Booker Will Be Sworn In Next Week

Democrat Cory Booker will start his service as the newest U.S. senator next week.

The White House says Vice President Joe Biden will swear in Booker on Oct. 31 at noon at the U.S. Capitol. The job falls to Biden because the vice president also serves as president of the Senate.

Booker is now in his second term as mayor of Newark, N.J.

He was elected last week to complete the 15 months remaining on the term of former Sen. Frank Lautenberg, who died in June at 89.

Booker defeated conservative Republican Steven Lonegan in a special election.

Booker will become the second African-American in the Senate.

(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)