Southern California Public Radio: Rep. Mica, Sen. Boxer, to Sit Together At Tonight's State of the Union Address

Democrats, Republicans to sit together for State of the Union on virtual date night

It’s starting to look like “date night” on Capitol Hill. The movement to get Democrats and Republicans to sit together during tonight’s “State of the Union” speech has created some unusual couples.

During the “State of the Union” address, Republicans sit on the president's left, Democrats on his right – but not this year. In an effort to reach across the aisle, lawmakers will sit across the aisle.

Republican Whip Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield says he’ll sit with Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland. Republican Congressman Darrell Issa of Temecula, who heads the House Oversight Committee, will sit with his Democratic counterpart, Edolphus Towns of New York.

Democrat Barbara Boxer heads the Senate committee that deals with transportation; she’ll sit with Florida Republican John Mica, who heads the transportation committee in the House.

L.A. Democratic Congresswoman Maxine Waters and San Dimas Republican Congressman David Dreier will also sit together. How did the two well-dressed Southern Californians in step sartorially but not politically decide to sit together? Says Waters’ office, “He asked.”