A high-profile Republican romance on Capitol Hill has officially ended, with two sitting GOP lawmakers reportedly calling it quits.
Republican Representatives Rich McCormick of Georgia and Beth Van Duyne of Texas have ended their relationship after more than two years.
The unexpected breakup was first reported Wednesday, October 7, by TMZ, citing sources familiar with the couple’s personal situation.
According to the report, the Republican lawmakers have separated amicably, with no apparent hostility or lingering resentment between them.
McCormick subsequently addressed the development, making clear that he intends to maintain a positive relationship with his former girlfriend.
“I have a great relationship with her and will continue to strive to be the best friend I can be,” McCormick told TMZ.
The Georgia congressman’s statement suggests the former couple hopes to maintain their friendship despite ending their romantic relationship.
Neither lawmaker has publicly provided a detailed explanation for the breakup, and the precise timing of their separation remains unclear.
Sources reportedly indicated there was no bad blood, although the circumstances surrounding their decision to separate have not been disclosed.
The development closes another chapter in a Capitol Hill relationship that attracted considerable attention when it first became public.
SCOOP: Rep. Rich McCormick and Rep. Beth Van Duyne have broken up
W/@hicharliecotton
https://t.co/78BMo6jrF6
— Jacob Wasserman (@jacob_wass) October 7, 2026
McCormick and Van Duyne confirmed their relationship in May 2024, following reports concerning the Georgia Republican’s previous marriage.
At the time, McCormick had recently filed for divorce from his wife of 12 years, physician Dr. Debra Miller.
Court records showed the congressman filed divorce paperwork on May 3, 2024, in Gwinnett County, Georgia, according to contemporary reporting.
The filing attracted attention because McCormick and Van Duyne had already been spotted spending considerable time together around Congress.
Reports described the Republican lawmakers holding hands near the House floor and attending political gatherings together in Washington.
Their relationship quickly became a subject of discussion among congressional colleagues and political observers following those public sightings.
Van Duyne eventually confirmed the romance during a May 2024 interview with the Daily Mail, addressing questions about their relationship.
The Texas Republican emphasized that both lawmakers were parents of adult children and were navigating their personal lives independently.
“I’m single. We’re both parents of adult children and empty nesters. We are happily engaged in a relationship and, beyond that, it’s a personal issue,” she said.
Her remarks established that the relationship was consensual and public, while emphasizing that additional personal details should remain private.
McCormick’s spokesperson also confirmed the relationship, stating that the congressman and his wife had already been separated for some time.
Nevertheless, the timing generated media scrutiny because the relationship became public shortly after news of McCormick’s divorce filing emerged.
Miller also addressed questions about the situation when reporters asked whether another congressional colleague was involved in the divorce.
“You should ask Rich and his colleague,” Miller told the Daily Mail when questioned about the circumstances surrounding their separation.
The remarks intensified public interest, although they did not establish that the congressional relationship caused the breakdown of McCormick’s marriage.
McCormick later spoke openly about his relationship with Van Duyne during another Daily Mail interview conducted in April 2025.
“So we’ve been dating for a minute, and we have a great relationship,” the Republican congressman said at the time.
The couple continued appearing together publicly, including during congressional activities, despite the attention surrounding their relationship.
As recently as July 2026, the two lawmakers were seen walking together following votes on Capitol Hill.
A TMZ reporter approached McCormick and questioned whether maintaining a romantic relationship in Washington presented unusual difficulties.
“Relationships are tricky to begin with, right? But DC makes it easy,” McCormick responded during that exchange.
Those remarks now stand in contrast to the latest reports confirming that the Republican couple has ended its relationship.
Despite their separation, both lawmakers remain members of Congress, representing Republican constituencies in Georgia and Texas, respectively.
Their personal breakup does not automatically affect their congressional responsibilities, legislative assignments, or ability to work together politically.
No evidence presented in the initial reporting indicates that their separation resulted from a political disagreement or professional dispute.
For now, McCormick’s public comments suggest the former couple intends to handle the separation respectfully and without unnecessary controversy.
Van Duyne has not publicly explained the breakup, leaving McCormick’s statement as the principal on-record response to Wednesday’s news.
The reported split marks the conclusion of a closely watched Republican relationship that began attracting national headlines in 2024.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
