Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) is heading back to South Carolina this month for a pair of NAACP events, a move that will intensify chatter about his ambitions for the 2028 Democratic presidential nomination.
Booker's office confirmed Thursday that he will speak at the Sumter County NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet on Friday and then travel to Charleston for the organization's annual Freedom Fund Gala on Nov. 20. The appearances come on top of two earlier trips to the Palmetto State this year, including the NAACP's King Day at the Dome in January and campaign stops with Sen.-elect Annie Andrews (D-S.C.) and other Democratic congressional hopefuls.
The early-state travel is a familiar pattern for Booker, who ran for president in 2020 but dropped out in January of that year before the primaries began, citing poor polling and a lack of campaign cash. While he is not currently seen as a top-tier contender for 2028, his repeated visits to a crucial early primary state have not gone unnoticed.
In March, Booker told NBC's Bristen Welker that he was "not ruling out" another presidential bid, though he quickly pivoted to his Senate reelection campaign, saying he hoped "New Jersey will support me for another six years."
That campaign paid off Tuesday, as Booker easily defeated Republican Justin Murphy. With 94% of the vote counted, the incumbent led by more than 27 percentage points, according to Decision Desk HQ.
Should Booker enter the 2028 race, he would face a crowded field of Democratic heavyweights. Former Vice President Kamala Harris is an early favorite, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom has said he would not challenge her. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) has signaled she is still weighing her options, including a potential primary challenge to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Booker's South Carolina swing also comes as Democrats assess their performance in the 2024 elections, where they saw mixed results in key races. In North Carolina, Democrats flipped three GOP-held House seats, including the upset of NRCC Chair Richard Hudson by former state Sen. Chris Ojeda. Meanwhile, in South Dakota, voters approved a constitutional ban on noncitizen voting and backed a photo ID requirement for all ballots.
For Booker, the NAACP events offer a chance to build goodwill with a key Democratic constituency. South Carolina's Democratic primary in 2020 was won by Joe Biden, and the state's Black voters are expected to play a decisive role in the 2028 nomination fight.
Whether Booker's visits are a prelude to a formal campaign remains to be seen, but his willingness to keep returning to early states is a signal that he is at least keeping the door open.
