Cory Booker is running for president—here’s what you should know about him
The 2020 presidential race is heating up. Several Democrats have already announced their candidacy in what is sure to be a historic race, featuring more women and people of color than ever before. And CNN reports that today, February 1st, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker announced that he will run for president in 2020. Booker is the second person-of-color to enter the 2020 race (the first being California Senator Kamala Harris), and CNN notes that, at 49, he is the youngest senator in the campaign so far. He chose to launch his campaign on the first day of Black History Month, releasing a video of himself walking through the streets of Newark, where he still lives.
"The history of our nation is defined by collective action; by interwoven destinies of slaves and abolitionists; of those born here and those who chose America as home; of those who took up arms to defend our country, and those who linked arms to challenge and change it," he said in a voiceover.
I’m running for president. Join me on this journey. https://t.co/fEDqOVIfwh pic.twitter.com/h1FTPUYRzo
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) February 1, 2019
Booker was born and raised in New Jersey, according to his website. After obtaining his law degree from Yale Law School, he returned to the state and established a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing legal services to low-income families. He later served on the Newark City Council, and was elected mayor of the city in 2006. In 2013, he was elected to the Senate in a special election.
During Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings in September, NBC News reported that Booker released dozens of confidential documents about the judicial nominee. Some of the documents contained information about Kavanaugh’s role in helping President George W. Bush nominate an appellate court judge who was criticized for his views on civil rights.
These are the 4 documents marked committee confidential that I brought up in my questioning of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh last night –> https://t.co/2RZkY2FS9a
— Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) September 6, 2018
The New York Times points out that Booker has supported charter schools and maintained a good relationship with former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a Republican. The Times notes that some of his past policies could be considered “pro-business,” and during the 2012 presidential campaign, he criticized President Barack Obama for attacking Mitt Romney’s involvement with an investment firm.
Booker probably won’t be the last politician to declare his campaign for president, and with such a crowded field of candidates, it’s important to stay informed about who’s running. May the best candidate win.
