Democrats hold town halls in Republican districts nationwide

Democrats are actively engaging in Republican districts by holding town halls, fulfilling a recent promise. In Wisconsin, Democratic Rep. Mark Pocan held a town hall in Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden’s district. Van Orden did not attend, and Pocan made a point to highlight this by leaving an empty chair on stage for him. Over 300 local residents attended despite the small town's population of 4,500. Pocan criticized Van Orden for not responding to his constituents and for being unresponsive to their concerns about Medicaid and other programs. Meanwhile, GOP leadership has advised their members not to hold in-person town halls due to disruptions by protesters angry about cuts to federal programs. Van Orden has moved to virtual town halls, claiming the protesters are funded by influential individuals. The Democratic National Committee is planning to place billboards in Republican areas, urging voters to demand town halls from their representatives. DNC Chair Ken Martin called Republicans "cowards" for avoiding meetings with their constituents after voting for controversial policies. In addition to Pocan, Democratic Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has held events in Republican districts, criticizing notable figures like Elon Musk. Other prominent Democrats, such as Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, are also organizing town halls in places like Nevada and Arizona. These initiatives are part of a larger strategic plan by Democratic leaders to fill the gap left by Republicans who avoid in-person engagements. They aim to connect with voters and draw attention to unpopular policies.