Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Cory Booker

Discover the career path of Cory Booker, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Cory Booker is an American politician currently serving as the senior United States Senator from New Jersey since 2013. As a member of the Democratic Party, he holds the distinction of being the first African-American U.S. Senator from New Jersey. Prior to his Senate tenure, Booker served as the 38th Mayor of Newark from 2006 to 2013. His political career began on the Municipal Council of Newark, representing the Central Ward from 1998 to 2002, marking his early involvement in local governance and public service.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1997: Obtained Juris Doctor from Yale Law School

In 1997, Cory Booker obtained his Juris Doctor from Yale Law School and operated free legal clinics for low-income residents of New Haven, Connecticut.

1998: Served on the Municipal Council of Newark

In 1998, Cory Booker served on the Municipal Council of Newark for the Central Ward.

January 9, 2002: Announced campaign for mayor of Newark

On January 9, 2002, Cory Booker announced his campaign for mayor of Newark, challenging incumbent Sharpe James. The campaign was marked by mudslinging and personal attacks.

2002: End of term at the Municipal Council of Newark

In 2002, Cory Booker ended his term at the Municipal Council of Newark for the Central Ward.

2002: Lost mayoral election to Sharpe James

In 2002, Cory Booker ran for mayor but lost to incumbent Sharpe James.

2002: Featured in Documentary 'Street Fight'

In 2002, Filmmaker Marshall Curry chronicled Cory Booker's mayoral campaign in the documentary Street Fight.

2004: Obama Elected to Senate

In 2004, Barack Obama was elected to the Senate.

February 11, 2006: Announced second run for mayor

On February 11, 2006, Cory Booker announced that he would run for mayor again. His campaign raised over $6 million, outspending his opponent significantly.

June 20, 2006: Court ruled in Booker's favor

On June 20, 2006, Superior Court Judge Patricia Costello ruled in Cory Booker's favor in a lawsuit against the James administration, seeking to terminate cut-rate land deals.

July 1, 2006: Took office as mayor of Newark

On July 1, 2006, Cory Booker took office as mayor of Newark and announced a 100-day plan to implement reforms, including increasing police forces and improving city services.

2006: Start of Violent Crime Reduction

From 2006 to 2008 Newark led the nation in violent crime reduction.

2006: Became Mayor of Newark

In 2006, Cory Booker became the 38th mayor of Newark.

2006: Defeated Ronald Rice to become Mayor of Newark

In 2006, Cory Booker defeated Deputy Mayor Ronald Rice to become Mayor of Newark. During his first term, affordable housing doubled and the city budget deficit was reduced.

2008: End of Violent Crime Reduction

From 2006 to 2008 Newark led the nation in violent crime reduction.

October 2009: Received the Sarah Brady Visionary Award

In October 2009, the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence gave Cory Booker the Sarah Brady Visionary Award for his work in reducing gun violence as mayor of Newark.

2009: Offered Leadership of White House Office of Urban Affairs

In 2009, after Barack Obama became President of the United States, Cory Booker was offered the leadership of the new White House Office of Urban Affairs, but he turned the offer down, citing his commitment to Newark.

2009: Stars in Documentary Series 'Brick City'

Since 2009, Cory Booker has starred in the documentary series Brick City, which focuses on his efforts to improve Newark by reducing crime and bring about economic renewal. Brick City won a Peabody Award in 2009.

March 2010: Newark's first murder-free month in over 44 years

March 2010 marked Newark's first murder-free month in over 44 years during Cory Booker's mayoralty.

April 3, 2010: Announced candidacy for reelection as Mayor of Newark

On April 3, 2010, Cory Booker announced his candidacy for reelection as Mayor of Newark, emphasizing the importance of a "united government" for progress. He was heavily favored to win.

September 2010: Zuckerberg donated to Newark school system

In September 2010, Mark Zuckerberg announced he was donating $100 million to the Newark school system after a conversation with Cory Booker. The donation was announced on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

October 10, 2010: Established Let's Move! Newark

On October 10, 2010, Cory Booker established Let's Move! Newark as part of First Lady Michelle Obama's national Let's Move! initiative against childhood obesity.

December 28, 2010: Shoveled constituent's driveway

On December 28, 2010, Cory Booker gained national attention when he responded to a constituent's Twitter request and personally helped shovel an elderly man's driveway.

2010: Reelected as Mayor of Newark

In 2010, Cory Booker was reelected as Mayor of Newark.

October 2011: Expanded Let's Move! Newark program

In October 2011, Cory Booker expanded the Let's Move! Newark program to include Let's Move! Newark: Our Power, a fitness challenge for Newark public school students.

2011: Contributes to Documentary 'Miss Representation'

In 2011, Cory Booker contributed to the documentary Miss Representation and commented on the representations of women in politics in mass media.

2011: Newark Receives Emergency State Aid

In 2011, Newark received $32 million in emergency state aid, requiring a memorandum of understanding with the state regarding appointments to City Hall administrative positions.

May 12, 2012: Controversial Comments on Meet the Press

On May 12, 2012, Cory Booker appeared on Meet the Press and made remarks critical of Obama's reelection campaign, stating that the attacks on Mitt Romney's record at Bain Capital were "nauseating." This generated controversy and was used against Obama's campaign.

October 2012: Invited Newarkers to his home after Hurricane Sandy

In late October 2012, after Hurricane Sandy, Cory Booker invited Newarkers without electricity and similar services to eat and sleep in his home.

November 20, 2012: Newark City Council Meeting Melee

On November 20, 2012, Cory Booker attended a Newark City Council meeting where a melee occurred during a vote to fill a vacant council seat. Booker cast the deciding vote for Shanique Speight, leading to a disturbance by supporters of John Sharpe James, which was quelled by riot police using pepper spray. Ras Baraka blamed Booker for inciting the disturbance.

December 2012: SNAP Challenge

In December 2012, Cory Booker started a week-long challenge to live on a $30 food budget, the amount New Jersey SNAP recipients received, sparking a discussion about reliance on food stamps.

December 20, 2012: Booker Explores Senate Run

On December 20, 2012, Cory Booker announced he would explore running for the U.S. Senate seat held by Frank Lautenberg in the 2014 election.

2012: Forms Waywire

In 2012, Cory Booker and tech executives formed Waywire, a company focused on video sharing technology.

2012: Newark Receives Emergency State Aid

In 2012, Newark received $32 million in emergency state aid, requiring a memorandum of understanding with the state regarding appointments to City Hall administrative positions.

January 11, 2013: Booker Files Campaign Committee Papers

On January 11, 2013, Cory Booker filed papers to form a campaign committee for U.S. Senate without announcing if he would run.

January 2013: Rescued a dog from freezing temperatures

In January 2013, Cory Booker rescued a dog from freezing temperatures.

July 2013: Rescued an abandoned dog

In July 2013, Cory Booker rescued another dog that had been abandoned in a cage.

August 13, 2013: Booker Wins Democratic Primary

On August 13, 2013, Cory Booker won the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate with approximately 59% of the vote.

August 2013: Intends to Resign from Waywire Board

In August 2013, Cory Booker told NBC News he intended to resign from the Waywire board and put his holdings in a trust if elected to the Senate; by September, he had resigned from the board and donated his share of the company to charity.

November 2013: Booker Co-sponsors Employment Non-Discrimination Act

In November 2013, Cory Booker co-sponsored and voted for the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.

December 2013: Booker Co-sponsors Nuclear Weapon Free Iran Act

In December 2013, Cory Booker co-sponsored Bob Menéndez's Nuclear Weapon Free Iran Act of 2013, which would toughen sanctions against Iran. He also voted for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 and the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013.

2013: Became Senator of New Jersey

In 2013, Cory Booker became the senior United States senator from New Jersey. He is the first African-American U.S. senator from New Jersey.

2013: Elected to the U.S. Senate

In 2013, Cory Booker was elected to the U.S. Senate in a special election.

January 2014: Booker Co-sponsors Respect for Marriage Act

In January 2014, Cory Booker cosponsored the Respect for Marriage Act.

February 2014: Booker Votes Against Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act

In February 2014, Cory Booker voted against the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2013.

2014: Reelected to the U.S. Senate

In 2014, Cory Booker was reelected to the U.S. Senate.

2014: Lautenberg Not Seeking Reelection

In 2014, Frank Lautenberg announced that he would not seek reelection.

2015: Appears in 'Parks and Recreation' Episode

In 2015, Cory Booker appeared in a scene in the Parks and Recreation episode "Ms. Ludgate-Dwyer Goes to Washington" alongside Orrin Hatch.

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2016: Consideration as Potential Vice President Nominee

During the 2016 presidential election, when Hillary Clinton had an illness, Donna Brazile considered a ticket with Joe Biden and Cory Booker as an ideal replacement. However, the possibility of a divisive reaction and the possibility of "allowing Trump to capture votes in confusion" caused her to "not entertain any more thoughts of replacing Hillary."

2016: Writes Autobiography

In 2016, Cory Booker wrote an autobiography, United: Thoughts on Finding Common Ground and Advancing the Common Good.

United: Thoughts on Finding Common Ground and Advancing the Common Good

Check it on Amazon

2016: Booker Endorses Hillary Clinton

Leading up to the 2016 presidential election, Cory Booker endorsed Hillary Clinton for the Democratic nomination.

January 11, 2017: Booker Testifies Against Jeff Sessions

On January 11, 2017, Cory Booker testified against attorney general nominee Jeff Sessions during a cabinet position confirmation hearing.

April 2017: Criticism of US Strike on Syria

In April 2017, Cory Booker criticized the US strike on Syria, stating that the military action was taken "without a clear plan" or authorization from Congress.

September 2017: Booker Co-sponsors Medicare for All Bill

In September 2017, Cory Booker joined Bernie Sanders and others in submitting a single-payer health care plan to Congress called the "Medicare for All" bill.

2017: Vote Against Lowering Prescription Drug Prices

In 2017, Booker voted against a proposal to lower prescription drug prices, leading to criticism that he was too dependent on corporate support.

2017: Testified against Jeff Sessions

In 2017, Cory Booker was the first senator to ever testify against another senator during attorney general nominee Jeff Sessions's confirmation hearing.

April 2018: Introduction of Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act

In April 2018, Cory Booker, along with others, introduced new legislation to "limit President Trump's ability to fire special counsel Robert Mueller," termed the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act.

September 5, 2018: Booker Questions Kavanaugh on Confidential Emails

On September 5, 2018, during Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearings, Cory Booker questioned Kavanaugh on "committee confidential" emails from Kavanaugh's time in the White House Counsel's office. Booker released the emails, potentially violating Senate rules, and defended his actions, inviting consequences and comparing the release to an "I am Spartacus" moment. Committee chairman Chuck Grassley said the documents had already been cleared for public release.

2018: Booker Named Part of 'Hell-No Caucus'

In 2018, Politico named Cory Booker part of the "Hell-No Caucus", for voting "overwhelmingly to thwart [Trump's] nominees for administration jobs".

February 1, 2019: Booker Announces Presidential Candidacy

On February 1, 2019, Cory Booker announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for president in the 2020 election.

December 2019: Booker Fails to Qualify for Debate

In December 2019, Cory Booker failed to meet the polling thresholds to participate in the sixth Democratic Party presidential debate.

January 13, 2020: Suspended presidential campaign

On January 13, 2020, Cory Booker suspended his campaign for the Democratic nomination in the 2020 U.S. presidential election.

March 2020: Booker Endorses Joe Biden

In March 2020, Cory Booker endorsed former vice president Joe Biden for president.

2020: Presidential Campaign

In 2020, Cory Booker launched a presidential campaign.

2020: Reelected to the U.S. Senate

In 2020, Cory Booker was reelected to the U.S. Senate.

January 6, 2021: Booker Responds to Capitol Attack

On January 6, 2021, Cory Booker participated in the certification of the 2021 United States Electoral College vote count when Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. He blamed Trump for inciting the attack and called for the invocation of the Twenty-fifth Amendment and/or impeachment to remove Trump.

2021: Criticism for Judicial Recommendation

In 2021, The American Prospect criticized Booker and Bob Menendez for recommending Christine O'Hearne to a federal judgeship after she had spent much of her career defending employers against discrimination and sexual harassment claims, and had defended a school against allegations that its swim coach had sexually abused a girl from ages 13 to 19.