WASHINGTON — When the Senate clerk called the names of the U.S. senators during floor votes last year, Cory Booker usually didn’t answer.
Booker, on the campaign trail seeking the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, made only 35 percent of the votes last year, according to Congressional Quarterly.
That was a smaller percentage than any other member of either the House or Senate, including other lawmakers also seeking the Democratic nomination for president.
Booker ended his presidential campaign last month and filed for re-election to the Senate. During the three years before he sought the presidency, he was there for at least 95 percent of the votes.
Second in terms of missed votes last year was U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who voted just 36 percent of the time, followed by U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif. with 38 percent. Sanders remains in the race while Harris exited before Booker did.
“It’s well-known that Senator Booker missed a number of votes last year under unique circumstances, the vast majority of which were procedural, symbolic, or non-binding,” Booker spokeswoman Kristin Lynch said.
“It’s also well-known that Senator Booker was one of the most productive members of the Senate last year, writing and passing bills into law that directly help New Jerseyans despite the Trump administration and congressional Republicans’ gridlock,” she said.
Booker helped write laws to help states replace lead water pipes and to overhaul the criminal justice system. He also worked to permanently fund the account that pays compensation to 9/11 first responders and introduced legislation requiring gun owners to be licensed and to make lynching a federal crime.
Pharmacist Rik Mehta, who is seeking the Republican nomination to take on Booker, criticized the incumbent’s attendance record.
“Cory Booker was elected to represent New Jersey in the U.S. Senate, not run for president and leave us behind," Mehta said. “Unfortunately, that is exactly what he did. Our taxpayers send more to Washington, D.C., and get less back than any other state, yet we have a U.S. senator who can’t even be bothered to show up for work and fight for us.”
The House member to miss the most votes was another Democratic presidential candidate, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii. (House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., traditionally does not vote.)
On the other end of the scale, nine senators and 23 representatives, including Rep. Andy Kim, D-3rd Dist., made every vote.
Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant or on Facebook. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.
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