Senate Democrats rally against GOP health-care bill – Politico
As the night progressed, Bookers vigil on the steps attracted more and more senators. | Getty
By Seung Min Kim
06/26/2017 04:05 PM EDT
Updated 06/26/2017 11:11 PM EDT
Its time again for Senate Democrats to burn the midnight oil.
Senate Democrats launched yet another night of floor speeches on Monday night castigating the GOPs plan to repeal and replace Obamacare a talk-a-thon led by Sens. Patty Murray of Washington and Mazie Hirono of Hawaii that ran several hours after the Senates 5:30 p.m. votes.
Story Continued Below
And while Democrats took turns taking the floor inside the chamber, a much more rambunctious rally was unfolding outside on the Capitol steps in the relatively cool June night. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), along with Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), settled outside shortly after 7 p.m. and began streaming their talk blasting the GOPs efforts to dismantle the seven-year-old health care law.
As the night progressed, Bookers vigil on the steps attracted more and more senators, including Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat, joined in. Several other Democratic senators including Sens. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, Brian Schatz of Hawaii, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Bob Casey of Pennsylvania and Jeff Merkley of Oregon joined in for large chunks of the impromptu demonstration that attracted hundreds.
Right now, the biggest enemy we face is not a handful of senators blocking health care for millions, but its the silence of the many who have the power to do something about this, Booker said around 11 p.m. as the assembly was winding down. Remember, the power of the people is greater than the people in power let your voice be heard.
Murphy told the crowd that the senators didnt give anybody a heads up that several hundred people would gather at the Capitol steps. Booker urged the masses to Snapchat with the various senators who were there, adding: Extra points if you tell Durbin what a Snapchat is. And the normally soft-toned Casey roared to the group: The issue of health care is a matter of basic justice.
Light up the switchboard! Durbin roared to the group. Get on the phones dont be afraid to tweet.
A daily play-by-play of congressional news in your inbox.
By signing up you agree to receive email newsletters or alerts from POLITICO. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Earlier on the floor, kicking off the round of speeches Monday evening was Hirono, who recently underwent treatment for kidney cancer and has spoken about her diagnosis as shes made her case against Republican efforts to dismantle Obamacare. Hirono is having a second surgery on Tuesday for a lesion on her rib, a spokesman said.
Democrats are going to keep sharing our stories," Murray said, "and the stories of our constituents to make sure people understand how devastating and mean Trumpcare would be for the people we represent, and to do everything we can to keep up the pressure to stop it."
Ben Wikler, the Washington director for MoveOn.org, on Twitter urged other liberal activists to pack the galleries in the Senate chamber Monday night to show support for Democrats and their late-night speech marathon.
Democrats also led a round of floor speeches last Monday that ended shortly after midnight.
Missing out on the latest scoops? Sign up for POLITICO Playbook and get the latest news, every morning in your inbox.
Read more here:
Senate Democrats rally against GOP health-care bill - Politico
- Wont have anywhere to hide: Democrats are eager to pick apart the GOP megabill - Politico - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Flailing Democrats need to build coalitions, not primary their own members - The Hill - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- More than 50 House Democrats demand answers after whistleblower report on DOGE - NPR - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Mecklenburg County Democrats Chair Fights For Another Term - The Assembly NC - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Democrats hope to add a 'Green Amendment' to the Wisconsin Constitution - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Trump tariffs have Democrats seeing an outside chance in this red state - The Washington Post - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Bernie Sanders says Democrats have 'paid a political price' for not listening to the working class - NPR - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- The next AOC? Young Democrats are aiming to topple incumbents inside their own party - NPR - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- After Mecklenburg Democrats post-election turmoil, will party pick a new leader? - Charlotte Observer - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Sen. Bennet during town hall asked repeatedly why Democrats arent doing more to combat Trump - Colorado Newsline - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Rising Michigan senator urges Democrats to stop being 'weak and woke' and 'f---ing retake the flag' - Fox News - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- "Shocked and Disgusted." UA Democrats respond to news of President Trump at UA - WBMA - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Analysis | The DNCs David Hogg knows which Democrats he wants to oust - The Washington Post - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- OPINION: Why Arent Democrats Like Michael Bennet Challenging the Trump Administration? - Pagosa Daily Post - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Democrats Launch Inquiry Into Dismantling of Administration for Community Living - Mother Jones - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- David Hogg wants "ineffective" Democrats out of Congress - The Washington Post - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Are Aging Democrats Finally Getting the Message? - Rolling Stone - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- A warning for Democrats from the Gilded Age and the 1896 election - The Conversation - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Democrats 'Failing to Meet the Moment,' Party Vice Chair Warns - Newsweek - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Democrats Lost Them: Heres Why 2020 Biden Voters Sat Out The 2024 Election - Rolling Stone - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Opinion | Have the Democrats found their version of Trump? - The Washington Post - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- These Sick Criminals Are Who Democrats and the Legacy Media Are Defending - The White House (.gov) - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Obama, Healey, more Democrats praise Harvard for rejecting Trump administration's demands - Fall River Herald News - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Lawsuit alleging fraud could leave Democrats with no candidate in Onondaga Countys 9th District - Syracuse.com - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Scoop: Top House Democrats are trying to send a delegation to El Salvador - Axios - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- WA Democrats propose 5 new tax bills on Tax Dayand theyre coming for the big dogs - MyNorthwest.com - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Democrats dislike the chaos of Trumps trade war but are OK with some tariffs - AP News - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Democrats Get an Unconventional Candidate in the Race Against Joni Ernst - notus.org - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Democrats newest villain is a power player youve never heard of - Politico - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Washington Senate Democrats amend 'Parents Bill of Rights' - MyNorthwest.com - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Never had an auditor do something like this. Diana DiZoglio fights, polarizes her fellow Democrats. - The Boston Globe - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- New books chart Bidens downfall and the picture is damning for Democrats - The Guardian - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Democrats accuse GOP senators of affirmative action for Iowa med school - Iowa Capital Dispatch - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Rep. Josh Harder on why Democrats should be angrier at the status quo - Roll Call - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Republicans Less Trusted on Economy Than Democrats For First Time in Years - Newsweek - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- Trump rode to victory on the economy. Democrats see a way to flip that on its head. - Politico - April 16th, 2025 [April 16th, 2025]
- The Next Generation of Democrats Dont Plan to Wait Their Turn - The New York Times - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Live updates: Democrats seize on volatility of Trump trade policies - The Washington Post - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- The middle is disappearing: Why three dealmaking Senate Democrats are heading for the exits - CNN - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Democrats problem isnt just messaging its the electoral math | David Daley - The Guardian - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- The House: Democrats Favored on What Starts as a Small Battlefield - Sabato's Crystal Ball - Center For Politics - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Four Democrats join Republicans to pass SAVE Act bill that requires proof of citizenship to vote - The Independent - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Democrats running for California governor take digs at Kamala Harris' delayed decision on the race - Los Angeles Times - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Democrats Grill Officials on Insider Profits From Trumps Tariff Reversal - Mother Jones - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- The Early Signs These Democrats Are Running For President in 2028 - The Daily Beast - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- House Republicans and Democrats say the US must maintain its troop totals in Europe - AP News - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Democrats look to force Republicans to choose between backing Trump or lessening tariff pain - CNN - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- The Democrats Wont Acknowledge the Scale of Trumps Tariff Mess - The Atlantic - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Democrats reveal their top targets to flip in 2026 - Politico - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Opinion | Democrats Can Be the Party That Wants to Make Americans Rich - The New York Times - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Virginia elections will test the backlash against Musk and Democrats are ready with a plan - The Guardian - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Democrats wrestle with how hard to swing away from tariffs - Semafor - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- With protests and action, Democrats just had their best week since Election Day - MSNBC News - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Opinion | Another Group the Democrats Should Stop Taking for Granted - The New York Times - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Democrats Shouting 'Insider Trading!' After Trump's Tariff Pivot Need To Sit This One Out For Obvious Reasons - OutKick - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Democrats Had a Messaging Problem. Trump Just Solved It for Them. - New York Magazine - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Banking Democrats Call on Chairman Scott to Hold Hearing on Trumps Disastrous Use of Emergency Powers to Impose Tariffs and Cause Chaos for American... - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Democrats look to make a play for GOP turf with surge of new candidates - Politico - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- AIPAC attacks Democrats who voted to stop arms sales to Israel - The Forward - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Elon Musk Helped Democrats Get Their Act Together, But What If He Goes Away? - HuffPost - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Oregon Democrats unveil ambitious road funding proposal. Now the haggling begins - Oregon Public Broadcasting - OPB - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Bernie Sanders is drawing record crowds as he pushes Democrats to 'fight oligarchy' - NPR - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- The Democrats' 10 theories driving the party's crisis - Axios - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Democrats Are Taking Their Anger Out on Chuck Schumer - The Wall Street Journal - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Column | Democrats confront the wrath of their voters, just as Republicans have - The Washington Post - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- We Dug Into the Polls. Democrats in Congress Should Be Very Afraid. - POLITICO - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Democrats US tour gathers support in fight against Trump: Get angry, man - The Guardian US - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- The Democrats Are Losing the Social Media Wars. This Young Socialist Is Changing That. - POLITICO - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Democrats clashed over their shutdown strategy. But the party's identity crisis runs far deeper - The Associated Press - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Harris dominates in new poll on who Democrats would back in 2028 - with AOC in third - The Independent - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- With Democrats in disarray and Trump on the attack, many ask what is the way forward - Colorado Public Radio - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- They hate us: Democrats now fear midterms could result in their ouster as voters want candidates to take on Trump - Yahoo - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Opinion | The Last Thing Democrats Need Is Their Own Tea Party - The New York Times - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Democrats feel the heat at town halls, too: From the Politics Desk - NBC News - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- I wish youd be angry. California Democrats face voter fury over Trump, Elon Musk - Los Angeles Times - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- The spending bill fight split Democrats. 2 strategists offer takes on party's future - NPR - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Amid Schumer Backlash, Heres Whos Vying to Lead Democrats - TIME - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Politics have changed but the Democrats havent they are old and out of touch | Moira Donegan - The Guardian - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Democrats are desperately searching for new leaders. AOC is stepping into the void. - NBC News - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- California Democrats are in control. So why are they worried? - POLITICO - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]