Longest Speech in Senate History | Senator Cory Booker 25 hr 05 min Speech

The longest single-person speech in U.S. Senate history was delivered by Senator Cory Booker (D–New Jersey). He spoke for 25 hours and 5 minutes, beginning at 7 p.m. on March 31, 2025, and concluding at 8:05 p.m. on April 1, 2025—surpassing the previous record of 24 hours and 18 minutes set by Strom Thurmond in 1957.

🏛️ Record Highlights

• **Cory Booker (D–NJ)**:

• March 31–April 1, 2025 — 25 hr 05 min on the Senate floor
  • A symbolic protest against President Trump and Elon Musk’s federal restructuring plan—it wasn’t a filibuster, but it halted proceedings .
  This smashed the nearly seven-decade-old record held by Thurmond.

• Strom Thurmond (D–SC / later R):

•  August 28–29, 1957 — 24 hr 18 min filibuster against the Civil Rights Act of 1957.
  His record stood until Booker’s speech in 2025.

📊 Context: Longest Senate Speeches

Booker didn’t intend to block legislation like earlier filibusters; rather, his speech was a morale-boosting, protest-driven demonstration.

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🎯 Purpose & Themes

• Moral protest—not a traditional filibuster: Booker promised to disrupt “the normal business of the United States Senate” to protest President Trump’s “second presidency,” including agency cuts, judicial override, and immigration crackdowns.

• Call to accountability: He confessed, “I confess that the Democratic Party has made terrible mistakes,” urging both citizens and Congress to do better.

• Constitutional alarm: Described the nation as being in a time of “crisis” and warned of a “looming constitutional crisis” if unchecked power continued.

🗣️ Highlights & Content

• Reading from letters and documents: Spoke at length from three-ring binders—sharing stories from terrified constituents, citing bipartisan reports, and referencing figures like John McCain and John Lewis.

• Invoking civil rights legacy: Quoted John Lewis repeatedly (“get into good trouble”) and contrasted Thurmond’s segregationist record with the power of the people.

• Policy critiques: Targeted Trump-era moves such as cuts to Social Security offices via Elon Musk’s so‑called “Department of Government Efficiency,” Medicaid concerns, deportations, and educational rollbacks.

⏱️ Endurance & Strategy

• 25 hours, no breaks: He did not eat, rest, or use the bathroom until after surpassing the record. He even dehydrated himself to avoid interruptions.

• Collegial stamina: Senate Democrats (and Independent Angus King) asked him questions to allow brief voice rests while keeping the floor.

• Record-breaking finish: Surpassed Strom Thurmond’s 68‑year-old record at about the 24‑hour mark, to loud applause from colleagues.

🗨️ Reactions & Reception

• Democratic praise: Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, Amy Klobuchar, Nancy Pelosi, Ilhan Omar, Kamala Harris, and Lisa Murkowski lauded his fortitude .

• Mixed GOP response: Republicans largely stayed away; critics dismissed it as “political theater.” Ted Cruz humorously posted a crying Homer Simpson meme.

• Bipartisan impact: Though not halting legislation, the speech energized Democrats, served as a symbolic rallying cry, and sparked viral attention—his TikTok and C‑SPAN livestream drew millions.

📊 Legacy & Analysis

• Masterclass in political theater: Seen as both dramatic spectacle and savvy use of media to connect with voters.

• A “moral moment”: Framed as a wake-up call to both the party and public about the stakes facing democracy.

• What’s next: Booker said he’s seeking ways to sustain the momentum beyond theatrics: “I think that there’s a lot of people out there asking Democrats to do more … A lot of us have to do a lot more, including myself”