Florida Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna exits the House Freedom Caucus over a dispute about proxy voting for new parents, citing “shattered” mutual respect with her former colleagues. She successfully gathered 218 signatures on a discharge petition to force a vote on her proxy voting resolution. The proposal would allow new parents to vote remotely for up to 12 weeks after childbirth. House Speaker Mike Johnson and some conservatives argue proxy voting is unconstitutional.
Luna’s Resignation and Proxy Voting Dispute
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna announced her departure from the influential House Freedom Caucus, marking a significant rupture within the conservative Republican group. The Florida congresswoman’s resignation stems directly from opposition to her efforts advocating for proxy voting rights for new parents. Luna had been pushing a resolution that would allow new mothers and fathers to vote remotely for up to 12 weeks following the birth of a child, a measure she argues is necessary to ensure new parents can fulfill their congressional duties while recovering from childbirth.
Luna’s initiative gained substantial momentum when she successfully gathered 218 signatures for a discharge petition, a parliamentary maneuver that forces a vote on legislation despite leadership objections. This achievement threatened to bypass standard committee procedures and bring her resolution directly to the House floor. The tactic reportedly angered some Freedom Caucus members, who allegedly sought to increase the threshold required for discharge petitions specifically to block Luna’s effort.
I told you LUNA was a FRAUD… NOT AF.
Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna Quits Freedom Caucus Over Proxy Voting for New Parents in the House.https://t.co/RgATLnLv4n
— Son of Black Wolf 🇺🇸🇨🇦🇮🇹🇮🇱 (@GreenLi89635525) April 1, 2025
Internal Conflict Within the Freedom Caucus
In her resignation statement, Luna did not mince words about her reasons for leaving the caucus. She directly criticized what she described as a betrayal of the group’s principles and a breakdown in professional relationships. Luna pointed to actions by certain members that she claimed undermined the caucus’s stated values and mission, suggesting that internal politics had compromised the integrity of the organization.
“I cannot remain part of a caucus where a select few operate outside its guidelines, misuse its name, broker backroom deals that undermine its core values, where the lines of compromise and transaction are blurred, disparage me to the press, and encourage misrepresentation of me to the American people.”
Despite the harsh criticism of some caucus members, Luna specifically praised the current chair, Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland, indicating that her issues were not with the entire caucus leadership. Her departure marks the first resignation from the Freedom Caucus in the 119th Congress, potentially signaling deeper divisions within the influential conservative bloc that has often wielded significant power in House proceedings.
Representative Anna Luna became the latest member to leave the House Freedom Caucus, accusing others of backroom dealing and smears. https://t.co/cEvnRsgDsc
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) April 1, 2025
Constitutional Debate Over Proxy Voting
The controversy centers on fundamental disagreements about constitutional interpretation and congressional procedure. House Speaker Mike Johnson and several Freedom Caucus members firmly oppose proxy voting on constitutional grounds, arguing that the Constitution requires physical presence for congressional votes. This position hardened for many Republicans after Democrats implemented broader proxy voting during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Luna has countered these concerns by emphasizing that her resolution contains strict limitations. The proposal would confine proxy voting privileges exclusively to new parents and would restrict the period during which members could vote remotely to just 12 weeks following childbirth. She maintains that these guardrails would prevent the broader abuses that opponents fear while providing necessary accommodation for members with newborns.
Political Implications and Future Prospects
Luna’s collaboration with Democrats and moderate Republicans to advance her proxy voting measure represents an unusual cross-party alliance in today’s polarized Congress. By securing 218 signatures on her discharge petition, including support from members across the political spectrum, Luna demonstrated an ability to build coalitions beyond ideological lines. This approach, however, appears to have alienated her from some of her more hardline conservative colleagues.
The conflict illustrates broader tensions within the Republican conference between strict constitutional constructionists and those advocating institutional reforms to accommodate modern family needs. As the first member to depart the Freedom Caucus in this Congress, Luna’s resignation may foreshadow additional realignments within House Republican factions as members navigate competing priorities between ideological purity and practical governance concerns.