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 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

1960: Reference to 'Spartacus' Film

In 1960, the film 'Spartacus' was released, which Cory Booker referenced during Kavanaugh's confirmation hearings in 2018.

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April 27, 1969: Cory Booker Born

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

Others born on this day/year

1986: Named to the USA Today All-USA high school football team

In 1986, Cory Booker was named to the USA Today All-USA high school football team while at Northern Valley Regional High School.

1991: Graduated from Stanford University

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

1992: Becomes a Vegetarian

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

1992: Received a Master of Arts in sociology from Stanford University

In 1992, Cory Booker received a Master of Arts degree in sociology from Stanford University.

1992: Writes Column for The Stanford Daily

In 1992, Cory Booker recounted in his column for The Stanford Daily an incident from when he was 15 years old about his changed attitudes towards sexual relations.

1992: Admits to Hating Gays in Column

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

1994: Earned a degree at Oxford

In 1994, Cory Booker earned a degree in United States history at The Queen's College, Oxford, as a Rhodes Scholar.

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: Moves to Brick Towers

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

1998: Served on the Municipal Council of Newark

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

1999: Sharpe James elected as state senator

In 1999, Sharpe James was elected as a state senator, a position he held when Cory Booker ran for mayor in 2006.

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.

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 2006: Assassination plot foiled

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

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.

November 2006: Moves to Hawthorne Avenue

In November 2006, Cory Booker left his apartment in Brick Towers for a rental on Hawthorne Avenue in Newark's South Ward.

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.

2008: City of Newark received Distinguished Budget Presentation Award

In 2008, the City of Newark received the Government Finance Officers Association's Distinguished Budget Presentation Award.

May 2009: Receives Honorary Degree from New Jersey Institute of Technology

In May 2009, Cory Booker received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from the Newark-based New Jersey Institute of Technology for his outstanding career in public service as the Mayor of Newark.

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: City of Newark received Distinguished Budget Presentation Award

In 2009, the City of Newark received the Government Finance Officers Association's Distinguished Budget Presentation Award.

2009: Satirical Feud with Conan O'Brien

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

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March 2010: Won a Shorty Award

In March 2010, Cory Booker won a Shorty Award in the government category for having the best microblog.

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.

July 2010: Attended dinner with 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 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 2010: Furloughs for city workers

From July through December 2010, Cory Booker's administration imposed one-day-a-month furloughs for all non-uniformed employees in Newark, as well as 2% pay cuts for managers and directors earning more than $100,000 a year.

December 2010: Receives Honorary Doctorate from Yeshiva University

In December 2010, Cory Booker received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Yeshiva University for his bold vision for Newark and setting a national standard for urban transformation.

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: Brick Towers Demolished

In 2010, Brick Towers was demolished, and a new mixed-income development was built there.

2010: Reelected as Mayor of Newark

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

May 13, 2011: Gives Commencement Address at New York Law School

On May 13, 2011, Cory Booker gave the commencement address to New York Law School graduates at Avery Fisher Hall (now David Geffen Hall) at Lincoln Center.

May 2011: Receives Honorary Degree from University of Rhode Island

In May 2011, Cory Booker received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the University of Rhode Island.

June 2011: Receives Honorary Degree from Williams College

In June 2011, Cory Booker received an honorary doctor of laws degree for the urban transformation of Newark and served as that year's commencement speaker at Williams College.

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.

April 12, 2012: Saved a woman from a house fire

On April 12, 2012, Cory Booker saved a woman from a house fire, suffering smoke inhalation and burns. His actions were credited with possibly saving her life.

May 2012: Receives Honorary Degree from Bard College

In May 2012, Cory Booker received an honorary doctor of laws degree from Bard College and gave the commencement speech.

June 17, 2012: Gives Commencement Address at Stanford University

On June 17, 2012, Cory Booker delivered a commencement address to Stanford University graduates at Stanford Stadium.

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.

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.

2012: Unsuccessful candidate for World Mayor prize

In 2012, Cory Booker was an unsuccessful candidate for the World Mayor prize.

January 2013: Rescued a dog from freezing temperatures

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

February 2013: Helped with a marriage proposal

In February 2013, Cory Booker helped a nervous constituent propose to his girlfriend after responding to a Twitter post.

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

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

July 2013: Rescued an abandoned dog

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

July 2013: Booker: 'Nothing in that realm of progressive politics where you won't find me.'

In a July 2013 interview with Salon, Cory Booker stated, "there's nothing in that realm of progressive politics where you won't find me."

September 2013: Booker on self-identifying as a progressive

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: 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: Refuses to Address Gay Rumors

In 2013, Cory Booker has generally refused to address rumors about being gay on principle.

2013: Elected to the U.S. Senate

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

2013: Named Top Bachelor

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

2013: Moves to Lincoln Park Townhouse

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

May 16, 2014: Gives 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: Starts Vegan Diet

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

2014: Reelected to the U.S. Senate

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

June 2016: Worships at Metropolitan Baptist Church

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

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.