Democrat Cory Booker won a third U.S. Senate term on Tuesday, Nov. 3, defeating Republican Justin Murphy.

The Associated Press called the race one minute after New Jersey polls closed at 8 p.m., as NJ.com reported. The quick call reflected what polls and fundraising had long signaled: a lopsided contest in a state where Republicans have not won a U.S. Senate race in 54 years.

The Cook Political Report rated the seat "solidly Democratic," The Washington Post reported. With about 30% of votes counted as of 1:38 a.m. on Nov. 4, Booker held 69.0% (640,877 votes) to Murphy's 28.9% (268,675 votes), according to partial results tracked by The Washington Post. Those numbers will change as mail-in ballots are received and counted over the coming days, NJ.com reported.

Booker, 57, has represented New Jersey in Washington since winning a special election in 2013. In a social media post after the race was called, Booker said he was "deeply honored" by voters' trust and "humbled to continue serving as your Senator," NJ.com reported.

Murphy, an attorney from the small Burlington County town of Tabernacle, faced steep odds. He raised $75,000 for his campaign compared to Booker's $35 million, NJ.com reported. NJ.com's main article described Murphy as a former mayor of Tabernacle, while its results hub called him a former deputy mayor.

Two other candidates were also on the ballot: independent Veronica Fernandez and Socialist Workers Party candidate Joanne Kuniansky, Fox 29 reported.

What the candidates ran on

Booker focused his campaign on the cost of living. He pushed a proposal called the Keep Your Pay Act, which would eliminate federal income taxes on the first $75,000 of household income for most filers and expand the child tax credit, according to Fox 29's election guide.

Murphy's platform called for abolishing the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the Department of Education, according to Fox 5 New York. He also supported abolishing the IRS in favor of a flat tax, Fox 29's election guide reported.

The 7th District race

The New Jersey race drawing the most national attention is the contest in the state's 7th Congressional District, which includes portions of Union County, NJ.com reported. Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Kean Jr. is defending his seat against Democratic challenger Rebecca Bennett, a former Navy helicopter pilot.

Heading into the midterms, Republicans controlled the U.S. Senate 53-45, with two independents who caucus with Democrats. Democrats needed a net gain of four seats to take control, Fox 29 reported.

The 7th District result had not been called as of early Nov. 4.