On Saturday, April 5, Senator Cory Booker returned to Bergen County to hold a town hall. This followed his record-breaking marathon speech in the Senate against Donald Trump’s policies–the longest floor speech since 1957–as well as thousands of “Hands-Off” protests which erupted across the United States in opposition to the Trump administration.
Booker continued this momentum with a town hall at Bergen Community College, attempting to reach out to the Democratic audience in his home county.
Energy filled the air as attendees chanted “Cory!” from their seats, ecstatic to see his return. There were also multiple interruptions from protesters advocating for Gaza, who were later escorted out by Bergen County sheriff’s officers. While Booker acknowledged their right to protest, he stated that he would not allow disruptions.
As he took the stage to a playlist of New Jersey artists, he was met with applause. Booker sat down and joked that it was not out of disrespect but rather because he had been “standing a lot this week,” according to northjersey.com.
The question-and-answer portion of the event then began, with people coming forward to share their unique circumstances and concerns. During one of the more emotional moments, Chris Peters, a mother with an autistic son, voiced her fears about Medicaid cuts and how they could affect millions of disabled individuals’ access to proper care. Another attendee asked about how Booker would advocate for transgender rights under the current administration.
“This has got to be a moment in America where all of us begin to say, what more can I do?” Booker said, as reported by AP News. He emphasized that Americans must take action rather than lounge on their couches watching television.
Additionally, he criticized the current state of the Democratic Party, which has scattered following the 2024 election, and stressed the need to focus directly on the people’s needs. “I think the Democratic Party lost a lot of elections because people didn’t believe that they cared about them,” Booker said. “So let’s stop worrying about the politics and get more focused on the people.”
He concluded the Q&A by responding to a question about how to encourage young people who feel disenfranchised. “This is your moment in American history,” He said. “I don’t care if you’re in grade school or high school. Our country is desperate for your strength, for your vision, for your creativity.”
THS student Johnny O’Connor, who attended the event, shared his thoughts: “I personally thought it was very interesting. I was surprised with how many questions there were about Medicare and Medicaid, as well as how many people who showed up to the town hall were reliant on it.”
Amid a relatively demotivating atmosphere for the Democratic Party–following the loss of the 2024 election, among other challenges–Booker has uplifted the hopes of many with his marathon speech and continued advocacy for the people. He plans on running for re-election to the Senate in 2026 and has said that “2028 will take care of itself,” potentially alluding to a presidential campaign.
