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Cory Booker files paperwork for U.S. Senate; how's he done against the Truth-O-Meter?

New Jersey

Newark Mayor Cory Booker took aim at Gov. Chris Christie at a Planned Parenthood rally during the Democratic National Convention.

By Caryn Shinske January 11, 2013

Cory Booker running for a New Jersey Senate seat in 2014 isn’t just speculation anymore after Newark’s mayor filed paperwork that makes his candidacy more likely.

Booker, a Democrat, filed paperwork on Jan. 8 that sets up a Senate run.

Still unknown is whether Democrat Frank Lautenberg will run for re-election that year. Lautenberg is serving his fifth term in office. The Star-Ledger reported Friday that Rep. Frank Pallone (D-6th) could also challenge Booker.

PolitiFact New Jersey looked back at some of our fact-checks on Booker claims after he announced on Dec. 20, 2012 that he would mull a Senate run instead of challenging Republican Chris Christie in this year’s gubernatorial election.

Review those claims here.

To comment on this story, go to NJ.com.

See original rulings

stated on January 14, 2014 in a State of the State address:

"Today, our unemployment rate is 7.8 percent. That is the lowest in five years."

mostly-true

mostly-true

stated on December 19, 2013 in an Assembly session:

"What do Rutgers University, Kean University, Montclair State University, New Jersey City University, Stockton College, Rowan University and William Paterson all have in common? They all graduate less than 50 percent of their students within four years."

true

true

stated on December 30, 2013 in a column on BlueJersey.com:

Says New Jersey has "the highest unemployment rate in the region" and "stagnant job growth."

half-true

half-true

stated on November 30, 2013 in an interview on NJTV's 'On the Record' with Michael Aron program:

"This governor has given us continual balanced budgets without raising taxes."

half-true

half-true

stated on December 2, 2013 in response to subpoenas being sent out over a bridge lane-closure controversy:

"The fact that one town has three lanes dedicated to it, that kind of gets me sauced."

pants-fire

pants-fire

Loretta Weinberg

stated on November 14, 2013 in an interview on the John Gambling radio program:

"We pay among the highest tolls in the nation for the privilege of crossing that bridge."

true

true

stated on November 10, 2013 in interviews on four Sunday morning news shows:

Says New Jersey has gained "143,000 new private-sector jobs."

true

true

stated on November 2, 2013 in a response to a public school teacher:

"In fact, there’s more state funding for education today than any other time."

true

true

stated on October 21, 2013 in a gubernatorial campaign TV ad:

Says Barbara Buono "voted to raise her own pay 40 percent."

mostly-true

mostly-true

stated on October 7, 2013 in a speech to an American Legion in Little Ferry:

"Property taxes have increased 20 percent under four years of Chris Christie."

mostly-true

mostly-true

stated on October 8, 2013 in a speech to supporters in Carlstadt:

Chris Christie "has not increased the taxes on anyone."

half-true

half-true

stated on September 23, 2013 in an interview on the John Gambling radio show:

"Violent crime is up since the last year of Sharpe James’ administration. This year it’s higher. … The unemployment rate is almost 15 percent. The high school dropout rate is over 50 percent."

half-true

half-true

stated on September 23, 2013 in an interview on the John Gambling radio program:

"I would be the first Republican senator elected in New Jersey in 41 years."

true

true

stated on August 23, 2013 in a speech to students at the Rutgers New Brunswick campus:

Tuition at Rutgers has increased 10 percent since Gov. Chris Christie took office because he "cut funding for higher education."

half-true

half-true

stated on September 10, 2013 in an e-mailed campaign letter:

Newark is "now home to one-third of all commercial and multi-family development."

half-true

half-true

Facebook posts
stated on December 15, 2024 in Facebook posts:

Residents in states across the U.S. are eligible for a $2,200 holiday stimulus payment.

By Sofia Ahmed • December 20, 2024
Viral image
stated on December 17, 2024 in a Facebook post:

Video shows Dr. Mehmet Oz and singer Reba McEntire promoting treatment for chronic lung diseases.

By Ciara O'Rourke • December 20, 2024
Facebook posts
stated on December 11, 2024 in a Facebook post:

The NFL punished three referees in “the game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Minnesota Vikings.”

By Ciara O'Rourke • December 20, 2024
Viral image
stated on December 12, 2024 in a Facebook post:

Image shows Kate, the Princess of Wales, without hair.

By Ciara O'Rourke • December 20, 2024
Facebook posts
stated on December 16, 2024 in a Facebook post:

“The NFL has abruptly fired three referees who officiated the game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams.”

By Ciara O'Rourke • December 20, 2024
Instagram posts
stated on December 17, 2024 in an Instagram post:

Video shows Vice President Kamala Harris “is plastered again!”

By Ciara O'Rourke • December 20, 2024
Social Media
stated on December 16, 2024 in social media posts:

Tipster in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing is ineligible for reward money "because she called 911 instead of the tip line."

By Loreben Tuquero • December 19, 2024
Sara Jacobs
stated on December 18, 2024 in an X post:

Government shutdowns in 2013 and 2018 “cost our economy billions of dollars each.”

By Louis Jacobson • December 19, 2024
Department of Government Efficiency
stated on December 18, 2024 in an X post:

Spending plan to prevent a government shutdown includes “a pay increase for members of Congress from $174,000 to $243,000 per year.”

By Madison Czopek • December 19, 2024
Facebook posts
stated on December 10, 2024 in a Facebook post:

“Ivermectin is a treatment after Covid and after vaccination, it is an effective medicine in all phases of Covid 19.”

By Ciara O'Rourke • December 19, 2024