Potential 2020-er Cory Booker makes endorsement in Johnson County supervisor’s race

In a minute-long video, Democratic U.S. senator from New Jersey Cory Booker voiced his support for a candidate for Johnson County supervisor

New+Jersey+Sen.+Cory+Booker+talks+with+the+media+on+Saturday%2C+October+6%2C+2018.+He+was+the+key+note+speaker+at+this+years+Democratic+Fall+Gala.+

Thomas A. Stewart

New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker talks with the media on Saturday, October 6, 2018. He was the key note speaker at this years Democratic Fall Gala.

Sarah Watson, Politics Editor

A national Democrat considering a presidential bid released a video endorsing a candidate for Johnson County Supervisor Wednesday.

Cory Booker, a Democrat U.S. senator from New Jersey, released a 50-second video supporting Royceann Porter, a community organizer aiming to make history in a December special election.

If elected to the board of supervisors, Porter would become the first African American elected to a county-wide position in Johnson County’s history.

“[I’m] so excited about Royceann Porter who is running on Dec. 18 for a special election to be County Supervisor,” Booker said in the video, posted on Democratic site Iowa Starting Line. “This is a critical election we need folks to turn out and vote, your voice makes a difference on this critical office.”

Porter is running to fill the seat left vacated after supervisor Kurt Friese’s death in October. She’s running against Republican Phil Hemingway, who ran unsuccessfully for supervisor in November against Pat Heiden and Janelle Rettig, both Democrats.

Booker made a trip to Iowa once before the 2018 elections, stopping in Des Moines for a state Democratic fundraiser and North Liberty.

Iowa will be the first state to select presidential nominees for each party in 2020, as Iowa’s February caucuses lead the nation.