Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) said House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) would not support her proposal to allow women in Congress who have given birth to vote by proxy, a blow to the Florida congresswoman’s agenda that could have ramifications for the speaker’s leadership reelection bid.
“Today, after speaking with [Johnson] about this for months, I was told he will not support allowing female members to vote if they give birth,” Luna said in an X post. “Among other things, this is something that I fundamentally disagree with him on.”
Luna, who gave birth to a baby last year while in office, said she’s had conversations with multiple female members and “some young fathers” on both sides of the aisle, learning that many are being pressured into not having children because they are told they cannot vote.
“This is not only anti-family, but is also a slap in the face to the hundreds of thousands of voters who send members to represent them in DC,” Luna, 35, said. “Female members should not be forced to choose between representing their constituents and having children.”
My proposal of allowing women in congress to vote after birth (in line with the constitution) was what I was asking to be allowed to come to the floor for a vote by the ENTIRE 119th Congress. Today, after speaking with @SpeakerJohnson about this for months, I was told, He will…
— Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (@RepLuna) November 20, 2024
Luna told the Washington Examiner last week that Johnson’s response to her proposal could impact her vote in the speaker race next year. Prior to the GOP leadership elections last week, hard-line Republicans had been reportedly trying to find an alternative to Johnson to challenge him.
No challenger was put forward, and Johnson was easily nominated for reelection. However, given Republicans’ projected razor-thin majority for the next Congress, he will need to rely on every vote in his favor to continue possessing the speaker’s gavel. Given the challenges to Johnson’s leadership over the past year, members such as Luna could make or break Johnson’s ability to keep his position.
The Florida congresswoman said she wanted her proposal to be part of the House rules legislation next year, which lawmakers will vote on shortly after being sworn into the 119th Congress on Jan. 3, 2025.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) enacted widespread proxy voting during the COVID-19 pandemic, but Republicans ended the practice when they retook the House majority, saying members should show up to work like other Americans.
Luna said if Johnson was serious about uniting the Republican conference, he should support it.
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“Either you’re for women being able to vote in Congress, or you’re not,” the Florida congresswoman said. “And if you’re not, I don’t think that you can say that you’re trying to unify the governing body … when you’re just trying to unify a male governing body.”
The Washington Examiner reached out to Johnson for comment.