Booker Wins New Jersey Senate Seat

The Newark mayor is headed to Washington after chalking up a decisive victory

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Eduardo Munoz / Reuters

U.S. Senate candidate Cory Booker speaks during his campaign's election night event in Newark, New Jersey, October 16, 2013

Cory Booker’s ascension as one of the brightest young stars in the Democratic Party was cemented with authority on Wednesday night as the Newark mayor won the special election for New Jersey’s vacant seat in the Senate.

With more than 75% of the precincts reporting, the 44-year-old Booker had 56% of the vote according to the AP and was set to become the first African-American senator to represent New Jersey. The special election followed the death of Senator Frank Lautenberg in June at the age of 89.

Booker, a big user of social media, tweeted his victory, thanking his 1,427,848 followers for their support:

[AP]