The Democrat Nebraska senator blocking all legislation to defend kids' rights to transgender surgery serves alongside her brother who pulled his children out of Catholic school over a policy to expel gay students.
Machaela Cavanaugh embarked on a three-week-long filibuster to oppose a bill on gender-affirming care, winning her a slew of national newspaper headlines and even a coveted profile in Vogue.
Critics have slammed her for wasting time in the Legislature and delaying the passing of important bills. Not a single bill was passed during her protest.
And she caused particular outrage with her extremist language after comparing the trans bill to 'genocide.'
Last week she finally agreed to pause the campaign - so long as Speaker John Arch pushed the transgender bill to the front of the queue. A debate began yesterday and is expected to last until Thursday.
The Cavanaughs are pictured in a sweet shot shared to Machaela's Facebook page. Their father John, at the back, served as a Democrat for the Ninety-fifth and Ninety-sixth congresses
Machaela and John Cavanaugh are the first ever brother and sister to serve simultaneously as state senators in Omaha, Nebraska
And it is clear liberal values run deep in the well-connected Cavanaugh family.
She sits just three stories above her brother, as their offices are on the eleventh and eighth floors respectively.
The Cavanaugh siblings are the first ever brother and sister to serve simultaneously as state senators in Omaha, Nebraska - inspired perhaps by their father, also called John, who served in the Legislature from 1973 to 1977 before winning an election to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Just two weeks ago, Machaela cheered on her brother as he announced he was pulling his children out of Catholic school over a note from the Archdiocese of Omaha encouraging educators to expel students who refused to use the pronouns they were assigned at birth.
The same rule applied to teachers who could face being fired. The policy - which applies to 70 schools in the archdiocese - states that transitioning socially, medically or legally is 'not a reality and not valid in the Catholic Church.'
On Twitter, Cavanaugh shared a video of her brother discussing the decision covered with stickers of the Transgender flag alongside the caption: 'So proud to serve with John Cavanaugh.'
In 2021 she told The Lincoln Journal Star: 'I love seeing him every day.
'John and I are extremely close.'
Machaela - a married mother-of-three - took her seat in the Legislature in 2019 before being joined by her brother in 2021.
Machaela's three-week-long filibuster has earnt her a slew of national newspaper headlines and a coveted profile in Vogue
Machaela - a married mother-of-three - is pictured bringing her baby with her to work in a shot she uploaded to her Facebook
On the first day of the 108th Nebraska Legislature she shared a photo of her children hiding under her desk
They were born to John Cavanaugh and mother Kate as two of eight red-haired children in the family.
Their careers in politics were no doubt influenced by their father John who was elected as a Democrat to the Ninety-fifth and Ninety-sixth congresses.
After two terms, he chose not to seek re-election so he could spend more time with his family instead.
However the patriarch has downplayed his influence, telling the Lincoln Star in 2021: 'We didn't encourage it. They apparently picked up politics along the way.'
Machaela's policies have so far focused on issues surrounding the rights of women and the LGBTQ community.
She is the director of development at 'Women Who Run' in Omaha, an organization that supports and promotes progressive women running for office in Nebraska.
She speaks often about being a working mother, even pictured bringing her baby with her as she debates policies in the Nebraska Capitol.
She is married to Nick Brotzel with whom she shares three daughters Della, Harriet and Barrett.
Prior to her political career, she worked at the Buffett Early Childhood Institute at the University of Nebraska. She was also a Staff Assistant to U.S. Senator Ben Nelson.
Her website is mostly concerned with the issue of protecting women's access to abortion in America.
Machaela is married to Nick Brotzel with whom she shares three daughters Della, Harriet and Barrett
Machaela said of her brother in 2021: 'I love seeing him every day. 'John and I are extremely close'
Machaela's three-week-long filibuster was slammed by critics for time-wasting - but also won her a legion of fans
Meanwhile John, who previously worked in the Douglas County Public defender's office, is focused on criminal justice reform.
But the duo both post frequently about issues surrounding the rights of women and LGTBQ people.
On their social media profiles, they have both publicly rallied against moves to restrict women's access to abortion.
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