U.S. Senate, New Jersey · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated October 9, 2026

Who should I vote for in the New Jersey U.S. Senate race?

Cory Booker has the strongest record in the New Jersey U.S. Senate race. Cory Booker scores 62 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Justin Murphy at 58, as of October 9, 2026. Cory Booker's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Justin Murphy's highest marks are roots in the constituency and relevant experience. Veronica Fernandez (4 of 15 criteria) and Joanne Kuniansky (4 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.

Democratic · incumbent

Strongest record

Cory Booker

62 / 100

Public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria

Character: 50
Qualifications: 80
Performance: 50

Campaign site Official office FEC filings

Independent

Veronica Fernandez

Not enough public record for a score

Public evidence on 4 of 15 criteria

Character: NR
Qualifications: 63
Performance: NR

Campaign site FEC filings

Socialist Workers

Joanne Kuniansky

Not enough public record for a score

Public evidence on 4 of 15 criteria

Character: NR
Qualifications: 44
Performance: NR

FEC filings

Republican

Justin Murphy

58 / 100

Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria

Character: 50
Qualifications: 65
Performance: NR

Campaign site FEC filings

The good, the bad and the unresolved

The record

The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.

Cory Booker

On the record2026-10-08
Debated Republican Justin Murphy at Rider University, the only scheduled debate of the 2026 race.
Source: New Jersey 101.5, Oct. 9, 2026
On the record2025-04-01
Spoke on the Senate floor for about 25 hours in protest of the Trump administration, the longest Senate floor speech on record.
Sources: KSHB (Scripps News), April 1, 2025, WHYY, April 20, 2026
On the record2025-07-29
Objected on the Senate floor to five of seven bipartisan law enforcement bills offered by fellow Democrats for unanimous passage, then left the floor with an expletive.
Source: AP via WDIV, July 29, 2025
Credit2019
The Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act, which he sponsored, was enacted; it bars federal agencies and contractors from asking about criminal history before a conditional job offer.
Sources: GovTrack, enacted legislation, WHYY, Sept. 22, 2026
Credit
Was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship and studied at Oxford before Yale Law School.
Source: WHYY, Sept. 22, 2026

Veronica Fernandez

No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.

Joanne Kuniansky

No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.

Justin Murphy

On the record2026-10-08
Debated Sen. Cory Booker at Rider University; said he did not know enough about cabinet members to say whether he would have opposed any.
Source: New Jersey 101.5, Oct. 9, 2026
On the record2026-09-22
Did not respond to a WHYY News interview request for its Senate voter guide.
Source: WHYY, Sept. 22, 2026
On the record
Served on the Tabernacle Township Committee, including as deputy mayor.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Justin Murphy, New York Post, June 2, 2026
Credit
Enlisted in the U.S. Navy at 17 and later earned a law degree from Widener University School of Law.
Source: WHYY, Sept. 22, 2026

Who they are

Character

Integrity

Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.

2 / 4

Cory Booker. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found for Cory Booker for Senate and no Senate Ethics Committee finding found.

Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00540500

Veronica Fernandez. No public record found.

Joanne Kuniansky. No public record found.

2 / 4

Justin Murphy. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.

Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00865808

Courage

Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.

2 / 4

Cory Booker. In July 2025 objected on the Senate floor to five of seven bipartisan law enforcement bills that fellow Democrats, led by Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, sought to pass by unanimous consent.

Source: AP via WDIV, July 29, 2025

Veronica Fernandez. No public record found.

Joanne Kuniansky. No public record found.

Justin Murphy. No public record found.

Accountability

Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.

2 / 4

Cory Booker. Debated Republican Justin Murphy at Rider University on Oct. 8, 2026, the only scheduled debate of the race.

Source: New Jersey 101.5, Oct. 9, 2026

Veronica Fernandez. No public record found.

Joanne Kuniansky. No public record found.

2 / 4

Justin Murphy. Debated Sen. Cory Booker at Rider University on Oct. 8, 2026. Did not respond to a WHYY interview request for its voter guide.

Sources: New Jersey 101.5, Oct. 9, 2026, WHYY, Sept. 22, 2026

Temperament and judgment

Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.

2 / 4

Cory Booker. Has held elected office since 1998 as a Newark council member, mayor and U.S. senator. No censure, reprimand or Senate Ethics Committee finding found.

Source: Ballotpedia, Cory Booker

Veronica Fernandez. No public record found.

Joanne Kuniansky. No public record found.

2 / 4

Justin Murphy. Enlisted in the Navy at 17, has worked as an attorney and served on the Tabernacle Township Committee, including as deputy mayor. No formal conduct finding found.

Sources: WHYY, Sept. 22, 2026, Ballotpedia, Justin Murphy

Fidelity to the oath

Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.

2 / 4

Cory Booker. Voted Nay on both January 2021 objections to the Arizona and Pennsylvania electoral votes. No official finding of misuse of office found.

Sources: GovTrack, Senate vote 1, 2021, GovTrack, Senate vote 2, 2021

Veronica Fernandez. No public record found.

Joanne Kuniansky. No public record found.

2 / 4

Justin Murphy. Served in the U.S. Navy and on the Tabernacle Township Committee. No official finding of misuse of office found.

Sources: Ballotpedia, Justin Murphy, New York Post, June 2, 2026

What they bring

Qualifications

Relevant experience

Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.

4 / 4

Cory Booker. U.S. senator since October 2013, now seeking a third full term, after serving as mayor of Newark from 2006 to 2013 and on the Newark City Council.

Sources: GovTrack, Cory Booker, Ballotpedia, Cory Booker

2 / 4

Veronica Fernandez. Worked for over twenty years as a licensed property and casualty insurance underwriter and in electrical contracting, and is affiliated with the League of Women Voters. Has not held public office.

Source: Ballotpedia, Veronica Fernandez

1 / 4

Joanne Kuniansky. Has worked as a refinery operator, meat packer, machine operator and deli worker and as a union activist. No leadership post or public office documented.

Source: WHYY, Sept. 22, 2026

3 / 4

Justin Murphy. Former Tabernacle Township Committee member and deputy mayor, Navy veteran and attorney in real estate, contracts and energy.

Sources: Ballotpedia, Justin Murphy, WHYY, Sept. 22, 2026

Command of the job

Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.

4 / 4

Cory Booker. Ranking member of three Senate subcommittees (Agriculture commodities, Foreign Relations Africa, Judiciary antitrust) and chair of the Senate Democratic Strategic Communications Committee, a party leadership post. Describes a specific tax proposal, the Keep Your Pay Act.

Sources: GovTrack, Cory Booker, WHYY, Sept. 22, 2026

2 / 4

Veronica Fernandez. Published positions in general terms on health care (Medicare for all), campaign finance and foreign policy.

Source: WHYY, Sept. 22, 2026

2 / 4

Joanne Kuniansky. Published positions in general terms through WHYY's voter guide, including a public works jobs program and a shorter work week.

Source: WHYY, Sept. 22, 2026

2 / 4

Justin Murphy. Publishes a written platform with some specific proposals, such as a 10 to 12 percent flat income tax and dividing the Department of Education budget among local school boards. Said in the debate he did not know enough about cabinet members to answer a confirmation question.

Sources: Campaign site, home page, New Jersey 101.5, Oct. 9, 2026

Communication

Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.

2 / 4

Cory Booker. Debated his Republican opponent on Oct. 8, 2026 and answered WHYY's voter guide questions by email. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey; his campaign site carries no issue pages.

Sources: New Jersey 101.5, Oct. 9, 2026, WHYY, Sept. 22, 2026, Ballotpedia, Cory Booker

3 / 4

Veronica Fernandez. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey, answered WHYY's voter guide by email and publishes a policies page on her campaign site.

Sources: Ballotpedia, Veronica Fernandez, WHYY, Sept. 22, 2026, Campaign site, home page

2 / 4

Joanne Kuniansky. Answered WHYY's voter guide by email. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.

Sources: WHYY, Sept. 22, 2026, Ballotpedia, Joanne Kuniansky

2 / 4

Justin Murphy. Publishes a plain-language written platform and debated on Oct. 8, 2026. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey and did not answer WHYY's voter guide request.

Sources: Campaign site, home page, New Jersey 101.5, Oct. 9, 2026, Ballotpedia, Justin Murphy

Roots in the constituency

Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.

3 / 4

Cory Booker. Grew up in Harrington Park and lives in Newark. FEC by-state totals for 2025 to 2026 show about 17 percent of itemized individual contributions from New Jersey.

Sources: WHYY, Sept. 22, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state

3 / 4

Veronica Fernandez. Born and raised in Franklin, New Jersey, and lives in Long Valley, Morris County.

Source: WHYY, Sept. 22, 2026

2 / 4

Joanne Kuniansky. Born in New Jersey and lives in West New York, Hudson County.

Source: WHYY, Sept. 22, 2026

4 / 4

Justin Murphy. Raised in the Pinelands of South Jersey and lives in Tabernacle Township, where he served on the township committee. All $14,244 of itemized individual contributions in 2025 to 2026 came from New Jersey (FEC by-state totals).

Sources: WHYY, Sept. 22, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state

Management

Can build and run an organization.

3 / 4

Cory Booker. Led the city government of Newark as mayor from 2006 to 2013. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC with no administrative fine found.

Sources: Ballotpedia, Cory Booker, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00540500

Veronica Fernandez. No public record found.

Joanne Kuniansky. No public record found.

2 / 4

Justin Murphy. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.

Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00865808

What they deliver

Performance

Results

Turns ideas into outcomes.

3 / 4

Cory Booker. Legislative Effectiveness Score of 0.636 in the 118th Congress against a benchmark of 0.912, which meets expectations. GovTrack lists 12 bills he sponsored that were enacted.

Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking Senate dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress, GovTrack, enacted legislation

Veronica Fernandez. No public record found.

Joanne Kuniansky. No public record found.

Justin Murphy. No public record found.

Showing up

Does the basic work of the job.

1 / 4

Cory Booker. Missed 436 of 4,796 roll call votes, 9.1 percent, from October 2013 to September 2026.

Source: GovTrack, missed votes

Veronica Fernandez. No public record found.

Joanne Kuniansky. No public record found.

Justin Murphy. No public record found.

Constituent service

Solves problems for the people they represent.

Cory Booker. No public record found.

Veronica Fernandez. No public record found.

Joanne Kuniansky. No public record found.

Justin Murphy. No public record found.

Coalition building

Wins support beyond their own faction.

2 / 4

Cory Booker. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index score of -0.61682 in the latest posted Senate scores (118th Congress, 2023), ranked 66 of 98, negative but not in the bottom quarter.

Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, Senate Scores

Veronica Fernandez. No public record found.

Joanne Kuniansky. No public record found.

Justin Murphy. No public record found.

Stewardship of public money

Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.

Cory Booker. No public record found.

Veronica Fernandez. No public record found.

Joanne Kuniansky. No public record found.

Justin Murphy. No public record found.

How to read this

Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.

A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.

No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.

Questions

Who should I vote for in the New Jersey U.S. Senate race?

Who is running in the New Jersey U.S. Senate race in 2026?

Cory Booker (Democratic, incumbent), Veronica Fernandez (Independent), Joanne Kuniansky (Socialist Workers), Justin Murphy (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.

Is Cory Booker a good candidate for U.S. Senate?

Cory Booker scores 62 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 80 of 100, performance 50 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.

Is Veronica Fernandez a good candidate for U.S. Senate?

Veronica Fernandez has public evidence on 4 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.

Is Joanne Kuniansky a good candidate for U.S. Senate?

Joanne Kuniansky has public evidence on 4 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.

Is Justin Murphy a good candidate for U.S. Senate?

Justin Murphy scores 58 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 65 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.

How is the strongest record decided?

The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.

More on this race: every New Jersey race scored, and the New Jersey 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.