Wealthy hotel operator Curtis Bashaw has won New Jersey’s Republican Senate primary, besting a rival who was backed by former President Donald Trump.

Bashaw’s victory over Mendham Borough Mayor Christine Serrano Glassner propels him to the general election where, he will face Democratic Rep. Andy Kim.

Bashaw centered his campaign in part on ending “one-party monopoly” in New Jersey, where state government is led entirely by Democrats, and on sending a conservative to Washington. It’s unclear whether that message will resonate with general election voters, who have not elected a Republican to the Senate in over five decades. Registered Democrats outnumber Republicans by about 1 million in New Jersey.

GOP leaders were optimistic that they had their best hope in years of capturing a Senate seat after incumbent Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez was indicted for a second time on federal corruption charges. But those hopes dimmed somewhat when Menendez said he would not run as a Democrat, and instead Rep. Andy Kim emerged as a as the party’s likely nominee. After Menendez filed to run as an independent, the GOP is hopeful that Democratic voters might be divided enough to play to the Republicans’ advantage.

“Republicans have the best opportunity to win this seat in 52 years,” said Republican state Sen. Mike Testa, a Bashaw backer.

Serrano Glassner, whose husband, Michael Glassner, was an early political adviser to Trump, was an early entrant into the race and recently was endorsed by the ex-president at a rally in Wildwood.

Bashaw says he backs Trump but has been less outspoken in his support than Serrano Glassner.