Alex Zdan will challenge Cory Booker for U.S. Senate

Former News 12 reporter Alex Zdan has entered the race for the GOP nomination for U.S. Senate, winning the endorsement of the Passaic County Republican Organization to challenge Democratic incumbent Cory Booker in the fall.

Zdan told the New Jersey Globe tonight that he expects to file with the Federal Election Commission within the next 24-48 hours and plans to formally announce his candidacy early next week.

The only other candidates in the race are former Tabernacle Deputy Mayor Justin Michael Murphy and Richard Tabor, a state trooper and U.S. Army combat veteran. State Sen. Mike Testa (R-Vineland) and comedian Vinnie Brand have said they’re considering running.

Zdan spent six years reporting at News 12, where he developed a reputation for his aggressive questioning style; he was laid off in 2023.

He briefly sought the Senate seat in 2024, when it was held by Democrat Bob Menendez, and won Republican lines in Monmouth and Passaic counties before a federal judge ended the county organization line system. Instead, he endorsed hotelier Curtis Bashaw, who won the primary and then lost the general election to Democrat Andy Kim.

Bashaw is also running for office again this year: he has the backing of the Cape May Republican organization for a county commissioner seat.

Murphy finished third in a four-candidate race with 11% of the vote after raising over $9,900.

In other races, Passaic Republicans endorsed newcomer Sean Kirrane to challenge Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-Tenafly) in the 5th district and attorney Tiffany Buress against Rep. Nellie Pou (D-North Haldedon) in the 9th.  Chandiha Gajapathy is also seeking to take on Gottheimer, and Clifton Councilwoman Rosie Pino is challenging Buress in the Republican primary.

In the 11th district, the Passaic County GOP is backing Randolph Mayor Joe Hathaway for the seat held for seven years by Mikie Sherrill before her election as governor.  Hathaway faces Democrat Analilia Mejia in an April 16 special election, and will run in the June primary regardless of the outcome in April.

Republicans are fielding a strong candidate, attorney Jessica Sprague, to take on Democratic incumbent Zoila Cassanova for Passaic County Surrogate.  Sprague is the counsel to the Passaic GOP; Cassanova won her first term in 2021 with 50.8% of the vote.

In the race for county commissioner, Republicans are backing former Assistant Hudson County Prosecutor Danny Sagan and Bill Rodriguez, a Passaic County sheriff’s officer.

“We are proud to support this slate and look forward to a campaign focused on the issues that matter to Passaic County families: safe communities, responsible budgeting, and effective constituent service,” said Passaic County GOP Chairman Peter Murphy.