Cory Booker is on a mission to take a selfie with every US senator

Taking a selfie with every United States senator sounds like the type of project you’d expect from an idealistic, perhaps overeager political science major. But it’s not a young student that’s pestering lawmakers to pose for a quick photo; it’s actually one of their own. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) is roaming Capitol Hill, iPhone 5 at his side, in hopes of capturing a selfie with each of his 99 peers. Booker is posting the photos to his Instagram account with descriptions that lavish praise upon whoever’s in a given shot — even lawmakers across the aisle like Rand Paul. (Seinfeld fans take note: the two of them apparently share “respect for the holiday of Festivus.”)

Booker hasn’t said exactly why he felt the urge to put together this “99-part Instagram series,” but it’s hard to question the man’s social media prowess or ability to connect; he’s got nearly 1.5 million Twitter followers. Still, if Booker wants to wrap things up by August recess he’d better pick up the pace a bit. So far, he’s posted only 11 Senate selfies. The former Newark, New Jersey mayor has 88 more to go.