Without eating, sleeping, drinking, sitting, or even using the restroom, Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) spoke on the Senate floor for a whopping 25 hours and four minutes straight. Booker took the Senate floor at 7:02 PM on March 31st, stating, “I rise tonight with the intention of getting in some good trouble. I rise with the intention of disrupting the normal business of the United States Senate for as long as I am physically able” (The Guardian). What preceded was an incredible display of integrity that lasted until 8:06 PM on April 1st.
Senator Booker’s speech now holds the record for the longest filibuster in US history, surpassing Senator Strom Thurmond (D-SC), who spoke for 24 hours and 18 minutes to prevent the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1957. Unlike Sen. Thurmond, the goal of Sen. Booker’s speech was not to prevent the passing of a specific bill, but rather to criticize the Trump Administration as well as the actions of his Republican colleagues. Booker discussed issues like Social Security, Medicaid, tariffs, Elon Musk, and the constitution during his speech, emphasizing the harm the Trump Administration is causing to Americans. In his opening remarks, Booker stated, “In just 71 days, the President has inflicted harm after harm on Americans’ safety, financial stability, the foundations of our democracy and any sense of common decency. These are not normal times in our nation. And they should not be treated as such in the United States Senate” (NPR).
Regardless of political affiliation, it is important to recognize Booker’s impressive physical endurance. In an interview with All Things Considered after his speech, Booker stated, “The body is weary in a lot of places, from my back to my feet and to my legs, I’m just feeling it.” As Senate guidelines for giving speeches require the speaker to remain standing and prohibits bathroom breaks, Booker had to prepare for his speech extensively. Afterwards, Booker told a reporter with The Hill, “I don’t want my doctor to be mad at me, but I really spent time dehydrating myself beforehand, so I did not have to go to the bathroom.” Booker also told reporters he fasted for days before the speech to further increase his stamina. The Hill also reported Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) took Booker’s chair before his speech; preventing him from sitting at all.
The US Senate defines a filibuster as “an action to prolong debate and delay or prevent a vote.” Though Booker’s speech falls out of this definition, many will continue to credit it as the longest filibuster in US history. After his speech concluded, the Senate chamber erupted in applause from both parties, with some Republicans even hugging Booker after he yielded the floor. After all, not many would be able to stand and speak for 25 hours straight, proving how important this issue was to Booker.
Resources
Ahmadi, A. A. (2025, April 1). Cory Booker breaks record for longest Senate speech after 24 hours. BBC. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyq24388ppo
Filip Timotija. (2025, April 2). No bathroom breaks: How Booker accomplished record Senate speech. Retrieved from The Hill website: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5227988-senator-cory-booker-record-speech/
Sen. Cory Booker on his marathon, 25-hour speech on the Senate floor. (2025, April 2). Retrieved from NPR website: https://www.npr.org/2025/04/02/nx-s1-5349429/sen-cory-booker-on-his-marathon-25-hour-speech-on-the-senate-floor
Smith, D. (2025, April 2). Booker makes a stand against Trump – and doesn’t stop for 25 hours. Retrieved from the Guardian website: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/02/senator-cory-booker-takes-a-stand-speech-donald-trump-25-hours
