When Republican leadership denied Rep. Brittany Pettersen the ability to vote by proxy, they underestimated one thing: the relentless determination of a mom.
Just four weeks postpartum, the Colorado congresswoman flew from Colorado to Washington, D.C., on February 25, newborn in tow, to cast a critical vote against a budget proposal that would slash funding for health care and food assistance programs.
“I rise today with my newborn, Sam, who’s just four weeks old. Unfortunately, I wasn’t given the opportunity to vote remotely after giving birth, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me from being here to represent my constituents,” Pettersen said on the House floor.
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Pettersen, who is on maternity leave at her home in Jefferson County, admitted that making the trip solo with a newborn was no small feat. “Nothing is easy when you’re traveling with a newborn, and doing it alone was challenging,” she told Colorado Public Radio. “Then just being here, because he sleeps one or two hours here and there, so I am exhausted.”
Still, she wasn’t without support. While her husband couldn’t make the trip, her colleagues in Congress stepped in—meeting her at the gate, helping with luggage and baby gear, and even bringing food to her place. “I said I’m going to have to set up some ‘come-and-cuddle-the-baby-so-that-I-can-take-a-shower’ shifts,” she joked.
Holding her sleeping baby, Sam, in her arms, Pettersen was exhausted but resolute. “I wasn’t going to sit back and not vote for anything where I could potentially be the difference,” she said after the vote. And while the measure ultimately passed, she wasn’t deterred. “The fight is not over.”
The impossible choice of working motherhood
For too many moms, Pettersen’s struggle is painfully familiar. The expectation to return to work immediately after childbirth, to perform at the highest level while managing sleepless nights and round-the-clock newborn care, is the impossible reality American mothers face daily. And yet, even those who shape national policies—including Pettersen and her colleagues—do not have structural support for working parents.
Congress adapted during the pandemic, allowing proxy voting so lawmakers could legislate remotely. Yet, despite its success, that flexibility was revoked in 2022—forcing new mothers like Pettersen to choose between their job and their baby’s well-being. As we previously wrote in Why Pregnant Lawmakers Deserve Remote Voting, these outdated rules disproportionately impact mothers, making political life nearly impossible for women who dare to have both a career and a family.
Moms belong in every room where decisions are made
Pettersen’s return to D.C. wasn’t just about a vote—it was a statement. A statement that mothers will not be sidelined. That moms, more than anyone, understand the real-life impact of policy decisions on families. That working parents deserve better.
The Colorado congresswoman isn’t backing down. She’s pushing for a bipartisan bill that would allow proxy voting for new parents, ensuring that no mother has to choose between her child and her duty to serve. Because the truth is, when moms are in the room, priorities shift. Budgets reflect families, not billionaires. Policies prioritize caregiving, not corporate greed. And the lived experiences of mothers shape the laws that impact millions.
Mothers have always been the fiercest advocates for their children. It’s time our political system acknowledges their power and clears the path—not puts up more roadblocks.
