History of Cory Booker in Timeline
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.
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.
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.
1986: Booker Named to 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: 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.
1999: Sharpe James Elected as a state senator
In 1999 Sharpe James elected as a state senator, a position he decided to focus on in 2006
January 9, 2002: Booker Announced Mayoral Campaign
On January 9, 2002, Cory Booker announced his campaign for mayor of Newark against incumbent Sharpe James.
2002: Cory Booker Lost Mayoral Election
In 2002, Cory Booker ran for mayor but lost to incumbent Sharpe James.
2002: Filmed for Documentary "Street Fight"
In 2002, Cory Booker's mayoral campaign was chronicled in the documentary Street Fight.
2005: "Street Fight" nominated for Academy Award
In 2005, the documentary "Street Fight", chronicling Cory Booker's 2002 mayoral campaign, was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
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.
June 20, 2006: Judge ruled in Booker's favor regarding land deals
On June 20, 2006, Superior Court Judge Patricia Costello ruled in Cory Booker's favor, concerning the lawsuit against the James administration to terminate cut-rate land deals.
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.
2006: Start of Cory Booker's Mayoralty
Cory Booker started as mayor in 2006 and lead the nation in violent crime reduction from 2006 to 2008. During his mayoralty, crime dropped significantly in Newark.
2006: Cory Booker Defeated Deputy Mayor Ronald Rice
In 2006, Cory Booker ran again for mayor and defeated Deputy Mayor Ronald Rice.
2008: Violent crime reduction
Cory Booker started as mayor in 2006 and lead the nation in violent crime reduction from 2006 to 2008. During his mayoralty, crime dropped significantly in Newark.
2008: City of Newark Received Budget Presentation Award
In 2008, the City of Newark received the Government Finance Officers Association's Distinguished Budget Presentation Award.
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.
October 2009: Cory Booker Received 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.
2009: Turned Down White House Office Leadership
In 2009, after Barack Obama became President, Cory Booker declined the leadership of the new White House Office of Urban Affairs, citing his commitment to Newark.
2009: City of Newark Received Budget Presentation Award
In 2009, the City of Newark received the Government Finance Officers Association's Distinguished Budget Presentation Award.
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.
2009: Starred in Documentary Series Brick City and Won Peabody Award
Since 2009, Cory Booker has starred in the documentary series Brick City, which focuses on his efforts to improve Newark. In 2009, Brick City won a Peabody Award.
March 2010: Booker Won Shorty Award for Best Microblog
In March 2010, Cory Booker won a Shorty Award in the government category for having the best microblog.
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: Furloughs and Pay Cuts Implemented
From July through December 2010, Cory Booker's administration imposed one-day-a-month furloughs for all non-uniformed employees, as well as 2% pay cuts for managers and directors earning more than $100,000 a year.
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: Received John Heinz Award
In 2010, Cory Booker received the U.S. Senator John Heinz Award for Greatest Public Service by an Elected or Appointed Official.
2010: Cory Booker Reelected Mayor
In 2010, Cory Booker was reelected as mayor of Newark.
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.
2010: "Brick City" Nominated for Primetime Emmy
In 2010, the documentary series Brick City, starring Cory Booker, was nominated for a Primetime Emmy.
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.
2011: Contributed to Miss Representation
In 2011, Cory Booker contributed to the documentary Miss Representation, commenting on the representations of women in politics in mass media.
May 12, 2012: Remarks on Meet the Press Criticizing Obama Campaign
On May 12, 2012, Cory Booker appeared on Meet the Press and criticized Obama's reelection campaign attacks on Mitt Romney's record at Bain Capital, causing controversy.
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.
2012: Booker was a candidate for the world Mayor prize
In 2012, Cory Booker was an unsuccessful candidate for the world Mayor prize.
2012: Formation of Waywire
In 2012, Cory Booker, Sarah Ross, and Nathan Richardson formed Waywire, a video sharing technology company.
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.
August 2013: Intended Resignation from Waywire Board
In August 2013, Cory Booker announced his intention to resign from the Waywire board if elected to the Senate.
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: Death of Cary Alfred Booker
In 2013, Cary Alfred Booker, Cory Booker's father, passed away.
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: Cory Booker Elected to U.S. Senate
In 2013, Cory Booker was elected to the U.S. Senate in New Jersey's special election.
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.
2014: Cory Booker Reelected to U.S. Senate
In 2014, Cory Booker was reelected to the U.S. Senate.
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.
June 2016: Booker Worshiped at Metropolitan Baptist Church
As of June 2016, Cory Booker was worshiping at the Metropolitan Baptist Church in Newark.
2016: Considered as Replacement Ticket for Clinton
During the 2016 presidential election, Donna Brazile considered Cory Booker as a potential replacement ticket alongside Joe Biden for Hillary Clinton when she fell ill, but the idea was not pursued.
2016: Authored Autobiography "United"
In 2016, Cory Booker wrote his autobiography, United: Thoughts on Finding Common Ground and Advancing the Common Good.
April 2017: Booker Criticizes US Strike on Syria
In April 2017, following the US strike on Syria, Cory Booker criticized the military action for lacking a clear plan and congressional authorization.
September 2017: Booker Co-sponsors "Medicare for All" Bill
In September 2017, Cory Booker joined Bernie Sanders and others in submitting the "Medicare for All" bill to Congress, advocating for a single-payer health care plan.
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.
2017: Vote Against Lowering Prescription Drug Prices
In 2017, Cory Booker faced criticism from progressives for voting against a proposal to lower prescription drug prices, leading to accusations of being too reliant on corporate support.
September 2018: Past Column Brought Up During Kavanaugh Hearings
In September 2018, during the Kavanaugh confirmation hearings, The Daily Caller and Fox News referenced a 1992 column by Cory Booker recounting a sexual encounter.
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.
December 2019: Failed to Meet Debate Polling Thresholds
In December 2019, Cory Booker failed to meet the polling thresholds required to participate in the sixth Democratic Party presidential debate, impacting his campaign trajectory.
January 13, 2020: Booker 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: Endorsed Joe Biden for President
In March 2020, Cory Booker endorsed former vice president Joe Biden for president, following the suspension of his own campaign.
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.
2020: Cory Booker Reelected to U.S. Senate
In 2020, Cory Booker was reelected to the U.S. Senate.
2021: Criticism for Judgeship Recommendation
In 2021, The American Prospect criticized Cory Booker and Bob Menendez for recommending Christine O'Hearne to a federal judgeship, citing her history of defending employers against discrimination claims.
February 2022: Relationship with Rosario Dawson Ended
In February 2022, Cory Booker's relationship with actress Rosario Dawson ended.
November 2022: Wrote Letter of Support for Elizabeth Holmes
In November 2022, Cory Booker wrote a letter of support and leniency for Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes before her sentencing hearing.
2022: Booker Supports Respect for Marriage Act
In 2022, Cory Booker demonstrated his support for LGBTQ+ rights by voting for the Respect for Marriage Act.
August 20, 2024: Cory Booker Became New Jersey's Senior Senator
On August 20, 2024, Cory Booker became New Jersey's senior senator following Bob Menendez's resignation.
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.
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.
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