Cory Booker

Cory Booker
Name	Cory Booker
Caption	Official portrait, 2013
Office	United States Senator, from New Jersey
Term start	October 31, 2013
Predecessor	Jeff Chiesa
Party	Democratic
Education	Stanford University (BA), The Queen's College, Oxford (MA), Yale University (JD)
Birth date	27 April 1969
Birth place	Washington, D.C., U.S.

Cory Booker is an American politician serving as the United States Senator from New Jersey since 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the 36th Mayor of Newark from 2006 to 2013. Booker gained national attention for his hands-on, unconventional political style in Newark and his advocacy for progressive policies in the United States Senate.

Early life and education

Cory Anthony Booker was born in Washington, D.C. to Carolyn and Cary Booker, who were among the first Black executives at IBM. He was raised in the affluent suburb of Harrington Park, New Jersey. Booker attended Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan before enrolling at Stanford University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and was a standout tight end on the football team. He received a Rhodes Scholarship to study at The Queen's College, Oxford, earning a Master of Arts in modern history. He then attended Yale Law School, where he earned his Juris Doctor and co-founded the East Palo Alto Community Law Project.

Early political career

After law school, Booker moved to Newark and founded the nonprofit Newark Now to provide legal services and tenant organizing. He was elected to the Newark City Council in 1998, representing the Central Ward. He first ran for Mayor of Newark in 2002, losing a contentious race to incumbent Sharpe James. His campaign and the political rivalry were later documented in the film Street Fight. He ran again in 2006, defeating Deputy Mayor Ronald L. Rice and becoming Newark's mayor. As mayor, he focused on crime reduction through partnerships with the Newark Police Department and Bloomberg Philanthropies, and attracted major philanthropic investments from figures like Mark Zuckerberg.

U.S. Senate career

Following the death of longtime Senator Frank Lautenberg, Booker won the 2013 special election to succeed interim appointee Jeff Chiesa. He was sworn into the United States Senate by Vice President Joe Biden. He won a full term in 2014 and was re-elected in 2020. In the Senate, he serves on the Judiciary Committee, the Foreign Relations Committee, and the Small Business Committee. He was a prominent member of the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. He has sponsored legislation like the First Step Act and the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.

2020 presidential campaign

Booker launched his campaign for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination in February 2019. His platform emphasized criminal justice reform, environmental justice through a "climate moonshot," and a federal "baby bonds" proposal. He participated in numerous primary debates, often clashing with candidates like Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Despite performing strongly in debates and earning endorsements from figures like John Lewis, he struggled to gain traction in polls and fundraising. He suspended his campaign in January 2020, prior to the Iowa caucuses, and later endorsed the eventual nominee, Joe Biden.

Political positions

Booker is considered a progressive within the Democratic Party. He is a leading advocate for criminal justice reform, having worked on the First Step Act and proposed measures to end mandatory minimum sentences. He supports the Green New Deal, Medicare for All, and a federal job guarantee. On foreign policy, he has been critical of the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen and supported the Iran Nuclear Deal. He was an original co-sponsor of the Equality Act and has been a vocal supporter of LGBT rights. He has also proposed significant reforms to agricultural policy and animal welfare standards.

Personal life

Booker is a lifelong bachelor and has resided in Newark's Brick City neighborhood for decades, famously living in a federally-subsidized housing project during his early City Council tenure. He is a practicing Baptist and has spoken openly about his commitment to celibacy. An avid fitness enthusiast, he is known for his disciplined daily routine. He is a vegetarian and a dog owner. His personal narrative and political philosophy are deeply influenced by his study of Gandhian principles and the teachings of Martin Luther King Jr.

Category:1969 births Category:Living people Category:United States senators from New Jersey Category:African-American politicians