Voters protest absent Republicans with "empty chair" tactic

Across the United States, voters are expressing their frustrations with Republican representatives who are skipping town hall meetings. In response, constituents are using empty chairs to symbolize their absent leaders during these events. Many voters are upset about policies from the Trump administration and actions by Elon Musk that they believe harm federal services. Activists organized town halls to give people a chance to share their opinions, even if their representatives declined to attend. In New York, residents criticized Rep. Elise Stefanik, asking what she was doing to address their issues. In Montana, attendees voiced their concerns over proposed cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and veterans' services. In Alaska, voters also expressed anger towards the current administration's foreign policy and the lack of engagement from their representatives, specifically calling out Rep. Nick Begich and Sen. Dan Sullivan. Some attendees shared personal stories of hardship, criticizing the absence of their elected officials. Sullivan defended his absence, stating he prefers smaller meetings and more constructive discussions over town halls, which he feels often lead to shouting matches. In Indiana, voters gathered at a library to call out Sens. Todd Young and Jim Banks for being unreachable. One attendee noted that these representatives seem more focused on national figures like Trump than on their local constituents. A spokesperson for Banks dismissed the criticism, labeling the town hall gatherings as unproductive.