Gloucester County Republicans endorsed former Tabernacle Deputy Mayor Justin Michael Murphy for U.S. Senate at their convention on Sunday.
The filing deadline for the Gloucester GOP vote was about six weeks ago, and only Murphy and Natalie Rivera were in the race. Rivera advised party leaders early this morning that she would not attend, leaving Murphy to win by acclamation.
This was Murphy’s second win; he’s also secured the Camden GOP endorsement. He finished third at the Burlington Republican convention yesterday morning, receiving 17 votes; former News 12 reporter Alex Zdan defeated Richard Tabor, a state trooper, 40-21.
In the race to pick U.S. Senator Cory Booker’s opponent, Tabor has won county organization endorsements in Atlantic, Union, Hudson, and Hunterdon; in addition to Burlington, Zdan has party backing in Passaic.
Robert Lebovics, an Englewood physician, said earlier this month that he is likely to run and has filed a letter of intent to participate in the Somerset County GOP convention. Comedian Vinnie Brand, who owns a New Brunswick comedy club, said he was considering a challenge to Booker, but has taken no apparent steps to run.
Endorsements by the Gloucester GOP also went to Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis) in the 2nd district, and Damon Galdo, who is challenging Rep. Donald Norcross (D-Camden), in the 1st district.