The speech, which surpassed 24 hours in length, is in protest of President Donald Trump’s agenda.
Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) has officially broken the record previously held by the late Sen. Strom Thurmond (R-S.C.), by delivering the longest continuous floor speech in Senate history.
As of 7:19 p.m. ET on April 1, Booker had spoken for 24 hours and 19 minutes, a minute longer than Thurmond’s 1957 filibuster of the Civil Rights Act of 1957. He began his speech at 7 p.m. on March 31, vowing in a video posted to social media platform X, ““I’m going to go for as long as I’m physically able to go.”
Rather than blocking any particular bill or measure, Booker’s speech was an explicit criticism of the administration. Technically, the speech could have been ended by a vote of 60 senators, but no effort was made to do so.
gest continuous floor speech in Senate history.
As of 7:19 p.m. ET on April 1, Booker had spoken for 24 hours and 19 minutes, a minute longer than Thurmond’s 1957 filibuster of the Civil Rights Act of 1957. He began his speech at 7 p.m. on March 31, vowing in a video posted to social media platform X, ““I’m going to go for as long as I’m physically able to go.”
Rather than blocking any particular bill or measure, Booker’s speech was an explicit criticism of the administration. Technically, the speech could have been ended by a vote of 60 senators, but no effort was made to do so.
As he crossed the finish line to break the record, Booker said that he was not only making the speech to surpass Thurmond’s filibuster: “I’m here despite his speech.”
After the record was broken, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) took to the floor to congratulate Booker’s achievement as the Senate chamber erupted into applause.
In the minutes leading up to breaking the record, Booker was visibly exhausted, tilting left and right on his feet after 24 hours of standing.
te Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), the Civil Rights leader who also served as a mentor figure to Booker following his election to the Senate.
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), briefly taking over from Booker, who remained standing, noted the contrast between Thurmond’s speech and Booker’s.
By Jackson Richman and Joseph Lord
