 On August 13 , 2013 , Booker was declared the winner of the Democratic primary , with approximately 59 % of the vote . On October 16 , 2013 , he defeated Republican Steve Lonegan in the general election 55 % to 44 % , making him the first African @-@ American U.S. Senator from New Jersey and the first African @-@ American to be elected to the Senate since Barack Obama in 2004 . The night before his victory , Booker visited the gravesite of Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson , where he offered his prayers and lit a vigil in memory of his father . 
