The filibuster is a bit of an absurd name for an absurd Senatorial tactic.
Filibustering is basically a way for senators to block or delay a vote on a bill by extending debate — sometimes endlessly.
It’s not about persuasion, it’s about time.
If a senator or a group doesn’t like a bill, they can keep talking and talking to stall the process, unless 60 out of 100 senators vote to end it (that’s called cloture). It’s like hitting pause on legislation unless there’s a supermajority to press play again.
With New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker recently breaking the record, clocking in at 25 hours and 5 minutes, here are some of the most notable.
Strom Thurmond (1957):
Holding the floor for 24 hours and 18 minutes, Thurmond opposed the Civil Rights Act of 1957. His speech, which included readings from the Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights, was the longest individual filibuster at the time.
Alfonse D’Amato (1986):
Speaking for 23 hours and 30 minutes, D’Amato aimed to stall debate on a military bill, particularly opposing an amendment that would cut funding for a jet trainer plane built in his state.
Wayne Morse (1953):
Morse held the floor for 22 hours and 26 minutes to protest the Tidelands Oil bill, showcasing his reputation as a “blunt-spoken, iconoclastic populist.”
ThoughtCo
Robert La Follette Sr. (1908):
Speaking for 18 hours and 23 minutes, La Follette opposed the Aldrich-Vreeland currency bill, which aimed to allow the U.S. Treasury to lend currency to banks during fiscal crises.
William Proxmire (1981):
Proxmire filibustered for 16 hours and 12 minutes against a bill authorizing a total debt of $1 trillion, expressing concern over the nation’s rising debt level.
And, of course, Booker (2025):
Booker surpassed Thurmond’s record.
While not a filibuster in the traditional sense, as it wasn’t aimed at delaying specific legislation, Booker’s address was a symbolic act of protest against the administration’s policies.
These instances highlight the filibuster’s role as a tool for senators to voice prolonged opposition, often drawing national attention to contentious issues.
