Moorestown Friends Students Elect Booker As Democratic Candidate

MOORESTOWN, NJ — Cory Booker may be out of the Democratic Presidential Primary race, but he’s still the favorite among students at the Moorestown Friends School.

Calvin Bell played the role of Cory Booker in the Moorestown Friends School’s 16th Mock Primary Election on Tuesday. Bell won the nomination with 25 percent of the vote, according to the Burlington County Times.

Afterward, he told the newspaper the experience gave him the enthusiasm to keep doing it. He interned for Booker during the summer after his sophomore year, and looks to study political science in college.

All candidates in this year’s Democratic Presidential Primary race were represented during the mock election, which school spokesperson Mike Schlotterbeck reiterated is only held for the party that is not in power.

The Mock Primary isn't an exact science. It has only correctly picked the eventual nominee three times, but correctly picked both parties’ nominees in 2008, according to the school.

Booker withdrew from the race on Monday, one day before the school held its mock primary. That didn’t prevent students at the school from selecting the New Jersey senator as their winner.

The mock primary evolved from the school's 60-year quadrennial tradition. From 1960 to 1996, Moorestown Friends School held Mock Political Conventions, during which students acted as the campaign managers and delivered impassioned speeches to rally support for their nominee.

Developed chiefly by Social Studies Teacher G. MacCulloch "Cully" Miller, the Mock Political Convention simulated a national political practice and typically featured the party that was out of power at the time. In 2000, the quadrennial tradition transitioned to what is today's Mock Primary Election.

In addition to the voting, the all-day event includes the traditional entrance parade, political speeches from the candidates, final campaigning efforts, and educational workshops featuring keynote speakers covering a range of topics that include political humor, the Electoral College, the impact of public speaking, social activism, international relations, and much more.

Images from the event can be seen below. All photos were provided by Moorestown Friends School.