TRENTON, N.J. — A rising star in the Democratic Party and a Republican former mayor won their parties’ primaries on Tuesday to set up a campaign of political and stylistic contrasts as they seek to fill the final 15 months of the term of the late U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg.

Newark Mayor Cory Booker defeated three experienced politicians — U.S. Reps. Rush Holt and Frank Pallone, who had the support of Lautenberg’s family, and state Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver — in a Democratic primary that may have been more competitive had the field been less crowded. The race was a major draw for them partly because of New Jersey’s history of electing only Democrats to the Senate for 40 years.

In the Republican primary, former Bogota mayor Steve Lonegan won handily over Franklin Township physician Alieta Eck, who had never run for office before.

The election is on a compressed schedule. The day after Lautenberg’s death, Republican Gov. Chris Christie scheduled the primaries for Tuesday and a special election for Oct. 16, 20 days before the voting day on which he’s seeking re-election. The move drew criticism, with some saying Christie was spending $12 million on an extra election so he could avoid being on the same ballot as Booker.

Booker ran with the support of New Jersey’s Democratic establishment and some celebrities. Oprah Winfrey joined him at a fundraiser and Eva Longoria campaigned with him.

Booker is in his second term as mayor. He’s helped bring in hundreds of millions of dollars in grant money for the city, including a $100 million pledge from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. He’s also given 90 paid speeches across the country since 2008, collecting $1.3 million, nearly half of which he has donated to charity.

 


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