In his 2020 re-election campaign, Booker faced Republican nominee Rik Mehta, a pharmaceutical executive and attorney.[113] The election was primarily conducted through the use of mail-in ballots, as mandated by Governor Phil Murphy in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[114] Both Booker and Mehta participated in a virtual debate sponsored by the New Jersey Globe, in which the two candidates sparred over issues including the Trump presidency, COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns, the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, and systemic racism.[115][116]