Newark Mayor Cory Booker will move on to New Jersey’s special Senate election as the Democratic nominee after winning his party’s primary.
He’ll battle the GOP winner, former Bogota mayor Steve Lonegan, in the Oct. 16 contest, although polls show Booker is already considered the favorite to win the seat and become the first African American elected to the Senate since Barack Obama.
(Republican Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina is currently the only African American in the Senate, but he was appointed—not elected—to his seat.)
“Thank you. It is such an honor to be your nominee, to be your Democratic nominee for the United States Senate,” he told supporters at his victory party late Tuesday night in Newark.
Speaking with a slightly hoarse voice, Booker pledged to be “unwavering” in finding common ground in Washington, if he becomes the state’s next senator.
“The direction I will be most concerned with will not be right or left, it will be with going forward.”
A rising star in his party, Booker handily beat out a crowded field of Democratic candidates for the nomination Tuesday—a group that included Rep. Frank Pallone, Rep. Rush Holt and General Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver.
However, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said Monday at a press conference he fully anticipates endorsing the Republican nominee, no matter who wins Tuesday’s contest.
With more than 1.4 million followers on Twitter and Oprah Winfrey as one of his biggest supporters, Booker’s appeal and frequent television appearances have reached beyond the borders of the Garden State.
In addition to voting, Booker on Tuesday greeted voters and retweeted shout-outs from celebrities on Twitter, including comedian Sarah Silverman, California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, Hip-Hop mogul Russell Simmons, writer and actress Lena Dunham, and Ivana Trump, daughter of real estate titan Donald Trump.
Actress Eva Longoria appeared at an event for Booker on the eve of primary day, encouraging voters to turn out for the two-term mayor.
Elected in 2006, after losing his first mayoral attempt in 2002, the Stanford grad and former football player previously served on the Newark City Council. Booker’s resume also includes a law degree from Yale and a Rhodes Scholarship to Oxford.
His critics have accused the mayor of being more interested in his celebrity status than waging a serious campaign. But Booker’s high profile has helped in part with his massive fundraising haul. As of July 24, the candidate has raised $8.6 million and has $4 million in the bank, according to Federal Election Commission reports.
CNN’s Jim Acosta, Kevin Liptak and Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
Ashley Killough | CNN
