Special Poll
A growing internal clash within the House GOP over proxy voting for new parents is turning into a full-blown confrontation, and it could pose an unexpected challenge to President Trump’s broader legislative agenda.
The fight centers on Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), who is pushing hard for a resolution that would allow members of Congress to designate a colleague to vote on their behalf for up to 12 weeks after giving birth or when their spouse gives birth. The resolution originally introduced by Rep. Brittany Pettersen (D-Colo.), who gave birth to a son in January has become a lightning rod within the Republican conference.
Luna has made it clear she has no intention of backing down, even after claims that House leadership offered her prime committee assignments or other political incentives to drop the issue. “I don’t play to lose,” she told reporters. “You guys will have a good news cycle next week.”
Meanwhile, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has been working overtime to shut the proposal down, arguing that proxy voting is unconstitutional and sets a dangerous precedent. Johnson has reportedly persuaded some Republican lawmakers to flip their positions but his options are narrowing.
According to sources, GOP leaders are now exploring procedural tactics to block the vote entirely, including a controversial move to disable the mechanism that allows Luna to force floor action via a discharge petition a rarely successful tool that Luna activated with the support of 218 House members, including 11 Republicans.
The proxy voting issue has deep roots. It was originally introduced under Democratic leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and used by both parties, though it drew heavy criticism from Republicans at the time, including Trump allies who labeled it a violation of constitutional norms. Now, some GOP members are being accused of hypocrisy for opposing proxy voting for new parents, while having benefited from it themselves during the pandemic.
The underlying resolution has broad support from Democrats and growing quiet support from some moderate Republicans, particularly women in the conference who argue that parenting shouldn’t be a political liability in Congress. But the public opposition from leadership, coupled with hardline voices warning of a “slippery slope,” is hardening party lines.
The timing of the clash is also significant. With Trump’s administration pushing forward on key economic, security, and immigration initiatives in his second term, internal GOP infighting like this could become a distraction or even a blockade if it begins to fracture Republican unity in the House.
Some political analysts are already asking whether this controversy could spill over and impact the momentum of Trump’s policies. If Luna succeeds, it may embolden other members to use discharge petitions or procedural workarounds to advance causes outside the Speaker’s control. On the other hand, if GOP leaders shut her down too forcefully, they risk alienating young conservatives and female lawmakers two groups Trump needs to energize in 2026 and beyond.
With both sides digging in, the question remains: Will this proxy voting battle turn into a bigger political headache for Trump’s agenda, and is it worth the cost?