The Democratic Party is planning an extensive series of town halls in Republican-held districts in all 50 states to draw attention to the Republican leadership’s recent warning that G.O.P. lawmakers should avoid such open forums.
The initial wave of what Democrats are branding “People’s Town Halls” is planned to target nine House Republicans in battleground districts, from Arizona to Pennsylvania, who Democrats believe will be vulnerable in the 2026 midterm elections.
The incursions into Republican territory come as the Democratic Party tries to find its political footing after a turbulent first 50 days of President Trump’s second term, and as Republicans control every facet of the federal government — and are exercising their power aggressively.
Party officials said the first nine town halls were just the start, with the goal of eventually holding events across the country to highlight some of the less popular proposals pressed by the Trump administration and Republicans in Congress.
The effort seeks to capitalize on private advice this month from Representative Richard Hudson of North Carolina, the chair of the House Republican campaign arm, that G.O.P. lawmakers stop having in-person town halls after some devolved into shouting matches.
“If they won’t talk to their own voters, then Democrats will,” Ken Martin, the chair of the Democratic National Committee, said in a statement to The New York Times. “That’s why we’ll be hosting People’s Town Halls in all 50 states across the country, starting now with vulnerable G.O.P.-held target districts.”
This weekend, Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, the 2024 Democratic nominee for vice president, is set to headline two of the events, which have previously been announced.
The idea of Democrats’ hosting town halls in Republican districts began with Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who has already held five such town halls, drawing thousands of people. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York is expected to join him for at least one event.
Separately, Representative Ro Khanna of California has announced plans to hold events this weekend in the districts of three California Republicans, all of whom are in battleground seats. And Representative Maxwell Frost, Democrat of Florida, said this week that he was also planning to hold town halls in Republican districts.
The broader wave of town halls is being planned by the Democratic National Committee, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the Association of State Democratic Committees and the state parties.
“These increasingly vulnerable House Republicans are failing to do the most basic aspect of their jobs: meeting with the people they represent,” said Representative Suzan DelBene of Washington, the chair of the House Democratic campaign arm.
The initial nine Republicans being targeted are: Representative Juan Ciscomani of Arizona, Representative Gabe Evans of Colorado, Representative Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, Representative Zach Nunn of Iowa, Representative John James of Michigan, Representative Ann Wagner of Missouri, Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska and Representatives Ryan Mackenzie and Rob Bresnahan of Pennsylvania.
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