A long-time truck driver is poised to capture an extraordinary upset victory over a career politician in the New Jersey Senate.
Truck driver Edward Durr, 58, is currently leading New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney in the Third legislative district by more than 2,000 votes with more than 99% of precincts reporting. The Associated Press has not yet declared an official winner.
Durr, a Republican, is a furniture truck driver employed by Raymour & Flanagan. He has driven trucks for over 25 years. He has never served in public office before.
You can see Durr stepping out of a truck in the campaign ad below.
This is the New Jersey truck driver who is beating the NJ Senate President after spending only $153 on his campaign – Go Ed Durr!!
pic.twitter.com/OoqysjYprb— Jack Posobiec 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) November 3, 2021
Sweeney, a Democrat, is the longest-tenured Senate president in New Jersey history, having served in that capacity since 2010.
Durr spent only a few thousand dollars — some of it out of his own pocket — on his grassroots campaign for office. His campaign video was filmed on a friend’s iPhone.
Durr’s campaign criticized New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy for economic damage caused by COVID-19 lockdowns. He’s promised to cultivate a “pro-business environment” if elected.
“I didn’t beat him. We beat him. The state of New Jersey, the people of New Jersey beat him. They listened to what I had to say and I listened to what they had to say, and it’s a repudiation of Governor Murphy [who] went and locked us down and ignored the people’s voice and senator Sweeney chose to do nothing for those 18 months,” Durr said on Fox News Primetime on Wednesday.
In the interview below, Durr reacted to the improbable election results.
In his first interview after what may turn out to be the biggest upset ever in South Jersey political history, @GOP NJ State Senate candidate Ed Burr says he was told he beat @NJSenatePres Steve Sweeney at 2am then woke up to “well maybe not” @FOX29philly pic.twitter.com/6U8UUmIhQB
— Steve Keeley (@KeeleyFox29) November 3, 2021