Cory Booker

Why they say you should vote for them

The candidate's own case to voters, summarized from their campaign and public statements.

• Says he is working for "justice and opportunity for all Americans" and a "more just, loving nation."[1]
• Says his campaign does not accept money from federal lobbyists, corporate PACs, or fossil fuel and pharmaceutical executives.[1],[2]
• Points to his record as Newark mayor, saying he doubled the city's production of affordable housing.[11]
• Describes his agenda as renewing the American Dream.[13]
• Cites his 2018 First Step Act criminal justice law as an example of bipartisan work.[2],[8]

Background

• U.S. Senator, U.S. Senate (New Jersey) · 2013–present[3],[4]
• Chair, Senate Democratic Strategic Communications Committee · 2025–present[4]
• Delivered a 25-hour, 5-minute floor speech, the longest in Senate history, U.S. Senate · 2025[5],[6]
• Candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, 2020 presidential election · 2019–2020[4]
• Mayor, City of Newark · 2006–2013[3],[4]
• Council member (Central Ward), Newark Municipal Council · 1998–2002[3],[4]
• Tenant lawyer; founded a nonprofit providing legal services to low-income families, Newark · Late 1990s[2],[3]

Education

• B.A. and M.A., Stanford University[3],[4]
• Rhodes Scholar, University of Oxford[2],[3]
• J.D., Yale Law School[2],[3]

Where they stand

• Health Care
  Calls health care "a human right"; supports protecting and building on the Affordable Care Act and permanent postpartum Medicaid coverage; leads the Black Maternal Health Momnibus in the Senate.[7]
• Abortion
  Introduced the Protecting National Access to Reproductive Care Act, which would affirm FDA authority over state laws for approved reproductive health products, including medication abortion.[7]
• Housing
  Introduced the Transit-Oriented Housing Development Act, which would raise private activity bond authority used with the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit by 30% and invest $300 billion over ten years in the national Housing Trust Fund.[11]
• Immigration
  Says he will not support more funding for ICE; has called for stronger detention oversight and for removing ICE officers hired without completed background checks. Said in the October 2026 debate that cities should be places where anyone, regardless of immigration status, feels safe coming forward to report crimes.[12],[14],[21]
• Public Safety
  Supports reducing incarceration and sentencing reform; authored the First Step Act and backs ending the federal prohibition on cannabis.[8]
• Energy & Environment
  Original cosponsor of the Green New Deal; supports environmental justice legislation, lead pipe replacement and reducing fossil-fuel-based plastic production.[10]
• Infrastructure
  Supports substantially increasing federal transportation investment, including the Gateway rail project under the Hudson River; says he helped pass the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.[9]
• Foreign Policy
  Criticized the U.S. war with Iran during the October 2026 debate; says military force should be a last resort, used alongside diplomacy.[21]

Voting record

A selection of notable recorded votes. Not a complete record.

In their words