New Jersey Democrat Robert Menendez proposed to his girlfriend Monday in the Capitol, then whisked his betrothed away to the White House to celebrate at the annual holiday ball.

As first reported by Politico’s Mike Allen, the previously divorced pol asked Alicia Mucci — identified by the New Jersey Star-Ledger as a 45-year-old real estate agent who lives in Paramus — to join him in matrimony during a visit to the Capitol Rotunda. Some CQ Roll Call colleagues reported asking a tuxedo-clad Menendez what he was up to on Monday night, but they said the senior senator from the Garden State dashed away without comment.

Menendez’s office did not respond to multiple email inquires regarding further details about the pending nuptials, but Menendez did thank well-wishers via social media:

Thanks to my family & friends for their love & congrats.

— Sen. Robert Menendez (@SenatorMenendez) December 10, 2013