By Matt Friedman and David Giambusso/The Star-Ledger

NEWARK — Newark Mayor Cory Booker has easily prevailed in the Democratic U.S. Senate primary tonight, the Associated Press projects.

BREAKING:

Lonegan tops Eck in Republican U.S. Senate primary election

Booker will now face Steve Lonegan, the Republican primary winner, in the Oct. 16 special election to succeed the late Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.).

Results show Booker well ahead of his three rivals tonight: U.S. Reps. Rush Holt (D-6th Dist.) and Frank Pallone (D-12th Dist.), and state Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex). The difference is so large — with Booker leading his closest opponent, Pallone, by a two-to-one margin — that the Associated Press called the race with just 7 percent of the vote in.

With 98 percent of the vote in, Booker leads Pallone 59 percent to 20, followed by Holt with 17 and Oliver with 4.

"In Washington, so many people focus on right and left," Booker said in his victory speech tonight in front of hundreds of supporters gathered outside the Prudential Center in Newark. "Here in Newark, we're only concerned with one direction — and that is moving forward. Make me your Senator, and I will be unwavering in my focus in finding common ground."

"I believe that this state will once again light the way forward for all of America," he added.

Just after 8:40 p.m., when the primary was called for Booker, legendary hip-hop star Q-tip took the stage outside the arena.

"The new Senator is wayyyyy ahead," Q Tip said in between a remix of The Jackson 5's "I Want You Back."

About 300 people were assembled on the plaza by 9 p.m.

Booker, 44, began the race as the frontrunner and never lost that status, raising far more money than his opponents and winning the backing of most of the state's Democratic organizations. His campaign also teamed up with South Jersey Democrats to get residents to cast their votes early by absentee ballot.

"I will be just like that twenty-something who came to Newark to represent people who couldn't afford fancy lawyers," Booker, a former city councilman, told the audience tonight. "I will care about you. I will care about results for all of the people in New Jersey."

Booker spent much of the race ignoring his three Democratic rivals, instead portraying himself as able to work across the aisle and get results, as demonstrated by relationship with Republican Gov. Chris Christie.

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MORE PRIMARY NIGHT COVERAGE

• Pallone vows that his 'work is not done' after losing Democratic U.S. Senate primary

• Holt stresses after loss that his U.S. Senate bid was not a 'waste of time'

• Oliver hints she may run for U.S. Senate again after loss

Though Holt, Pallone and Oliver frequently went after Booker, their attacks gained little traction. His campaign hit its bumpiest patch in its final two weeks, when the New York Times raised questions about a tech company he founded, Waywire. It was not, however, enough to overcome his huge lead in the polls.

Tonight, Booker praised his three primary opponents.

"They are our champions, too," He said. "We are no longer opponents. We are allies."

He also had kind words for his new opponent, Lonegan, a conservative activist, the former mayor of Bogota, and an aggressive campaigner who has been blasting Booker for weeks already.

"He is a person of strong beliefs and, I found already, even stronger rhetoric," Booker said. "I will match his negative attacks with positive energy. He wants to be a flamethrower. I want to be a bridge-builder."

Star-Ledger staff writer Brent Johnson contributed to this report.

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