Cory Booker has served as a U.S. Senator from New Jersey since 2013. Before that, he became nationally known as Mayor of Newark (2006–2013), where he focused on urban revitalization, gun violence reduction, housing, and community-police engagement.
Born April 27, 1969, in Washington, D.C., and raised in New Jersey, Booker graduated from Stanford University, studied at Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, and earned his J.D. from Yale Law School. His political style blends moral urgency and upbeat, coalition-building rhetoric.
In the Senate, Booker has pushed criminal justice reform, voting rights, anti-poverty policy, affordable housing, and mental health access. He also ran for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, leaning into themes of justice, empathy, and civic belonging.
Establishment Democrat
Achievements
- Co-authored and passed major criminal justice reform efforts, including sentencing and prison-conditions reforms
- Longtime advocate for affordable housing, gun violence prevention, and anti-poverty programs in U.S. cities
- Worked across the aisle on immigration and policing proposals, pitching “pragmatic compassion”
- Elevated ethics, anti-corruption, and voting rights in his presidential run and Senate messaging
Controversies
- Critics say his uplifting national persona can overshadow policy detail and hard-edged negotiation work
- Faced skepticism during his 2020 presidential campaign for sweeping rhetoric and limited polling traction
- Sometimes clashed with local leaders over development, policing, and outside investment strategies in Newark
- Attacked from the left for perceived closeness to donors in finance and tech
Top Donors
| Donor | Total | Individuals | PACs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul, Weiss et al | $355,132 | $355,132 | $0 |
| NorPAC | $227,544 | $222,544 | $5,000 |
| Gibbons PC | $187,296 | $177,296 | $10,000 |
| Sullivan & Cromwell | $181,650 | $181,650 | $0 |
| Stanford University | $169,309 | $169,309 | $0 |
Amounts shown reflect organization-linked giving; most funds listed here are from individual donors or aligned PACs.
Recent Elections
2013 Margin D +10.9%
2014 Margin D +13.5%
2020 Margin D +16.3%