(The Root) — Cory Booker is officially a U.S. senator.
Vice President Joe Biden swore in the former Newark, N.J., mayor, known for his boots-to-the-ground approach to governing, at noon today in the Old Senate Chamber of the U.S. Capitol.
While the event was technically open to the public, viewers were not allowed in to watch the proceedings but instead were taken to another room to view the live happenings on television sets. That didn't deter some 400 people who packed the Kennedy Caucus Room in the Russell Senate Office Building to get a glimpse of the man who is equally well known for his commitment to the community as he is for governing.
As the mayor of Newark, Booker saved a freezing dog, invited people who lost power during Hurricane Sandy to come over to his house, suffered second-degree burns on his hand while saving a woman from a burning building and helped shovel out trapped vehicles during a snowstorm.
Booker handed in his official resignation letter to the city of Newark last night, the Star-Ledger reports, but assured one Twitter follower that he would still be back to run the streets of Newark.
Read more at the Star-Ledger.