Sheila Oliver made a name for herself as the first African American woman to lead a legislative house in New Jersey. Now she hopes to be the state’s first female U.S. Senator.

It’s a long shot. Newark mayor Cory Booker is way ahead in recent polls, carrying 54 percent of likely voters compared to Oliver’s 5 percent.

Still, Oliver says she has as much right to run any of her opponents. "Just because you have served in Congress as [Rush] Holt and [Frank] Pallone have, and just because Cory Booker has determined that's the next stop he wants in his career, that doesn't mean you automatically get to do that," she says.

New Jersey’s US Senate primary is Tuesday.

To listen to the whole story about Oliver, click on the audio link above.