Washington — Democratic Sen. Cory Booker is delivering a marathon speech on the Senate floor, which started Monday evening and has continued into Tuesday, in a protest of the Trump administration’s policies.
While many senators have historically used long speeches to filibuster a bill or nomination, Booker’s speech is not a filibuster since it is not occurring during debate on a specific measure to block proceedings.
Booker, a 55-year-old who first came to the Senate in 2013 and is now the fourth-ranking Democrat, began speaking around 7 p.m. on Monday and said he would continue speaking “for as long as I am physically able.” As the sun rose on Tuesday morning, and well into the day, he was still speaking from the Senate floor.
Booker cited the legacy of leaders, like late congressman and civil rights activist John Lewis, whom he said stood up “when this country was facing crossroads, was facing crises, they stood up.”
“I rise today in an unusual manner,” Booker said, before invoking Lewis’ refrain to “get in good trouble, necessary trouble, help redeem the soul of America.”
“Tonight, I rise with the intention of getting in some good trouble,” Booker said, pledging to disrupt the normal business of the Senate. “I rise tonight because I believe sincerely that our country is in crisis… These are not normal times in America, and they should not be treated as such.”
More than 20 hours later, Booker was still speaking. Asked by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse how he was doing after the 17-hour mark, Booker said, “I shall not complain.”
The New Jersey Democrat spent some of that time reading letters from constituents who say they have been harmed by the Trump administration’s policies, and condemning the administration more broadly — from trade wars to mass firings to deportations and threats to Medicaid.
Booker occasionally yielded to his Democratic colleagues on the floor, including Murphy, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and Sens. Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware, Andy Kim of New Jersey, Peter Welch of Vermont, Dick Durbin of Illinois and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York as they echoed his concerns with the administration and encouraged his effort.
After 7 a.m. Tuesday, Booker acknowledged the 12 hours that had passed, saying he’s “wide awake” and would “stand here for as many hours as I can.” At noon, the Senate briefly paused for the chaplain to say a prayer, as is required under Senate rules during a continuous session. Booker continued to hold the floor.
What is the longest floor speech in Senate history?
Booker’s lengthy floor speech has surpassed some of the longest in the Senate’s history, including a 15-hour filibuster by Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut in 2016. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas delivered a speech that lasted 21 hours, 19 minutes in Sept. 2013, which Booker surpassed on Tuesday afternoon.
Sen. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina delivered the longest Senate speech on record, with a more than 24-hour filibuster in 1957.
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