Legislators are not often thought of as romantics, yet time and again a representative Romeo has popped the question from the floor of the legislature. The path of Cupid’s arrow through capitals has crisscrossed parliaments and assemblies around the world, and is likely to strike again this Valentine’s Day as legislators hope to go from working across the aisle to walking down it.
Perhaps most famously, a congressman proposed to a congresswoman on the floor of the US House of Representatives in August 1993. As told by Rep. Susan Molinari, when Rep. William L. Paxon dropped to one knee to propose to her mid-sitting, “I said, ‘Yes—but get up’” (available here). While the proposal itself was not on the record, another member later rose to the House to tell the story as follows:
Mr. MCNULTY: Mr. Speaker, while I was acting as Speaker pro tempore yesterday, I was approached on the podium, first by our colleague, the gentleman from New York [Mr. PAXON], who notified me that during the course of the debate which was ongoing at the time, he had proposed marriage to our colleague, the gentlewoman from New York, [SUSAN MOLINARI], who then came to the podium and told me she accepted. (Congressional Record – August 5, 1993 at page 19301)
Other Members also offered their good wishes, including one who offered wishes for “many, many healthy and happy children, and may they all grow up to be good Democrats” (ibid at 19305). Reps. Molinari and Paxon were both Republicans.
Those hoping to hear “Aye Do” can be found in the annals of many US state legislatures. In 1947, the lone woman legislator in Arkansas (Rep. Alene Word) was interrupted mid-speech by Rep. Dan Stephens who asked “Mr. Speaker, is a proposal of matrimony from the floor in order?” The press reported that both the Speaker and Rep. Word responded “Yes”, but that it was unclear whether Ms. Word’s affirmative response was to the proposal being in order or accepting the proposal itself.
Of course, it is not always legislators proposing to one another in the legislature. At the end of its 2015 sitting, Missouri legislators watched as Rep. Shelley Keeney, who was presiding at the time, was proposed to by her boyfriend. Another legislator had gotten the chair’s attention and directed her gaze to the gallery for the “special introduction of a special guest”. As Rep. Keeney was distracted and looking to the gallery, Mr. Taylor appeared on the dais on one knee, ring in hand, and the video (available here) clearly shows Rep. Keeney’s surprise. Rep. Keeney informed the House that her answer was “definitely yes” to applause and cheers, though she added she was “pretty sure there are a lot of people who have some explaining to do”, presumably in reference to Mr. Taylor accessing the House floor and coordinating with other members.
In a most unique case, in 1994 a TV reporter in Alaska who covers the legislature coordinated with a member of the House to propose to his girlfriend, a newspaper reporter also covering the Alaska State Legislature. The legislator read the first reporter’s proposal aloud on the House floor as the second reporter sat stunned at the press table. The ring was happily accepted and the Speaker announced that the answer was yes. The House erupted in cheers and applause.
Most often, the proposal is one from a representative on the floor to someone in the gallery. Examples include Oklahoma State Rep. Clay Pope proposing to his girlfriend in the gallery in 1990, Washington State Senator Jim West doing the same in 1995, and Georgia State Rep. Rep. Jeff Williams following suit in 2002. A twist, however, can be found in Florida’s House, where a guest from the gallery was escorted to the well of the House whereupon the engagement took place much to her surprise. The presiding officer, Marco Rubio (now US Senator), noted that there was a process to be followed and accordingly asked whether the House supported a resolution affirming of the marriage. While the voice vote was conclusive, the electronic vote tally was announced as 105-0 (video available here, beginning at 42:35, vote result at 47:28).
Legislators hoping for cloture of their courtship within the assembly can be found across the globe. In 2017, a member of Australia’s House of Representatives proposed to his same-sex partner as the legislature debated gay marriage. The Speaker clarified for the Hansard record of debate that there was a resounding yes from the gallery, adding “Congratulations; well done mate” (available here).
While the debate around love may have inspired the legislative proposal down under, less romantic debates have also cued Cupid’s arrow. In 2013, a member of the Congress of the Philippines popped the question during a heated budget debate (available here). Perhaps this was wise: It’s often said that couples should discuss finances before heading down the aisle!
At least two Canadian legislators rose during proceedings with rings in hand. In May 2022, Rick Glumac proposed mid-speech in the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia to his girlfriend, Haven Lurbiecki, who was seated in the gallery. He asked the question but, given the ensuing applause and cheers of collogues, indicated to the Assembly that he was unable to hear the answer and left to verify it. The happily-engaged couple gave many interviews later (available here).
While some media reports suggested this was a Canadian first, on Valentine’s Day 2018, a member of Quebec’s National Assembly, Éric Lefebvre, proposed to his girlfriend, Geneviève Laliberté, then seated in the gallery. Before proposing, Lefebvre spoke of the role played by politicians’ partners in supporting them and then apologized to the Speaker that he would break protocol by addressing his remarks to the gallery (the video in French is available here). Once the question was popped and the applause died down, the presiding officer – speaking to the gallery – indicated that he did not wish to intrude upon the woman’s personal life but felt that the record should reflect an answer. Indeed, she said “oui” (Québec’s proceedings occur primarily in French).
A close Canadian call is worth noting. According to a press report, MP Guy Lauzon had hoped to propose in the House itself in 2004 (whether from the floor is unclear) but it was thwarted by an emergency debate. He proposed in the parliamentary restaurant instead. While on the subject of food, a Queensland representative proposed after a members’ swearing-in breakfast 2009, confessing to hiding the ring in a Parliament House fridge. MP Rob Messinger hid the ring alongside some cheese slices and told the press “I was just really happy she wasn’t hungry for cheese this morning!”
Not every marriage proposal in a legislature might be what it first seems. A member of the Italian Parliament took to the floor during a debate on earthquake relief in 2019 to propose, jewelry box in hand (the video in Italian is available here). This grand gesture garnered the support of colleagues, met the scolding of the Speaker (for the breach of protocol) and made headlines across the globe; however, Italian press reports it was actually a stunt: The couple was already engaged with a venue for the wedding already booked (the video in Italian is available here).
As romantic as some these examples might be, one of the earliest examples of a legislator popping the question mid-session is decidedly the opposite. In 1949, Idaho State Rep. E.A. Snow asked whether the Lady from Ada (Ms. Miller) would take a question. He asked whether or not she would marry him and, according to most press reports, she turned red and sat down leaving the query unanswered. The Speaker ruled the question “leading” and that she did not need to answer, though a short time later she came to the floor to accept the unexpected proposal. Several months later indeed she got married – albeit it to a different man, reporter Sandor S. Klein. In an interesting twist, it was Klein’s reporting on the engagement in the legislature that brought him to Ms. Miller’s attention – reportedly, she called him to a meeting to complain of his reporting only for romance between them to blossom.
Both for legislators and legislative staff, legislatures can be romantic places. Indeed, engagements involving staffers have happened from the floor of the UK House of Commons (available here) to the floor of the Massachusetts House of Representatives (available here). In 1965, the Associated Press ran a story under the headline “Legislator Wins 1-0 Marriage Proposal Vote” about freshman Congressman Andrew Jacobs Jr. arranging for floor access after an adjournment to pop the question. In a line that would perhaps raise more eyebrows now than it did then, the AP reported that “Ms. Welsh, 22, and her congressman-boss plan to marry sometime in May”.
Legislators planning their nuptials face many of the same struggles as any other couple: ensuring sufficient appropriations for the big day and finding someone who will understand that a toast is not an occasion to filibuster. Planning a wedding and honeymoon around the legislative calendar is no easy feat, nor is figuring out a seating chart that works across party lines.
Of course, there’s always the possibility of just getting married on the floor of the legislature itself, as one Florida representative did in 2002 (available here). However, it may be that a legislative record of proceedings is less than desirable – as reported in that case “The wedding was approved by an 83 to 9 vote, and [Speaker] Feeney correctly ruled that the nine objections were out of order.” Similarly in 1997, a California rep married in the legislature – reportedly both caucuses wanted to meet privately with the couple beforehand. For the occasion, the aisle that separates Republicans and Democrats was covered in rose petals. Here comes the bipartisan bride indeed.
Charlie Feldman is President of the Canadian Study of Parliament Group and a hopeless legislative romantic.