 Booker announced on February 11 , 2006 , that he would again run for mayor . Although incumbent Mayor Sharpe James filed paperwork to run for reelection , shortly thereafter he announced that he would instead cancel his bid to focus on his work as a State Senator , which he was originally elected to in 1999 . At James 's discretion , Deputy Mayor Ronald Rice decided to run as well . Booker 's campaign outspent Rice 's 25 to 1 , for which Rice attacked him . In addition to raising over $ 6 million for the race , Booker attacked Rice as a " political crony " of James . Booker won the May 9 election with 72 % of the vote . His slate of city council candidates , known as the " Booker Team " , swept the council elections , giving Booker firm leadership of the city government . 
