Cory Anthony Booker is an American politician, attorney, and author, currently serving as the junior United States Senator from New Jersey, a position he has held since 2013. Born on April 27, 1969, in Washington, D.C., Booker grew up in Harrington Park, New Jersey. His parents, Carolyn and Cary Booker, were among the first African American executives at IBM, setting a strong example of leadership and community service for their son. He graduated from Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan before going on to Stanford University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in political science and a Master of Arts in sociology.

During his time at Stanford, Booker became an All-American football player and also developed a passion for activism, notably organizing a crisis hotline for students. After Stanford, he won a Rhodes Scholarship to the University of Oxford, where he studied at The Queen’s College and earned an honors degree in United States history. He then went on to Yale Law School, where he received his Juris Doctor degree in 1997.

After law school, Booker moved to Newark, New Jersey, where he began working as a community organizer. His commitment to service led him to run for the Newark City Council in 1998, a position he won, making him the youngest person ever to hold that office at the time. Booker’s tenure on the city council was marked by his fight against corruption and his efforts to revitalize the city’s struggling neighborhoods. In 2002, he ran for mayor of Newark but was narrowly defeated by incumbent Sharpe James in a highly contentious race.

Undeterred, Booker ran again in 2006 and won the mayoral election by a wide margin. As mayor of Newark, Booker focused on reducing crime, improving public education, and attracting business investment to the city. He gained national attention for his hands-on approach to governance, including personally shoveling snow after a blizzard and rescuing a neighbor from a house fire. Booker’s efforts helped reduce Newark’s crime rate and attract new economic development, though critics argued that some of his initiatives did not deliver the promised long-term results.

In 2013, following the death of U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg, Booker ran in a special election to fill the vacant seat. He won the election, becoming the first African American U.S. Senator from New Jersey. Since taking office, Booker has focused on a range of issues, including criminal justice reform, economic justice, and healthcare. He played a key role in passing the First Step Act, a bipartisan criminal justice reform bill aimed at reducing mass incarceration and helping rehabilitate former prisoners.

Booker has also been an outspoken advocate for progressive causes such as universal healthcare, environmental justice, and LGBTQ+ rights. He ran for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020 but ended his campaign before the primaries, endorsing Joe Biden. Booker remains a prominent figure in the Democratic Party and continues to be a vocal advocate for social justice and civil rights.

Throughout his career, Booker has garnered a reputation as a charismatic and inspirational leader, often drawing on his personal experiences and his deep commitment to service. He is also known for his strong presence on social media, where he engages with his constituents and shares updates on his work in the Senate.

REFERENCE:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cory_Booker