Edward R. Durr Jr. (born July 18, 1963) is an American politician and truck driver who served in the New Jersey Senate from 2022 to 2024, representing the 3rd Legislative district.
A member of the Republican Party, he was elected in 2021 against incumbent Democratic State Senate President Stephen Sweeney in a major upset.
[4] Before running for State Senate in 2021, Durr ran unsuccessfully for a seat in the New Jersey General Assembly in 2017 and 2019.
He challenged incumbent Democratic Senate President Stephen Sweeney in New Jersey's 3rd Legislative District.
[11] Durr's defeat of Sweeney made headlines in The New York Times,[12] The Washington Post,[13] and USA Today.
The posts related to topics such as vaccine mandates, the January 6 Capitol attack, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Islam.
[16] Durr later met with local Muslim leaders and declared his opposition to "Islamophobia and all forms of hate.
"[17] In the June 2023 Republican primary, Assemblywoman Beth Sawyer ran against Durr for the 3rd district seat in the Senate.
[20] Durr ultimately lost to Burzichelli following a concerted effort by South Jersey Democrats to unseat him.
In 2022, Durr introduced a bill that would have barred teachers in kindergarten through sixth grade from engaging in instruction on matters of gender identity and sexual orientation.