At about 7 p.m. ET on Monday night, Sen. Cory Booker began delivering what became the longest Senate floor speech in American history.
At 8:06 p.m. ET on Tuesday, the New Jersey Democrat finally finished what was a 25-hour-and-4-minute-long speech in opposition to President Donald Trump, DOGE, the firing of federal workers, and more. It was the longest-recorded Senate floor speech in American history, and it prevented the GOP-controlled Senate from doing anything else, temporarily delaying the confirmation of some of Trump’s nominees.
Booker never left to use the restroom. He didn’t eat a meal. He stood largely in the same spot behind his desk on the left side of the chamber; his speech was occasionally interrupted by a Democratic colleague whose friendly questions allowed him quick reprieves.
Several of Booker’s colleagues have done the same in the last 12 years, including Republican Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Rand Paul of Kentucky, along with Democratic Sens. Jeff Merkley of Oregon and Chris Murphy of Connecticut.
Delivering a speech like this requires stamina — and careful preparation. Just ask Cruz, who in 2013 spoke for 21 hours and 18 minutes against the Affordable Care Act. Earlier that year, Paul had spoken for almost 13 hours in opposition to former President Barack Obama’s nominee to be CIA director, and the Kentucky Republican offered Cruz some advice.
“He said, No. 1, wear comfortable shoes,” Cruz recalled on Tuesday. “And he said, number two, drink very little water.”
It’s a delicate question — what if you really have to pee? Paul ended his own 2013 speech by noting that “there are some limits to filibustering, and I am going to have to go take care of one of those here.”
Wendy Davis, a former Democratic state senator in Texas, has said she used a catheter when she delivered a 13-hour filibuster against an abortion restriction bill in 2013. Sen. Strom Thurmond, the late senator whose 24 hours and 18 minutes filibuster against civil rights legislation was previously the longest speech in US Senate history, reportedly had access to a bucket if he needed to relieve himself.
“In the age of C-SPAN, that seemed like a poor idea,” Cruz said, alluding to the presence of television cameras trained on the Senate floor. He also confirmed that he never used a catheter or a diaper. “In 21 hours, I drank one little glass of water.”
A spokesperson for Booker declined to comment on how the New Jersey senator had prepared for the speech — and whether he wore a catheter or diaper. Booker, after he passed the 24-hour mark, referenced “biological urgencies” that he was feeling.
Booker’s has now exceeded not just Thurmond’s record but Cruz’s 2013 record as well. The senator from Texas said he’s still “grumpy” that he couldn’t claim the top spot himself, owing to previously agreed-upon limits on the length of the debate.
However, he said he wished Booker the best.
“Cory’s a good friend,” Cruz said. “Knock yourself out.”
Update: This story was updated with the news that Booker finished his speech and passed Thurmond’s record.
