Cory Booker: "We, the people, are the heroes this country needs"

The New Jersey Senator has been a face of the Democratic Party's resistance to the Trump administration.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 2:24pm

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New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, who previously served as mayor of Newark, has been outspoken in his criticism of the Trump administration and the Republican Party. In a new book, "Stand", Booker encourages Americans to come together and be the "heroes this country needs". He has also been pushing for hearings and accountability over the U.S. involvement in the war with Iran, which he believes is unconstitutional.

Why it matters

Booker has been a prominent voice in the Democratic Party's resistance to the Trump administration, and his new book "Stand" reflects his vision for the country and his hopes for the future. As a Senator, he has taken bold actions like his record-breaking filibuster speech, and he continues to advocate for issues like ending the conflict in the Middle East and helping Americans lower their federal income taxes.

The details

Booker grew up in a predominantly white suburb of New Jersey, but chose to make Newark his home, serving as the city's mayor before being elected to the U.S. Senate. He has been outspoken in his criticism of the Trump administration and the Republican Party, and has called out some of his Democratic colleagues as "complicit" in the current political climate. In his new book "Stand", Booker encourages Americans to come together and be the "heroes this country needs".

  • Booker served as mayor of Newark from 2006 to 2013.
  • Booker was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2013 and is currently serving his second term.
  • Booker's book "Stand" was published in 2026.

The players

Cory Booker

A U.S. Senator from New Jersey who has been a prominent voice in the Democratic Party's resistance to the Trump administration. He previously served as mayor of Newark and is the author of the new book "Stand".

Sharpe James

The former mayor of Newark who referred to Booker as "White, gay, Jewish, and Republican" during Booker's unsuccessful mayoral campaign in 2002.

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What they’re saying

“We, the people, are the heroes this country needs.”

— Cory Booker, U.S. Senator

“I want us to call out the corrupt system. A lot of the bad things we're talking about didn't start with Donald Trump.”

— Cory Booker, U.S. Senator

“I know it's unconstitutional, because the fair reading of the Constitution, only the United States Senate has the right to declare war. The president can defend the country if there is an imminent threat, and he has not been able to show what was the imminent threat he was trying to stop.”

— Cory Booker, U.S. Senator

What’s next

Booker is up for re-election in the U.S. Senate in New Jersey in 2026, and he has indicated that he plans to be "a part of the fight in 2028" for another "big moment in America".

The takeaway

Cory Booker has emerged as a prominent voice in the Democratic Party's resistance to the Trump administration, and his new book "Stand" reflects his vision for the country and his hopes for the future. As a Senator, he has taken bold actions and continues to advocate for issues like ending the conflict in the Middle East and helping Americans lower their federal income taxes.