Cory Booker, the charismatic U.S. senator from New Jersey, has never been married and doesn’t have any children, but his dating life has been anything but quiet. Over the years, he’s been linked to some high-profile women, making his love life a topic of public fascination. His most notable relationship was with actress and activist Rosario Dawson, which lasted from 2019 to 2022.
The pair met at a political fundraiser in 2019, and Booker later gushed about their first conversation to The Washington Post, saying, “I mean, gosh, that night we talked for hours and hours.” He even shared the awkward moment he asked for her number, admitting, “I think I said something really stupid like, ‘Uh, how would I get in touch with you?’ And she mercifully said something like, ‘Oh, you want my phone number?’ And my insides were like, ‘Hell, yeah!’”
Dawson, for her part, called him “so charming,” and their relationship quickly became a media darling.
Cory Booker Never Had a Wife or Kids, but His Most Notable Girlfriend Was Rosario Dawson
By 2020, Booker and Dawson had moved in together, just as he was hitting the campaign trail for his presidential run. The pandemic brought them closer, with Booker telling People they were “working on cooking together a lot more.” Their relationship seemed serious, with Dawson telling Bustle that living together made her think more responsibly about love, especially considering the spotlight on her family, including her daughter.
There was even speculation about marriage, but Dawson played coy when asked by TMZ, saying, “I didn’t want to say” whether wedding bells were in their future. Unfortunately, by February 2022, reports surfaced that they’d split, though they remained friends. Dawson later moved on, spotted with Adama Sanneh in 2024 and dating Nnamdi Okafo by October 2022.
Before Dawson, Booker dated Cleo Wade, an Instagram poet and former stylist for Katy Perry, in 2016. Their relationship was lower-key but still made headlines, especially since Wade had previously been linked to actor Robert Pattinson.
Page Six covered their outings, but unlike his later relationship with Dawson, Booker kept things more private. He’s never publicly confirmed other relationships, but his status as one of Town & Country’s “Top 40 Bachelors” in 2013 hints at his appeal. Booker has joked about his dating life, calling himself a “straight male” and admitting he’s “trying to date more” in hopes of settling down someday.
Booker’s approach to relationships reflects his broader philosophy on love and vulnerability. In 2019, he told Ebony that Dawson taught him “a lot of lessons about love,” adding, “Sometimes you show the greatest strength when you make yourself vulnerable.” He credited her “nurturing spirit” for making him “more courageous” in both personal and public life. This openness is a hallmark of Booker’s personality, whether he’s discussing policy or his personal growth.
Despite his romantic ups and downs, Booker has always prioritized his career and public service. From his early days as Newark’s mayor to his current role as a senator, his work has taken center stage. Even during his relationship with Dawson, he balanced campaigning for president with their private life. His 25-hour Senate filibuster in March 2025, the longest in U.S. history, showed his relentless dedication to politics.
Booker’s personal life remains a mix of privacy and public curiosity. He keeps his Instagram focused on work, avoiding relationship updates, but his past comments and high-profile romances offer glimpses into his world. Whether he’ll eventually settle down with a wife and kids is still an open question, but for now, Cory Booker’s story is one of love, lessons, and a whole lot of Senate speeches.
