Office of Sen. Cory Booker · 2026-09-09 Official record
- 4.Murphy for U.S. Senate 2026 — My Senate Pledge · Justin Murphy for Senate campaign · 2026-05-20 Candidate's own words
- 5.Health Care · Office of Sen. Cory Booker Official record
- 6.Environment · Office of Sen. Cory Booker Official record
- 7.Policies · Veronica for Senate Candidate's own words
- 8.New Jersey election 2026: Cory Booker faces 3 challengers in U.S. Senate race. Here's what to know · WHYY · 2026-09-22 News report
- 9.Joanne Kuniansky's 2021 official candidate statement (NJ ELEC), quoted verbatim · Joanne Kuniansky 2021 candidate statement (via Ballotpedia) · 2021 Candidate's own words
- 10.Eduardo Castillo · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2026 Candidate's own words
- 11.Cory Booker · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
- 12.About Cory · U.S. Senate, Office of Sen. Cory Booker Official record
- 13.Cory Booker · Wikipedia · 2026-10-21 Reference
- 14.New Jersey U.S. Senate election results 2026 · NBC News News report
- 15.S. 1531, the Assault Weapons Ban of 2025 (Assault Weapons Ban of 2025) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
- 16.S. 1332, the Raise the Wage Act of 2025 (Raise the Wage Act of 2025) — sponsors and cosponsors · Congress.gov Official record
- 17.Roll call: Laken Riley Act — Senate passage · U.S. Senate · 2025-01-20 Official record
- 18.Roll call: One Big Beautiful Bill Act — Senate passage · U.S. Senate · 2025-07-01 Official record
- 19.H.R. 1 (119th Congress) — One Big Beautiful Bill Act: text and summary · Congress.gov Official record
- 20.Roll call: Resolution to end the global tariff emergency · U.S. Senate · 2025-04-30 Official record
- 21.Roll call: Resolution to end the global tariff emergency · U.S. Senate · 2025-10-30 Official record
- 22.Roll call: War Powers Resolution on Iran — motion to discharge · U.S. Senate · 2025-06-27 Official record
- 23.Roll call: War Powers Resolution on Venezuela — motion to discharge · U.S. Senate · 2025-11-06 Official record
- 24.Justin Murphy · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
- 25.Murphy for U.S. Senate 2026 — My Senate Pledge · Justin Murphy for Senate campaign · 2026-05-20 Candidate's own words
- 26.Proud Son of the Pinelands Murphy Wants to Take on Booker · InsiderNJ News report
- 27.Murphy Wins Republican Primary for U.S. Senate · InsiderNJ News report
- 28.United States Senate election in New Jersey, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
- 29.New Jersey election 2026: Cory Booker faces 3 challengers in U.S. Senate race. Here's what to know · WHYY · 2026-09-22 News report
- 30.U.S. Senate · New Jersey results 2026 · NBC News News report
- 31.United States Senate election in New Jersey, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
- 32.Veronica Fernandez · Ballotpedia Reference
- 33.New Jersey election 2026: Cory Booker faces 3 challengers in U.S. Senate race. Here's what to know · WHYY · 2026-09-22 News report
- 34.U.S. Senate · New Jersey results 2026 · NBC News News report
- 35.Joanne Kuniansky · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
- 36.New Jersey election 2026: Cory Booker faces 3 challengers in U.S. Senate race. Here's what to know · WHYY · 2026-09-22 News report
- 37.U.S. Senate · New Jersey results 2026 · NBC News News report
- 38.United States Senate election in New Jersey, 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
- 39.Eduardo Castillo · Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey · 2026 Candidate's own words
- 40.U.S. Senate · New Jersey results 2026 · NBC News News report