Sen. Cory Booker Cory Anthony BookerSunday shows preview: Lawmakers prepare for SCOTUS confirmation hearings before election The movement to reform animal agriculture has reached a tipping point Watchdog confirms State Dept. canceled award for journalist who criticized Trump MORE (D-N.J.) got a progressive primary challenger Thursday in his 2020 Senate reelection campaign as the New Jersey Democrat works to break out in the presidential race.

Lawrence Hamm, a Newark civil rights activist who leads the People’s Organization for Progress, announced his plans to challenge Booker in next year’s Senate race and said he will hold a meeting to discuss his candidacy.

“I am planning to run as a candidate for US Senate in 2020. If you’re interested in supporting or volunteering for this effort then I invite you to a meeting to discuss this Sunday,” Hamm tweeted.

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I am planning to run as a candidate for US Senate in 2020. If you’re interested in supporting or volunteering for this effort then I invite you to a meeting to discuss this Sunday, December 22nd, 3pm at REFAL, 271 So. 9th St in Newark, NJ. (Corner of So. 9th St. & 13th Av.) pic.twitter.com/xqEkBNFZJQ — Lawrence Hamm (@hamm_lhamm1953) December 19, 2019

Hamm is the chairman of Sen. Bernie Sanders Bernie SandersTrump, Biden will not shake hands at first debate due to COVID-19 Sanders tells Maher 'there will be a number of plans' to remove Trump if he loses Sirota reacts to report of harassment, doxing by Harris supporters MORE’s (I-Vt.) New Jersey campaign for president and said he wants to appear on the same ballot as the Vermont Independent.

"I support Bernie Sanders for president because I believe in the agenda and the platform that he’s running on," Hamm said in an interview with Politico. "And if Bernie Sanders becomes president, he’s going to need a senator from New Jersey who will fight wholeheartedly for those reforms and agenda items and platforms that he campaigned for as president."

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New Jersey holds its primary on June 2, though it is unclear how competitive the presidential race will be at that point or if Booker will still be a White House contender.

Booker’s presidential bid has found itself stagnating in the lower tier, with poll numbers in the single digits. That prevented him from qualifying for Thursday’s presidential primary debate. However, he has remained in the race, saying the field needs to be representative of the Democratic Party’s diverse base. The New Jersey Democrat is also considered a potential vice presidential pick.

New Jersey Democrats passed a law last year to enable Booker to run for Senate and president or vice president on the 2020 primary and general election ballots.

Booker has enjoyed political support from across New Jersey, which has seen its state politics grow increasingly divided. He was first elected by an 11-point margin to the Senate in a 2013 special election and won a full term in 2014 by more than 13 points.