Cory Booker, close to NJ and national Jewish communities, wins Senate seat
Newark mayor elected to represent the Garden State, maintains strong ties to pro-Israel groups
WASHINGTON (JTA) — Cory Booker, the Newark mayor who headed two Jewish student societies while in university, was elected to represent New Jersey in the US Senate.
Booker, a Democrat, coasted to a win in a special election Wednesday to succeed the late Frank Lautenberg, defeating Republican Steve Lonegan with 55 percent to 44 percent of the vote, according to unofficial counts.
Booker retains strong ties with the New Jersey and national Jewish communities, and also is close to pro-Israel groups.
He is not Jewish, but immersed himself in Jewish learning in his university days, heading Jewish student societies at Oxford and Yale universities.
Booker will serve out the term of his fellow Democrat Lautenberg, who died in June, through 2014. Booker has indicated he will run for a full term next year.