Before his announcement, he was widely speculated to run for president but expressed uncertainty as to whether he would run.[150] The same month Booker announced his campaign, Governor Phil Murphy[151] U.S. Senator Bob Menendez[152] and every Democratic member of the House of Representatives from New Jersey endorsed Booker.[153] Booker held a campaign kick off rally in Newark on April 13.[154] After qualifying for the first five Democratic Party presidential debates, Booker failed to meet the polling thresholds to participate in the sixth debate that was held in December 2019.[155] On January 13, Booker announced that he was ending his run at the Democratic nomination for president.[156] In March 2020, Booker endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden, over Senator Bernie Sanders, for president.[157]