The Hill News

One of the biggest advocates for bipartisan seating at the State of the Union address thinks the arrangement will continue in the future.

Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.), who co-authored a letter proposing the seating arrangement, said Wednesday he thought it would become a new tradition.

"I think in State of the Unions to come, this will be a part of what happens," Udall said on CNN.

More than 50 members of Congress signed the letter pledging to sit with someone of the opposing party and others did so without signing the letter. Udall sat with Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.).

Udall's goal, he has said, was to end an unnecessarily partisan tradition and encourage bipartisanship that would spill over into policymaking. Traditionally, lawmakers sat on their respective sides of the aisle during the speech.

"That's the point of last night, is to find ways to work together," Udall said. "And there's that old saying that function follow! s form. If you structure yourself in an institution, an organization, often, then you work together in that same way."

Udall added that he thought the seating arrangement could spark other bipartisan traditions like a regular retreat or monthly "policy luncheon."

Bipartisan seating, Udall stressed, encourages substantive cooperation between parties.

"It does pay off," Udall said. "I mean, I saw senators spending time together, learning about each other. And you saw the same thing between House members. And it added a fun element, as I said, to the evening."