US Senators Cortez Masto and Booker clash in rare Senate floor fight over policing legislation and Trump-era politics

US Senators Cortez Masto and Booker clash in rare Senate floor fight

Nevada Senator Catherine Cortez Masto is not generally newsworthy. She's serious and intense, not theatrics on the public stage. But this week she was drawn into a heated exchange on the Senate floor with New Jersey Senator Cory Booker—a moment that illustrated how far to the left Democrats are split on how to conduct themselves under US President Donald Trump, the New York Times reported.

The controversy began when Cortez Masto tried to speed through a set of bipartisan policing bills. Booker did not concur that the Democrats should ram through any policing bills with the Trump administration sending public safety funds to penalize states that stand in their way. He went so far as to say that Cortez Masto was helping Trump by ramming through the legislation.

Cortez Masto fired back. "Two wrongs don't make a right," she said.

In a later interview, Cortez Masto groused about being demonized for joining up with Trump. She reminded people that she has been a US senator since 2016, the year Trump became president, and has been a vocal critic of his agenda. But she said she also had things to do for Nevada residents.

"I'm in a swing state," she replied. "Folks want me to get things done, not scream."

She added that Democrats need to keep doing their job even when they have differences with the president. "We can't just throw up our hands and say we can't govern. That's when we lose faith. Folks want us to know that we're still trying to make things better for them."

Cortez Masto credits victory in upcoming elections to focus on fundamental issues like safety and increased costs. She announced that the Democrats need to be unified and not bicker with one another if they hope to succeed in swing states. "Fighting with each other isn't going to get it done. We need to talk about what matters to voters.".

She also criticized the Biden-Harris campaign in 2024 for falling short. "People were hurting," she said. "You can't just be able to say 'we did a lot'—you have to show what's left to do."

Looking forward to 2026, she was optimistic. She mentioned former Governor of North Carolina Roy Cooper and New Hampshire Rep. Chris Pappas as good candidates to run for the Senate. She averred, however, that there is still work to be accomplished in Texas and Michigan.

When asked if Chuck Schumer can still lead Senate Democrats, she said yes. "This is not about one person. We all must rise to this challenge. This is about defending our democracy."

She also defended Schumer this spring when he broke with Democrats to vote with Republicans to avoid a government shutdown. "He did the right thing," she responded. "We need to pass budgets and do our jobs. That's what people expect."