The Hoboken Republican Party hosted a fundraiser for GOP U.S. Senate nominee Justin Murphy at Surf City in Jersey City on Friday evening as part of an upstart effort to unseat Senator Cory Booker (D) this fall.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“I wanted to thank everyone for all that you’ve done and I am honored to tell you that my campaign did win Hudson County in the primary, so I thank you Hudson County for your friendship, and your support,” Murphy told roughly 100 supporters at the event.
“And the Hoboken Republicans that put this event together, [Hoboken GOP Vice Chair] Rachel [Castillo] and all of you that took the time to come and say hello. We have a heavy lift for this November, but we can win. If I didn’t think we could win, I would not be here, I would not have asked for your support in the primary.”
Booker, a former Newark mayor who was first elected to the Senate in a 2013 special election to succeed the late Frank Lautenberg, has a national profile that goes well beyond the Garden State and is already a rumored presidential candidate for 2028.
None of that seemed to be of consequence to those who came out to the Jersey City waterfront to kickoff the weekend, expressing optimism for the November 3rd elections despite Democrats having big advantages in fundraising and voter registration numbers.
“We’re gonna get outspent, we’re gonna get out-cheated, but we’re never gonna get outworked and we’re never gonna get out messaged,” expressed Kennith Gonzalez, a Republican campaign operative managing Rosie Pino’s congressional campaign in the 9th District.
“Candidates like Justin are strong, principled conservatives, candidates like Rosie Pino, strong, principled conservatives, and as President Trump showed in 2024, that’s a message that wins.”
Also joining the contingency of Murphy supporters ahead of the November 3rd election is Richard Tabor, the runner-up in the June 2nd Republican primary, who was adamant that urban districts need to come out and that the GOP needs to register more voters to win.
“We have to come out as a party in order to win. Remember this: We are outnumbered in the State of New Jersey, alright? There’s 2.6 million Democrats, 2.6 million. There’s 1.6 million Republicans,” he declared.
“So if go out into the urban communities, and every Republican came out to vote, guess what: We still lose! We still lose! So if every Republican came out to vote, and we don’t go into the inner city, we still lose because we’re outnumbered. That’s why it’s very important for us to understand the basics, those simple numbers.”
Murphy also said he’s running on “a better tomorrow for a better America,” which includes secure borders, parental rights and medical freedom, school choice, and school vouchers, and increasing the country’s energy production.
Speaking with HCV, he elaborated on why he thinks he can make this race a fight.
“My opponent has announced that he’s campaigning across the country: I’m campaigning in all 21 New Jersey counties and we’re going directly to people at the grassroots level and the ground up. We’re gonna take a strong message on parent rights, citizenship, and expanding economy and home ownership for our young people are the centerpiece,” he explained.
The incumbent has a sizable campaign war chest, to the tune of $22.2 million, while Murphy raised just $122, according to second quarter reports filed with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC).
Nonetheless, the challenger didn’t appear to be phased by the campaign cash disparity.
“He does have a lot of money, I’d like to know how much of it came from inside New Jersey and how much came from outside of New Jersey, but we need more votes, not more money. And I think the time is right for change,” Murphy stated.
He also acknowledged that the Garden State hasn’t elected a GOP senator since 1972, but Murphy feels Booker is taking both this race, and the voters, for granted, which is why many will be inclined to vote for change.
Finally, Murphy pointed out that he supports the SAVE America Act that would require proof of U.S. citizenship to vote in all elections, which is particularly important in light of 6,600 non-citizens getting registered to vote between June 2023 and June 2024.
” … Democrats, independents, and Republicans all think it’s okay to have voter ID before you vote or to show that you’re an American citizen before you register. I think it’s a clear distinction: My opponent opposes it and I support the SAVE [America] Act.”
Hoboken Republican GOP Chair Pavel Sokolov, also the vice chair of the state GOP, served as the emcee for the evening, which also included remarks from the likes of 5th District Republican congressional nominee Sean Kirrane and 10th District Republican congressional nominee Carmen Bucco.
Booker sucks, but this guy’s platform: “secure borders, parental rights and medical freedom, school choice, and school vouchers, and increasing the country’s energy production.” (or, at least the way this guy means ea.)