Richard Tabor scored a narrow victory at tonight’s Hunterdon County Republican convention, defeating Alex Zdan by 14 votes, 57-43, to win the county organization endorsement for U.S. Senate.
In the race to take on Democrat Cory Booker, Tabor has now won party support in Atlantic, Union, Hudson, and Hunterdon; Zdan has the GOP organization endorsement in Passaic.
Former Tabernacle Deputy Mayor Justin Michael Murphy, who was a no-show tonight, still won six votes.
A New Jersey State Trooper and U.S. Army combat veteran, Tabor served in Iraq and later spent time in the New Jersey National Guard. Zdan is a former News 12 New Jersey reporter and host of the weekly Power and Politics show.
Robert Lebovics, an Englewood physician, said last week that he is likely to run. Less clear is the Senate candidacy of Steve Boston, an entrepreneur from Ocean City. Boston ran for Senate two years ago but never filed his nominating petitions. He filed a letter of intent to compete for party support in Bergen County in January, but later withdrew it.
Comedian Vinnie Brand, who owns a New Brunswick comedy club, said he was considering a challenge to Booker.
Natalie Rivera, who is making her third bid for U.S. Senate, did not participate in Hudson.
Hunterdon County Republicans also endorsed three incumbents: Rep. Thomas Kean (R-Westfield), County Clerk Mary Melfi, and County Commissioner Sean Van Doren.
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