2026 United States Senate election in New Jersey

2026 United States Senate election in New Jersey

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Nominee Cory Booker Party Democratic Republican

Incumbent U.S. senator Cory Booker Democratic

The 2026 United States Senate election in New Jersey will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the state of New Jersey. Incumbent two-term Democratic Senator Cory Booker, first elected in a 2013 special election and then re-elected in 2014 and 2020, has announced his intention to seek reelection to a third term in office and filed the necessary paperwork to run for re-election to a third term in office. ^[1]

Background

New Jersey is a historically Democratic stronghold, particularly due to its dense urban population centers, which, in the United States, mostly tend to support Democrats. ^[2] However, the state was unusually close in the 2024 presidential election, with Kamala Harris carrying the state by less than 6 points, the lowest margin of victory for a Democratic candidate since 2004. The 2026 Senate election is not expected to be close at the moment, with the Cook Political Report and Center for Politics both rating it as a Safe/Solid Democratic-favoring race. ^{[3] [4]}

Democratic primary

Candidates

Filed paperwork

• Cory Booker, incumbent New Jersey senator (2014-present)

Republican primary

Candidates

Filed paperwork

• Unspecified

Declined

• Chris Christie, former governor of New Jersey (2010-2018)

References

1. Wildstein, David (2022-02-14). "Booker says no to possible run for N.J. governor". New Jersey Globe. Retrieved 2025-02-13.
2. "How the urban-rural divide shapes elections". news.stanford.edu. Retrieved 2025-02-13.
3. "2026 CPR Senate Race ratings". Cook Political Report. Retrieved 2025-02-13.
4. Coleman, Kyle Kondik and J. Miles (2025-02-13). "Our Initial Senate Ratings: Republicans Start as Strong Favorites to Hold Majority". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved 2025-02-13.