U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) made history with a 25-hour speech on the Senate floor, breaking the record for the longest continuous address.
Starting at 7 p.m. on March 31, 2025, and ending just after 8 p.m. the next day, Booker surpassed the previous record set by Senator Strom Thurmond, who filibustered against the Civil Rights Act in 1957.
Senator Cory Booker demonstrated unwavering persistence throughout his 25-hour speech, standing firm in his fight against policies he believed would harm marginalized communities. With no breaks, he passionately defended healthcare, voting rights and justice reform, using historical references and personal stories to keep the Senate and the nation engaged in urgent dialogue.
Booker’s speech primarily opposed policies from the Trump administration, which he argued threatened social safety programs. He condemned proposed cuts to Medicaid, a program that serves over 70 million low-income Americans, including a disproportionate number of Black and Latino families.
Unlike Thurmond, who fought in opposition to the legislation, Booker used his time to fight for marginalized communities by challenging policies he believed would harm them.
“I could break this record of the man who tried to stop the rights upon which I stand,” Booker said shortly before breaking the record. “I’m not here, though, because of his speech; I’m here despite his speech. I’m here because as powerful as he was, the people were more powerful.”
He criticized efforts to limit voting rights, pointing to new state laws that disproportionately disenfranchise Black voters. He also called out the administration’s rollback of police accountability measures, arguing that reversing progress on criminal justice reform would put more Black and brown people at risk of excessive force and wrongful incarceration.
Booker’s speech drew heavily from the Civil Rights Movement. He honored the late Congressman John Lewis, recalling how Lewis risked his life for voting rights and justice.
“He [Lewis] endured brutal beatings on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, at lunch counters, on freedom rides. He knew he had to act. He would not normalize a moment like this,” Booker said, urging lawmakers to take a stand against what he saw as injustice.
Throughout his speech, Booker read over 200 letters from constituents who shared personal stories of struggle. One letter came from a mother in Detroit whose child depends on Medicaid for life-saving medication. Another came from a Black veteran in Georgia who faced barriers to voting due to new restrictions. These firsthand accounts emphasized how policy decisions impact everyday people.
Critics dismissed Booker’s speech as performative, arguing that long speeches don’t create real change. However, history suggests otherwise. Filibusters have shaped national discourse, and public pressure has reversed harmful policies in the past. Whether Booker’s speech leads to policy change remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: silence was never an option.
His historic speech has reinvigorated Democrats, reminding them of the power of persistence in the fight for healthcare, voting rights and justice. The 25-hour stand showcased his deep commitment to protecting fundamental rights and ensuring every voice is heard. Many see this moment as a turning point—proof that passionate leadership can inspire action and renew momentum.
“Senator Booker made history with not just the length of time he spoke fighting for American families, but with the historic amount of strength, determination, and perseverance to do it,” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said in a statement.
As Democrats look ahead, they are more determined than ever to advocate for policies that uplift communities and strengthen democracy. Booker’s speech was not just a moment of defiance but a rallying call for progress and lasting change.
“I was challenged by my own constituents to do something different, challenged by my own constituents to do something, challenged by my own constituents to take risks,” Booker said.
