Republican Senate candidate Justin Murphy told President Donald Trump to “Finish it” during a recent debate, drawing applause and a sharp rebuke from Sen. Cory Booker.
Debate Highlights
Murphy, an attorney from the Pine Barrens, earned a standing ovation after declaring, “We can’t wait halfway through and decide we don’t want to do this anymore,” and describing the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a radical terrorist organization.
Booker, the Democratic incumbent, labeled the remarks “Yahoo” foreign policy that has dragged the United States into costly Middle East wars, and warned that four decades of intervention have exhausted the nation’s treasury.
Background on the New Jersey Senate Race
New Jersey has not elected a Republican senator since Clifford Case won re‑election in 1972, despite a recent shift toward the GOP in several counties that supported Trump in 2024.
Murphy won the Republican primary on Tuesday, positioning him to challenge Booker for the seat that has been held by Democrats for decades.
The two candidates clashed on foreign policy, with Murphy defending Trump’s military campaign and Booker condemning a prolonged American presence in the Middle East.
During the exchange, Booker mocked the notion of seeking Trump’s advice, noting that Trump once claimed he knew more than his generals, and referenced the president’s history of bankrupting Atlantic City casinos.
Booker also accused Trump of ignoring counsel, saying advisers had to “jangle keys” to keep him on topic during discussions about a trans‑Hudson rail tunnel project.
Murphy drew additional attention for his remarks on illegal immigration, recounting a campaign event where he said a child was allegedly abducted and raped by an undocumented Guatemalan immigrant previously released by the Biden administration.
Booker’s reaction was captured on camera: he mouthed “Wow” as moderator David Wildstein gestured toward him, then prepared to respond.
The debate underscored deep partisan divisions over Trump’s Iran strategy and highlighted the broader battle for New Jersey’s Senate seat.
