Cory Booker has a brother named Cary Booker
 
 
A couple named Cary and Carolyn Booker having a son named Cary is believable, if a bit of a tongue twister.
But consider this: They have a second son, who is not a twin, but they still name him Cory Booker. The same Cory Booker who went on to become the mayor of Newark, New Jersey, a Democratic U.S. senator, and an eventual candidate for the 2020 presidential race.
Oh, and did we mention Cary and Cory look identical?
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
 
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
This truly incomprehensible news started swirling when Booker announced his candidacy Friday morning, at the start of Black History Month. Though it's not exactly news, since this whole Cory conundrum started when Cary Sr. and Carolyn — two of the first black employees and eventual executives at IBM — had Cory 49 years ago.
Cory and Cary are still close today, as displayed by the tweet above and this sweet 2016 birthday message. Nowadays, the senator also spends a lot of time hanging out with Cary's daughter, who is thankfully named Zelah.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
- 
 ‘The worry is far from fanciful’ ‘The worry is far from fanciful’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day 
- 
 How are Americans bracing for the end of SNAP? How are Americans bracing for the end of SNAP?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION Millions depend on supplemental federal food funds that are set to expire this month, as the government shutdown begins to be acutely felt 
- 
 Book review: ‘Joyride: A Memoir’ Book review: ‘Joyride: A Memoir’Feature A journalist’s story of how she chased and accomplished her dreams 
- 
 Shutdown stalemate nears key pain points Shutdown stalemate nears key pain pointsSpeed Read A federal employee union called for the Democrats to to stand down four weeks into the government standoff 
- 
 Trump vows new tariffs on Canada over Reagan ad Trump vows new tariffs on Canada over Reagan adspeed read The ad that offended the president has Ronald Reagan explaining why import taxes hurt the economy 
- 
 NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footage NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footageSpeed Read Rep. Dan Goldman claims ICE wrongly detained four US citizens in the Canal Street raid and held them for a whole day without charges 
- 
 Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East Wing Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East WingSpeed Read The White House’s east wing is being torn down amid ballroom construction 
- 
 Trump expands boat strikes to Pacific, killing 5 more Trump expands boat strikes to Pacific, killing 5 moreSpeed Read The US military destroyed two more alleged drug smuggling boats in international waters 
- 
 Trump demands millions from his administration Trump demands millions from his administrationSpeed Read The president has requested $230 million in compensation from the Justice Department for previous federal investigations 
- 
 Trump nominee in limbo after racist texts leak Trump nominee in limbo after racist texts leakSpeed Read Paul Ingrassia lost Republican support following the exposure of past racist text messages 
- 
 Trump begins East Wing demolition for ballroom Trump begins East Wing demolition for ballroomspeed read The president’s new construction will cost $250 million 
