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Updated: Sen. Ted Cruz wrapping up floor speech, fourth longest in history


Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has ended his speech on the Senate floor after more than 21 hours, during which he criticized the Affordable Care Act and its effects on young people and small businesses.

After taking the floor at 2:41 p.m. EST Tuesday, Cruz took questions from fellow Senators and read tweets and emails from constituents on the floor. Cruz has not yet yielded the floor, although he will be expected to when official Senate business begins this afternoon.

While not technically a filibuster – Cruz needs to be delaying a vote for it to qualify – Cruz’s speech is among the longest in Senate history. The Senate is known for allowing unlimited debate, and it wasn’t until 1917 that the cloture rule – allowing the Senate to end a filibuster debate with a two-thirds vote – took effect. That rule was modified in 1975 to be a three-fifths vote, or 60 members.

Here’s how Cruz’s speech stacks up against filibusters in history.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky (David Kohl / The Associated Press)


10. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Kentucky: 12 hours, 52 minutes. (2013)

Paul, considered a potential GOP presidential nominee in 2016, filibustered the nomination of CIA director John Brennan, criticizing the Obama administration’s approach to drone strikes and the legality of striking American citizens, even if they are terror suspects. Paul stayed on topic the whole time.

9. Sen. Robert Byrd, D-West Virginia.: 14 hours, 13 minutes (1964)

Byrd joined other Southern senators to filibuster the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which banned major discrimination on racial, ethnic and religious grounds. Byrd argued against the bill saying that the law would trample states’ rights. The senators involved lasted for 83 days total, but Congress overwhelmingly voted the bill into law. Byrd later said he regretted the tactical move against the bill.

8. Sen. Alfonse D’Amato, R-New York: 15 hours, 14 minutes (1992)

D’Amato delayed a bill that would have caused the loss of hundreds of jobs in New York by singing songs. The bill had a provision that protected these jobs, but it was removed in a committee, and D’Amato took it to the Senate floor. He later sang songs to keep control.

7. Sen. Huey Long, D-Louisiana: 15 hours, 30 minutes (1935)

Long protested against a bill that would have allowed President Franklin D. Roosevelt to skip the confirmation process in appointing administrative officials. During his filibuster, he demanded that his sleeping colleagues wake up and listen to him, but he was rejected. He eventually began speaking about Louisiana food.

6. Sen. William Proxmire, D-Wisconsin: 16 hours, 12 minutes (1981)

Concerned about the nation’s rising debt, Proxmire wanted to authorizing the current level of debt the nation had, so he launched a filibuster that lasted overnight. He earned much attention from his actions, but his opponents pointed out that he was keeping the Senate open and costing taxpayers more money.

5. Sen. Robert La Follette, R-Wisconsin: 18 hours, 23 minutes (1908)

La Follette wanted to block the adoption of a conference report before the summer recess. He took the floor during a quorum call where the minimum number of senators to do business was not present, and despite La Follette’s efforts to call a quorum, nothing could happen until business took place. Left to speak until the following morning, La Follette managed to make it until the morning despite feeling ill after drinking bad eggnog.

4. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas: 21 hours, 19 minutes (2013)

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas (AP photo)

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas (AP photo)

Cruz spoke since 2:41 p.m. Tuesday against the Affordable Care Act, part of his effort with fellow Republicans to defund the health care law. He asked the Senate Majority to allow him to conclude his remarks, although yesterday he said he would “stand until I can stand no more.” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid asked him to stop to proceed to general Senate business.

3. Sen. Wayne Morse, I-Oregon: 22 hours, 26 minutes (1953)

In between parties at the time of his filibuster, Morse wanted to block a bill allowing Texas to claim land off its coast and sell it to oil companies. He said he wanted to persuade some in the majority to change their minds about passing the bill, which ultimately passed. Morse spoke on the floor about Oregon history, the Bible and even his favorite foods.

2. Sen. Alfonse D’Amato, R-New York: 23 hours, 30 minutes (1986)

D’Amato, who was known for unique and sometimes comical filibusters, launched one against a military spending bill that would have cut off funds for a project in New York. He nearly broke the record for longest filibuster, which ended up beingsuccessful in stopping the bill.

Sen. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina after his 24  hour filibuster in 1957. A Democrat then, he later would switch to the Republican Party. (AP Photo)


1. Sen. Strom Thurmond, D-South Carolina: 24 hours, 18 minutes (1957)

Thurmond accused Northerners of trying to “pick on those of us who live in the South” about passing the Civil Rights Act of 1957, a bill that banned discrimination in voting rights. Prior to taking the floor for a filibuster that lasted an entire day, Thurmond took multiple steam baths to dehydrate himself to prevent himself from having to leave the floor for a bathroom break. He also kept a bucket in a nearby cloakroom so Thurmond could relieve himself by keeping one foot on the chamber floor all the time.

Rachel Jackson