49-year old United States Senator Cory Booker has officially declared his candidacy for the Democratic Party’s nomination for President in 2020. Booker, the former Mayor of Newark, won his Senate seat during a 2013 special election following the death of Senator Frank Lautenberg, becoming New Jerseys first African-American Senator. He subsequently won a six-year term in 2014.
Booker announced his candidacy on Twitter on Friday morning, February 1st at 7 o’clock before holding his first press conference following his announcement in front of his home in New Jersey’s largest city.
He told the large media gathering that he believes “America can build a country where no one is forgotten or left behind.”
Booker has gained a large national following through his passionate speeches and extensive social media presence. He was also on Democratic Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s short list of potential Vice Presidential candidates during the 2016 campaign.
An outspoken critic of Republican President Donald Trump, Senator Booker has been known to reach across party lines. He has teamed with Republican Senators Rand Paul of Kentucky and Mike Lee of Utah on criminal justice issues. In fact, Broker’s number one legislative priority was signed into law by President Trump in December; offering shorter prison sentences to nonviolent drug offenders.
When New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed a law late last year allowing candidates to run for two elected offices at the same time, it became clear that Senator Booker would seek the Presidency without fear of losing his Senate seat.
Booker joins a growing list of announced Democrats seeking the Presidential nomination, including U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York.
If he becomes President, Booker would become the first unmarried man to hold the country’s highest office since 1856.
Hudson TV reporter Jeff Henig attended Senator Broker’s press conference on Friday, reporting live on Facebook.
