Senator Cory Booker just tied the knot, and the internet couldn't resist turning a joyful announcement into a cultural moment. Over Thanksgiving weekend, the New Jersey Democrat married Alexis Lewis, a real estate investment professional, in two intimate ceremonies—one at Newark's federal courthouse and another in Washington, D.C. What should have been a straightforward love story instead became a flashpoint for decades-old speculation about Booker's personal life.
The Wedding: A Two-City Celebration
Booker and Lewis said their vows in late November 2025, less than three months after announcing their engagement in September. The couple chose deeply meaningful locations for their ceremonies:
Newark, where Booker built his political career as a city councilman and mayor, and
Washington, D.C., Lewis's hometown. The D.C. celebration was notably interfaith, reflecting Booker's Christian faith and Lewis's Jewish heritage.
"Overflowing with gratitude," Booker posted on Instagram. "We said 'I do' in two places that shaped us—Cory's beloved Newark and Alexis's hometown of Washington, D.C.—first at the courthouse, then with our families. Hearts full and so grateful."
The couple kept the celebrations intimate, with only close family members present. Booker's mother, Carolyn Booker, attended the festivities, as did Lewis's parents, Jerome Lewis and Leslie Gar Lewis.
Who Is Alexis Lewis?
Lewis works at
Brasa Capital Management, a Los Angeles-based real estate investment firm. Before that, she served in the administration of former Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. The couple met through mutual friends in May 2024, and their connection was immediate—their first date lasted more than five hours. Booker was so taken that he asked for a second date that same night, which he later described as "even more magical," culminating in their first kiss outside Newark's Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart.
The Internet's Unexpected Reaction
What's remarkable isn't the wedding itself—it's what happened next. Social media immediately resurfaced decades-old rumors and speculation about Booker's sexuality, turning a personal milestone into a referendum on his private life. Meme pages revived old jokes. Screenshots of ancient speculation circulated. Even former congressman George Santos chimed in with commentary that sent the discourse "straight off-road," as one analysis put it.
The Rumor That Wouldn't Die
The speculation about Booker's sexuality has haunted him for over
20 years, dating back to the early 2000s when he was Newark's rising political star. The rumors intensified during his 2013 Senate campaign, when his Republican opponent weaponized innuendo and mocked his mannerisms on cable news. What fueled the speculation wasn't evidence—it was a combination of factors that reveal more about American culture than about Booker himself.
Why the rumors persisted:-
He remained unmarried for years. In U.S. politics, an unmarried man is practically catnip for conspiracy theories. Every election cycle brought fresh rounds of speculation and pseudo-analysis.
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He projected emotional intelligence. Booker was publicly vulnerable about his emotions, relationships, and mentors. For certain corners of the internet, this emotional openness was interpreted as "coded queerness"—not because it was, but because American gender norms remain rigidly traditional.
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He refused to dignify the rumor. Booker never scolded people for asking and didn't perform exaggerated masculinity to silence gossip. That dignified silence, ironically, gave the rumor oxygen.
Setting the Record Straight
Booker has stated he is heterosexual. He has now married a woman. There has never been credible evidence suggesting otherwise. Yet the wedding announcement didn't extinguish the speculation—it merely provided fresh material for recycled jokes and memes.
The persistence of these rumors reveals something uncomfortable about how America discusses masculinity, privacy, and power. The story isn't really about Booker's personal life; it's about how easily baseless speculation becomes cultural wallpaper, repeated so often that people forget it was never rooted in fact.
What This Means
Booker's marriage to Lewis won't stop the internet from doing what it does best: clinging to narratives long after they've been resolved. But it does serve as a reminder that rumors like these say far more about the people who spread them than about the person they attempt to define. In the end, Booker has moved forward with his life, surrounded by family and love—regardless of what the internet decides to make of it.
1.
Times of India - Cory Booker Weds Alexis Lewis: Decoding the Homosexuality Rumors2.
FOX 5 New York - Cory Booker Marries Partner Alexis Lewis3.
ABC7 New York - Cory Booker Weds Alexis Lewis in Two Private Ceremonies4.
North Jersey - NJ Sen. Cory Booker Weds Alexis Lewis
Sources
1. Cory Booker weds Alexis Lewis: Decoding the homosexuality ...
2. Cory Booker marries partner Alexis Lewis | FOX 5 New York
3. Cory Booker weds Alexis Lewis in two private ceremonies in Newark ...
4. NJ Sen. Cory Booker weds Alexis Lewis. See photos
