History of Cory Booker in Timeline
Cory Booker is an American politician and lawyer currently serving as the senior United States senator from New Jersey since 2013. He is 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, and as a member of the Municipal Council of Newark for the Central Ward from 1998 to 2002.
1936: Birth of Cary Alfred Booker
In 1936, Cary Alfred Booker, Cory Booker's father, was born.
April 27, 1969: Cory Booker Born
On April 27, 1969, Cory Anthony Booker was born. He is an American politician and lawyer who serves as the senior United States senator from New Jersey.
1986: All-USA High School Football Team
In 1986, Cory Booker was named to the USA Today All-USA high school football team.
1991: BA in Political Science
In 1991, Cory Booker graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelor of Arts in political science.
1991: BA from Stanford University
In 1991, Cory Booker received a BA from Stanford University.
1992: Booker Admitted to "Hating Gays"
In 1992, Booker admitted in The Stanford Daily column that as a teenager, he had "hated gays."
1992: Booker wrote about a sexual encounter in The Stanford Daily Column
In 1992, Booker wrote in his The Stanford Daily column about a sexual encounter during his teenage years, his changed attitude toward sex, and messages he received about sex when he was young. Booker described an incident where he groped a drunk friend at a party when he was fifteen. He also discussed his disgust with sexist comments and his work as a peer counselor with victims of rape.
1992: MA in Sociology
In 1992, Cory Booker graduated from Stanford University with a Master of Arts in sociology.
1992: Booker Became a Vegetarian
In 1992, while a student at Oxford University, Booker became a vegetarian.
1994: Degree in United States history
In 1994, Cory Booker earned a degree in United States history at The Queen's College, Oxford.
1997: Juris Doctor from Yale Law School
In 1997, Cory Booker obtained his Juris Doctor from Yale Law School.
1998: Booker Lived in Brick Towers
From 1998, Booker lived in Brick Towers, a troubled housing complex in Newark's Central Ward.
1998: Served on Municipal Council of Newark
In 1998, Cory Booker served on the Municipal Council of Newark for the Central Ward.
1998: Won Municipal Council Seat
In 1998, Cory Booker won an upset victory for a seat on the Municipal Council of Newark.
1999: Sharpe James Elected as State Senator
In 1999, Sharpe James was elected as a state senator.
January 9, 2002: Announced Campaign for Mayor
On January 9, 2002, Cory Booker announced his campaign for mayor of Newark.
2002: End of Term on Municipal Council of Newark
In 2002, Cory Booker ended his term on the Municipal Council of Newark for the Central Ward.
2002: Mayoral Election Loss
In 2002, Cory Booker ran for mayor but lost to incumbent Sharpe James.
2002: Mayoral Campaign Documented
In 2002, Filmmaker Marshall Curry chronicled Cory Booker's mayoral campaign in the documentary Street Fight.
2005: "Street Fight" Academy Award Nomination
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: Announced Run for Mayor Again
On February 11, 2006, Cory Booker announced that he would run for mayor of Newark again.
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 Ruling in Booker's Favor
On June 20, 2006, Superior Court Judge Patricia Costello ruled in Cory Booker's favor in his lawsuit against the James administration.
July 1, 2006: Took Office as Mayor
On July 1, 2006, Cory Booker took office as mayor of Newark.
November 2006: Booker Moved to Hawthorne Avenue
In November 2006, Booker left his apartment in Brick Towers for the top unit in a three-story rental on Hawthorne Avenue in Newark's South Ward.
2006: Start of Crime Reduction
From 2006 to 2008, Newark led the nation in violent crime reduction during Cory Booker's mayoralty.
2006: Mayor of Newark
In 2006, Cory Booker became the 38th mayor of Newark.
2008: End of Crime Reduction
From 2006 to 2008, Newark led the nation in violent crime reduction during Cory Booker's mayoralty.
2008: Distinguished Budget Presentation Award
In 2008, the City of Newark received the Government Finance Officers Association's Distinguished Budget Presentation Award.
May 2009: Honorary Doctorate from New Jersey Institute of Technology and Brandeis University
In May 2009, Cory Booker received an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from the Newark-based New Jersey Institute of Technology and an honorary doctorate from Brandeis University.
October 2009: 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: Rejection of White House Position
In 2009, after Barack Obama became President, Cory Booker turned down the leadership of the new White House Office of Urban Affairs, citing his commitment to Newark.
2009: Distinguished 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, which ended with donations to Newark charities.
2009: Brick City Documentary Series
Since 2009, Cory Booker has starred in the documentary series Brick City, which focuses on his efforts to improve Newark.
March 2010: Won Shorty Award
In March 2010, Cory Booker won a Shorty Award in the government category for having the best microblog.
March 2010: Murder-Free Month in Newark
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
On April 3, 2010, Cory Booker announced his candidacy for reelection as mayor of Newark.
July 2010: 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
In September 2010, Mark Zuckerberg announced that he was donating $100 million to the Newark school system due to his conversation with Cory Booker.
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 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: Honorary Doctorate from Yeshiva University
In December 2010, Cory Booker received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Yeshiva University for his vision for Newark.
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 to shovel her elderly father's driveway.
2010: Primetime Emmy Nomination for Brick City
In 2010, Brick City, the documentary series starring Cory Booker, was nominated for a Primetime Emmy.
2010: Brick Towers Demolished and Replaced
In 2010, Brick Towers was demolished, and a new mixed-income development was built there.
2010: U.S. Senator 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: Support for Economic Policies
In 2010, Cory Booker supported long-term deficit reduction efforts for economic growth, cap and trade taxation to combat climate change, and increased funding for education.
2010: Re-elected as Mayor
In 2010, Cory Booker was reelected as the mayor of Newark.
May 13, 2011: New York Law School Commencement Address
On May 13, 2011, Cory Booker delivered the commencement address to New York Law School graduates at Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center.
May 2011: Honorary Doctorate and Commencement Address at University of Rhode Island
In May 2011, Cory Booker received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree and delivered a commencement address at the University of Rhode Island.
June 2011: Honorary Doctor of Laws 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.
2011: Contribution to Miss Representation
In 2011, Cory Booker contributed to the documentary Miss Representation and commented on the representations of women in politics in mass media.
April 12, 2012: Saved Woman from House Fire
On April 12, 2012, Cory Booker saved a woman from a house fire, suffering smoke inhalation and second-degree burns on his hands in the process.
May 12, 2012: Meet the Press Controversy
On May 12, 2012, Cory Booker generated controversy on Meet the Press by criticizing attacks on Mitt Romney's record at Bain Capital, leading to follow-up comments and staff resignation.
May 2012: 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.
June 17, 2012: Stanford University Commencement Address
On June 17, 2012, Cory Booker delivered a commencement address to Stanford University graduates at Stanford Stadium, also receiving an honorary degree.
October 2012: Opened 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.
2012: Unsuccessful World Mayor Candidate
Cory Booker was also an unsuccessful candidate for the 2012 World Mayor prize.
2012: Formation of Waywire
In 2012, Cory Booker and tech executives formed Waywire, a company focused on video sharing technology, with investments from figures like Oprah Winfrey and Eric Schmidt.
January 2013: Rescued Dog from Freezing Temperatures
In January 2013, Cory Booker rescued a dog from freezing temperatures.
February 2013: Helped with Marriage Proposal
In February 2013, Cory Booker helped a nervous constituent propose to his girlfriend after responding to a Twitter post.
May 2013: 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 Abandoned Dog
In July 2013, Cory Booker rescued a dog that had been abandoned in a cage.
July 2013: Progressive Politics Stance
In July 2013, during a Salon interview, Cory Booker stated that he aligned with progressive politics.
August 2013: Intention 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.
September 2013: Self-Identification as a Democrat and American
In September 2013, when asked by The Grio if he considered himself a progressive, Cory Booker stated that he identified as a Democrat and an American.
2013: Booker Refused to Address Gay Rumors
In 2013, Booker explained that he generally refused to address rumors about him being gay on principle.
2013: Death of Cary Alfred Booker
In 2013, Cary Alfred Booker (1936–2013), Cory Booker's father, passed away.
2013: U.S. Senator from New Jersey
In 2013, Cory Booker became the senior United States senator from New Jersey.
2013: Elected to U.S. Senate
In 2013, Cory Booker was elected to the U.S. Senate in New Jersey's special election.
2013: Named Top Bachelor
In 2013, Cory Booker was named one of Town & Country's "Top 40 Bachelors".
2013: Booker Lived in Lincoln Park
Since 2013, Booker has lived in a townhouse he owns in the Lincoln Park section of Newark's Central Ward.
May 16, 2014: 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: Booker Began Practicing a Vegan Diet
In 2014, Booker began practicing a vegan diet and expressed his vegan ethical philosophy and advocacy for animals.
2014: Reelected to U.S. Senate
In 2014, Cory Booker was reelected to the U.S. Senate.
2015: Appearance on Parks and Recreation
In 2015, Cory Booker appeared in a scene in the Parks and Recreation episode "Ms. Ludgate-Dwyer Goes to Washington".
June 2016: Booker Worshipped at Metropolitan Baptist Church
As of June 2016, Booker worshiped at the Metropolitan Baptist Church in Newark.
2016: Consideration as Vice Presidential Candidate
During the 2016 presidential election, Donna Brazile considered Cory Booker as a potential vice-presidential candidate to replace Hillary Clinton, but decided against it due to concerns about divisive reactions.
2016: Publication of Autobiography
In 2016, Cory Booker's autobiography, United: Thoughts on Finding Common Ground and Advancing the Common Good, was published.
April 2017: Criticism of US Strike on Syria
In April 2017, after the US strike on Syria, Cory Booker criticized the military action as being "without a clear plan" or authorization from Congress.
September 2017: Submission of Medicare for All Bill
In September 2017, Cory Booker, along with Bernie Sanders and 14 other co-sponsors, submitted a single-payer plan called the "Medicare for All" bill to Congress.
2017: 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: Support for Israeli Annexation of East Jerusalem
In 2017, Cory Booker supported a resolution celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Israeli annexation of East Jerusalem.
2017: Vote Against Lowering Prescription Drug Prices
In 2017, Cory Booker voted against a proposal to lower prescription drug prices, leading to criticism about his reliance on corporate support.
September 2018: The Stanford Daily Column Brought Up During Kavanaugh Hearings
In September 2018, The Daily Caller and Fox News brought up Booker's 1992 The Stanford Daily column during the Kavanaugh confirmation hearings. Booker considered Christine Blasey Ford's allegations "serious and credible" and criticized the Republican majority for failing to investigate them.
March 2019: Relationship with Rosario Dawson Confirmed
In March 2019, actress Rosario Dawson confirmed that she was in a relationship with Cory Booker.
December 2019: Failed to Qualify for Democratic Debate
In December 2019, Cory Booker failed to meet the polling thresholds to participate in the sixth Democratic Party presidential debate.
2019: Relationship with AIPAC
In 2019, Cory Booker discussed his relationship with AIPAC, mentioning frequent communication and emphasizing the common cause between America and Israel.
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: Endorsement of Joe Biden
In March 2020, Cory Booker endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden for president.
2020: Booker and RuPaul Discovered Relationship on TV Show
In 2020, Booker learned that he and entertainer RuPaul are cousins after both appeared on the TV show Finding Your Roots.
2020: Reelected to U.S. Senate
In 2020, Cory Booker was reelected to the U.S. Senate.
2021: Criticism for Judicial Recommendation
In 2021, The American Prospect criticized Cory Booker and Bob Menendez for recommending Christine O'Hearne to a federal judgeship due to her career defending employers against discrimination and sexual harassment claims.
February 2022: End of Relationship with Rosario Dawson
In February 2022, Cory Booker's relationship with actress Rosario Dawson ended.
November 2022: Booker Wrote Letter of Support for Elizabeth Holmes
In November 2022, Booker wrote a letter of support and leniency for Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes to the federal judge assigned to sentence her.
2022: Vote for the Respect for Marriage Act
In 2022, Cory Booker voted for the Respect for Marriage Act, emphasizing his support for LGBTQ+ rights.
August 20, 2024: Became Senior Senator
On August 20, 2024, Cory Booker became New Jersey's senior senator when Bob Menendez resigned.
2024: Appearance in Netflix Documentary
In 2024, Cory Booker appeared in the Netflix documentary You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment.
April 1, 2025: 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.
August 2025: Vote Against Blocking Arms Sale to Israel
In August 2025, Cory Booker was in a minority of Senate Democrats that voted against an effort to block the sale of military arms to Israel amid the Gaza war and humanitarian crisis.
September 2025: Engagement Announcement
In September 2025, Cory Booker announced his engagement to Alexis Lewis, who is senior vice president of investments at Brasa Capital Management.
November 24, 2025: Marriage to Alexis Lewis
On November 24, 2025, Cory Booker married Alexis Lewis in a civil ceremony in Newark, officiated by Judge Julien Neals.
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