There is an epidemic raging across this country. Hundreds of Americans are missing. In Republican congressional districts throughout the United States, GOP members of Congress have missed public town halls, dodged constituents and neglected their duties at every turn.
Congressional Republicans have been the punching bag for many of President Trump’s increasingly unpopular policies. From trade wars to DOGE, voters are making it harder for these members of Congress to defend the administration and ignore the effects they are feeling. While Republicans avoid their constituents, there could not be a more ripe opportunity for a resurgence of a united Democratic party.
Republicans
Trump and Musk’s unpopular cuts to social security, aggressive foreign policy in Ukraine and record-breaking force of executive orders drew ballooning crowds at the town halls of Republican members of Congress. Many of those who voiced their protest were Republicans who had been personally affected by Musk and Trump’s purge of the federal government for its wasteful social services. After these in-person meetings went viral House Speaker Mike Johnson concluded — no more town halls. Their agenda was so unpopular that it was a threat to their political careers for them to even discuss it with their constituents.
Still, some Republicans pressed on. A handful of members opted for virtual town halls with handpicked questions while voters protested at their offices. Other GOP members of Congress turned away constituents in favor of Republican-only town halls. Those who were brave or foolish enough to host in-person town halls bore the burden of their constituents’ rage against Trump.
The viral clips that come from the events could not paint a more dreary picture for the Republicans. One featured a veteran being dragged out of the town hall. Many showed GOP members of Congress leaving early to deafening boos from their constituents. Worse still were the town halls featuring an empty chair where the Republican representative should have been.
Democrats
It is no secret that the Democratic Party has struggled to find a winning message since their election defeat this past fall. The effect of this confusion resonated as the party that captured 48% of the national vote share this fall hit a record low of 29% favorability in a March poll. The key to the Democrat’s return to power lies in the places where Republicans are too scared to go: their own districts.
A handful of ambitious Democrats may have cracked this code already. With his Fighting Oligarchy tour, Senator Bernie Sanders started a wave of campaign-style rallies in flippable Congressional districts and swing states. Sanders’ tour stops feature sold-out crowds and a litany of young progressive hopefuls such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Following this success, Governor Tim Walz made the promise on social media to host a town hall of his own in any district where a Republican member of Congress refused to. On the tour, he spoke to working-class voters who voted for Trump in the past but felt betrayed by the administration’s policies. Whether it is in high schools in rural Iowa or national arenas in Las Vegas, Sanders and Walz are welcomed to similar results. There is a dire hunger for a government that supports the working class.
This backyard barnstorming brilliance could not only be the path forward for the Democratic Party at large but a rewarding road for those who walk it. Doing town halls in the swingiest cities and states in the country is a surefire way to boost one’s national name recognition for potential future endeavors. Similarly, these meetings are a fantastic tool to find the earliest donors and super volunteers needed to build a political operation. For those in the audience, the Democratic town halls may strengthen the area party operation and inspire the next generation of local leaders.
The truth is Democrats have a long way to go to return to the majority, and even sold-out town halls are not going to reach every voter. The good news is that these town halls are no longer limited to the liberal Twittersphere but rather the focus of a united Democratic Party. Together with the Democrat’s rebrand back to the donkey, the party launched the People’s Town Halls in an effort to bring voters together in swing district town halls. In some of the same places, Democrats are targeting “coward” Republican members of Congress with ad campaigns bashing them for avoiding their constituents. By all measures, new DNC Ken Martin is all-in on the places where Republicans have come up short.
Republican members of Congress are missing while their constituents bear the burden of Trump’s policy failures. The administration is waging a war on many of the things Americans are proudest of, and GOP members of Congress are the pawns in this game. If gutting social security, cutting ties with our allies and funneling money to the wealthiest Americans is the hill that Republicans want to die on, Democrats need to get out of the way and let them. There could not be a more natural moment for a strong Democratic Party to rise up in opposition to President Trump and Elon Musk. They just need to go where Republicans aren’t: their own districts.
Jack is a proud Michigander, a small-towner, a man of Fisher, a senior and a licensed boat captain in that order. He enjoys gritty Midwestern football, planespotting and speechwriting. If you are in urgent need of his consultation or would like to berate him, he can be found frolicking about campus or via email at jsirian2@nd.edu.
