Ryan Haygood, a New Jersey civil rights lawyer, said he found Mr. Booker’s willingness to put “his full self into it” inspirational. “We need voices everywhere, on every level, fighting for the foundation and soul of this country,” said Mr. Haygood, who leads the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice.
“Thank you, Cory, for your commitment to protecting the values our country was built on,” Gov. Philip D. Murphy of New Jersey wrote on social media.