NJ Sen. Cory Booker Is Running For President

NEWARK, NJ — U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, the former Newark mayor who has served in Congress since 2013, has announced that he's running for president of the United States.

Booker released a video message Friday saying he believes "that we can build a country where no one is forgotten, no one is left behind, where parents can put food on the table, where there are good paying jobs with good benefits in every neighborhood." (Watch the video below)

Booker joins an already crowded Democratic field looking to face President Donald Trump in 2020.

The senator references his deep ties to Newark on his campaign website:

"Instead of going to work for a big law firm after graduating from Yale Law School, Cory moved to Newark to represent tenants taking on slumlords. Two decades later, including after serving for more than seven years as mayor, Cory still lives in Newark’s Central Ward."

"The lines that divide us are nowhere near as strong as the ties that bind us," Booker states on his website. "When we join together and work together — we rise together."

• See related article: Watch NJ's Cory Booker Speak About His Presidential Campaign

In November 2018, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill that will allow a candidate to seek a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives or Senate and president or vice president at the same time.

Later that month, Booker told a NJ.com reporter that he'd "consider running for president."

• See related article: Murphy Signs 6 Bills Into Law, Boosts Booker's Presidential Hopes
• See related article: Cory Booker Vs. Trump? NJ Senator 'Considering Run For President'

Booker had "early conversations" with some top Iowa presidential campaign strategists, including one who worked with Hillary Clinton and another who worked with former President Barack Obama, CNBC reported.

Booker has a pretty good shot at earning the top nomination in 2020 from the Blue Wave, some gambling experts say. US-Bookies, a service which aggregates European betting sites, puts Booker's odds of winning the Democratic Party nomination in 2020 at 10 to 1, behind only U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris of California (5 to 1) and Rep. Beto O'Rourke of Texas (6 to 1).

While Booker and President Trump have shared common ground on political issues before - such as criminal justice reform under the "First Step Act" - Trump has taken public jabs at the senator, criticizing his track record as mayor in Newark.

"Take a look at Cory Booker," the President remarked during a news conference in October 2018. "He ran Newark into the ground. He was a horrible mayor."

For what it's worth, Booker hasn't been silent about his disdain for Trump and his administration, either, blasting the POTUS for his stances on tax reform, immigration and the environment.

• See related article: Cory Booker 'Ran Newark Into The Ground' As Mayor, Trump Says

In the wake of Booker's presidential campaign announcement, several Garden State officials and groups spoke in his favor.

“I have known Senator Booker since his days as a Newark city councilman and he remains one of the hardest working, passionate and committed public servants I have ever had the chance to work alongside," New Jersey Assemblyman John McKeon said.

"Throughout his career he has been a tireless advocate for the people of New Jersey; fighting nonstop for the issues that matter must to us," McKeon said. "I have no doubt he will do the same as president. I look forward to supporting his campaign and I plan to do everything in my power to help him win. He is the right candidate to take on President Trump in 2020."

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. said that he predicted "Cory Booker would be our next president" more than a year ago.

"I am overjoyed that he announced his candidacy today," DiVincenzo Jr. said."I have worked with Cory on the local and national levels and, no matter what the issue, his concern has always been about doing what is best for the public. His unique way of bringing people together, courage to work across party lines and passion to challenge what is wrong are the traits America needs in its next leader. Without a doubt, I strongly support Cory Booker for President in 2020."

Garden State Equality called Booker a "champion and ally for LGBTQ equality."

"Long before he got to Washington—and long before defending equality was popular—Senator Booker was on the frontlines of our movement," the nonprofit stated. "From sparring with Gov. Christie over marriage equality to taking on President Trump’s transgender military ban, New Jersey's LGBTQ community has no better defender today than Senator Booker."

Recent issues and causes that Booker has supported include the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), criminal justice reform, gun control, recreational marijuana legalization, "combating wealth inequality," investment in water and public infrastructure and "simplifying" student financial aid.

• See related article: Cory Booker Takes On 'Foodopoly,' Wants To Halt Big Agro Mergers
• See related article: Cory Booker, Bernie Sanders Support Plan To Cut Drug Costs In US
• See related article: US Marijuana Legalization Bill Would End 'War On Weed'

BOOKER'S CAMPAIGN TEAM

On Friday, Booker announced several members of his national campaign team.

Addisu Demissie will serve as Campaign Manager. Demissie most recently served as Campaign Manager for Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) and as National Voter Outreach and Mobilization Director on Hillary Clinton’s 2016's presidential campaign. Demissie managed Booker's first campaign for US Senate in 2013.

Jenna Lowenstein will serve as Deputy Campaign Manager. Lowenstein most recently served as Campaign Manager for Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and as Digital Director for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign. Lowenstein previously served as Vice President of Digital at Emily's List.

Matt Klapper will serve as Senior Advisor. Klapper has served for four years as Senator Booker's chief of staff. Klapper previously served as Policy Director for Booker's 2013 Senate election, as Chief Policy Advisor to Mayor Booker in Newark City Hall and as a professional firefighter in New Jersey.

Modia Butler will serve as Senior Strategist. Butler has previously served as Senator Booker's New Jersey Chief of Staff, as Chief of Staff to Mayor Booker in Newark City Hall, and as Chairman for the Newark Housing Authority.

Tamia Booker will serve as National Political Director. Booker has served as Deputy Chief of Staff in Senator Cory Booker's Washington, DC, office. Booker previously worked as African American Outreach Director for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign and as the Director of Constituency & Allied Groups Outreach at the Democratic National Convention Committee. Tamia Booker is not related to Cory Booker.

Lauren Dikis will serve as National Finance Director. Dikis has served as Booker's Finance Director since his first Senate campaign in 2013 and previously served as Campaign Services Director at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC).

Jeff Giertz will serve as National Communications Director. Giertz has served as Communications Director in Senator Cory Booker's Washington, DC office. Giertz previously worked as Communications Director for Rep. Bruce Braley (D-IA)'s 2014 US Senate campaign, and also worked on President Obama's 2008 campaign.

Michael Tyler will serve as Deputy National Communications Director. Tyler has served as Chief of Staff to DNC Chair Tom Perez and as Spokesperson and National Press Secretary for the DNC.

With additional reporting by Eric Kiefer, Patch staff

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