Booker’s 2020 campaign staff praise senator over marathon speech

More than 80 of Sen. Cory Booker’s (D-N.J.) former campaign staff praised his record-breaking speech on the Senate floor.

“As alumni of your 2020 presidential campaign, we write today to express our gratitude for your response over the last 25 hours to the moment of crisis we are currently in,” the staff wrote in a Tuesday letter to Booker.

Booker’s former staffers said it filled them with pride to see him rise and hold the Senate floor to highlight how the Trump administration’s cuts to federal programs are impacting everyday Americans.

Booker set the new record for the longest speech on the Senate floor, breaking the previous mark from 1957.

He rose to speak at about 7 p.m. EDT Monday and did not stop for 25 hours and 4 minutes until yielding Tuesday evening.

The previous record was held by Sen. Strom Thurmond (S.C.), who was speaking in opposition to the 1957 Civil Rights Act.

“To hate him is wrong, and maybe my ego got too caught up that if I stood here, maybe, maybe — just maybe — I could break this record of the man who tried to stop the rights upon which I stand,” Booker said. “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 said.

Booker’s staff said his speech showed the country a “stark contrast” to the Trump administration’s “messages of fear,” thanking the senator for standing up for Americans and inspiring them in this moment.

“We stood with you during your campaign that called on the best in our fellow Americans, and we stand with you now,” the staff wrote.

The more than 80 staff were members from Booker’s 2020 presidential campaign, including staff from headquarters in Iowa, Nevada, South Carolina, California, New Hampshire and New Jersey.