Childhood and Education Journey of Cory Booker in Timeline

How education and upbringing influenced the life of Cory Booker. A timeline of key moments.

Cory Booker is an American politician and the senior United States Senator from New Jersey since 2013. He is the first African-American U.S. Senator from New Jersey and a member of the Democratic Party. Prior to his senate career, Booker served as the 38th mayor of Newark from 2006 to 2013. Before becoming mayor he served on the Municipal Council of Newark for the Central Ward from 1998 to 2002. Booker's career has been dedicated to public service in New Jersey.

Sections (6)

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

1936: Birth of Cary Alfred Booker

In 1936, Cary Alfred Booker, Cory Booker's father, was born. He later became one of the first black IBM executives.

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April 27, 1969: Cory Booker's Birth

On April 27, 1969, Cory Anthony Booker was born. He is an American politician who serves as the senior United States senator from New Jersey.

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1991: Booker Graduated from Stanford University with a BA

In 1991, Cory Booker graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelor of Arts in political science.

1991: Cory Booker Received BA from Stanford University

In 1991, Cory Booker received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University.

1992: Became Vegetarian

Cory Booker became a vegetarian in 1992 while a student at Oxford University.

1992: Admission of Past Prejudice

In 1992, Cory Booker admitted in a column in The Stanford Daily that he had "hated gays" as a teenager.

1992: Booker Graduated from Stanford University with an MA

In 1992, Cory Booker graduated from Stanford University with a Master of Arts in sociology.

1992: Wrote Column About Sexual Encounter

In 1992, Cory Booker wrote a column for The Stanford Daily recounting a sexual encounter and discussing attitudes toward sex and rape.

1994: Booker Earned Degree in United States History

In 1994, Cory Booker earned a degree in United States history from The Queen's College, Oxford.

1997: Booker 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: Lived in Brick Towers

From 1998 to 2006, Cory Booker lived in Brick Towers, a troubled housing complex in Newark's Central Ward.

1998: Cory Booker Won Municipal Council Seat

In 1998, Cory Booker won an upset victory for a seat on the Municipal Council of Newark, defeating four-term incumbent George Branch. To draw attention to the problems of open-air drug dealing, he went on a 10-day hunger strike.

January 9, 2002: Booker Announced Mayoral Campaign

On January 9, 2002, Cory Booker announced his campaign for mayor of Newark against incumbent Sharpe James.

February 11, 2006: Booker Announced Mayoral Run

On February 11, 2006, Cory Booker announced that he would run for mayor of Newark again.

June 2006: Plot to Assassinate Booker Foiled

In late June 2006, before Cory Booker took office as mayor, New Jersey investigators foiled a plot to assassinate him led by Bloods gang leaders inside four New Jersey state prisons.

July 1, 2006: Booker took office as mayor of Newark

On July 1, 2006, Cory Booker took office as mayor of Newark. He announced a 100-day plan to implement reforms after his first week in office.

November 2006: Moved Out of Brick Towers

In November 2006, Cory Booker moved out of his apartment in Brick Towers, a troubled housing complex in Newark.

May 2009: Received Honorary Doctorate from NJIT and Brandeis University

In May 2009, Cory Booker received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and an honorary doctorate from Brandeis University, where he was also a commencement speaker.

2009: Feud with Conan O'Brien

In the fall of 2009, Cory Booker engaged in a satirical on-air and YouTube feud with Tonight Show host Conan O'Brien, resulting in charitable donations to Newark.

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March 2010: Newark Had Murder-Free Month

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

April 3, 2010: Booker Announced Candidacy for Reelection

On April 3, 2010, Cory Booker announced his candidacy for reelection as mayor of Newark.

July 2010: Booker Met Mark Zuckerberg

In July 2010, Cory Booker attended a dinner at a conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, where he was seated with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.

September 2010: Zuckerberg Donated $100 Million to Newark Schools

In September 2010, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg announced he was donating $100 million to the Newark school system, following conversations with Cory Booker.

October 10, 2010: Booker 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 2010: Received Honorary Doctorate from Yeshiva University

In December 2010, Cory Booker received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Yeshiva University.

December 28, 2010: Booker Shoveled Constituent's Driveway

On December 28, 2010, Cory Booker gained national attention when he responded to a constituent's request on Twitter to shovel her elderly father's driveway.

2010: New Development Built at Brick Towers

In 2010, a new mixed-income development was built at the site of the demolished Brick Towers, where Cory Booker lived from 1998 to 2006.

May 13, 2011: Received Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from New York Law School

On May 13, 2011, Cory Booker received an honorary doctor of laws degree and gave the commencement address to New York Law School graduates.

May 2011: Received Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree from the University of Rhode Island

In May 2011, Cory Booker received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the University of Rhode Island and delivered a commencement address there.

June 2011: Received Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Williams College

In June 2011, Cory Booker received an honorary doctor of laws degree from Williams College and served as that year's commencement speaker.

October 2011: Booker 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.

May 2012: Received Honorary Doctor of Laws Degree from Bard College

In May 2012, Cory Booker received an honorary doctor of laws degree from Bard College and gave the commencement speech. He also received an honorary degree at Fairleigh Dickinson's 69th commencement ceremony.

June 17, 2012: Delivered Commencement Address at Stanford University

On June 17, 2012, Cory Booker delivered the commencement address to Stanford University graduates and received an honorary degree.

May 2013: Gave Commencement Address at Washington University in St. Louis

In May 2013, Cory Booker delivered the commencement address at Washington University in St. Louis and received an honorary doctorate of law.

July 2013: Booker Affirms Progressive Politics

In a July 2013 Salon interview, Cory Booker stated that he aligns with progressive politics in every aspect.

September 2013: Booker Identifies as Democrat and American

In a September 2013 interview with The Grio, when asked whether he considered himself a progressive, Cory Booker said he was a Democrat and an American.

2013: Funding From Pro-Israel Donors

From 2013 to 2024, Cory Booker declared receiving $871,563 in funding from pro-Israel donors.

2013: Refusal to Address Gay Rumors

In 2013, Cory Booker generally refused to address rumors about being gay, explaining his principle for not commenting on such matters.

2013: Named one of "Top 40 Bachelors"

In 2013, Cory Booker was named one of Town & Country's "Top 40 Bachelors".

2013: Moved to Townhouse in Lincoln Park

Since 2013, Cory Booker has resided in a townhouse he owns in the Lincoln Park section of Newark's Central Ward.

May 16, 2014: Gave Commencement Speech at Ramapo College of New Jersey

On May 16, 2014, Cory Booker gave the commencement speech at Ramapo College of New Jersey at the IZOD Center.

2014: Began Practicing Vegan Diet

In 2014, Cory Booker began practicing a vegan diet, emphasizing his ethical philosophy and advocacy for animals.

2015: Appeared in Parks and Recreation

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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June 2016: Booker Worshiped at Metropolitan Baptist Church

As of June 2016, Cory Booker was worshiping at the Metropolitan Baptist Church in Newark.

2017: Booker Testified Against Jeff Sessions

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

March 2019: Relationship with Rosario Dawson Confirmed

In March 2019, actress Rosario Dawson confirmed to TMZ that she was in a relationship with Cory Booker.

2020: Discovered Relation to RuPaul

In 2020, Cory Booker discovered that he and entertainer RuPaul are cousins, after both appeared on the TV show Finding Your Roots.

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February 2022: Relationship with Rosario Dawson Ended

In February 2022, Cory Booker's relationship with actress Rosario Dawson ended.

2024: Funding From Pro-Israel Donors

From 2013 to 2024, Cory Booker declared receiving $871,563 in funding from pro-Israel donors.

2024: Appeared in You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment

In 2024, Cory Booker appeared in the Netflix documentary You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment.

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April 1, 2025: Booker Delivered Longest Speech in U.S. Senate History

From March 31 to April 1, 2025, Cory Booker delivered the longest speech in U.S. Senate history, lasting 25 hours and five minutes, in protest of the second presidency of Donald Trump.