Jesse Scheckner
While the GOP is telling its lawmakers to stop holding town halls for now, Democrats are looking to fill in the gaps.
The Florida Democratic Party (FDP) is kicking off a five-day town hall blitz across seven Republican-controlled congressional districts, and it’s inviting state Republicans to disobey National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chair Richard Hudson and meet its candidates on stage.
“If Florida Republicans really believe that what they’re doing is what’s best for the country, they should come and explain themselves to the people in their districts — and if they won’t hold town halls, we will,” FDP Chair Nikki Fried said in a statement.
“With mass firings, cuts to the VA, threats to Social Security and Medicare, attacks on immigrants, tariffs and trade wars — people deserve answers.”
The FDP town halls schedule includes:
— Friday, March 14: Gay Valimont at the Pensacola Yacht Club in Florida’s 1st Congressional District, 6-8 p.m. CT.
— Friday, March 14: Josh Weil at the W.E. Harris Community Center in Hastings in Florida’s 6th Congressional District, 7-9 p.m. ET.
— Saturday, March 15: Melbourne town hall at 2300 Judge Fran Jamieson Way in Florida’s 8th Congressional District, 12:30-2:30 p.m. ET.
— Saturday, March 15: Clearwater town hall with Whitney Fox and Fried in Florida’s 13th Congressional District, 5-7 p.m. ET.
— Saturday, March 15: Coral Gables town hall with Miami-Dade County Democratic Party Chair Laura Kelley in Florida’s 27th Congressional District, 5-7 p.m. ET.
— Sunday, March 16: Social Security Works Executive Director Alex Lawson at the Wildwood Community Center in Florida’s 11th Congressional District, 1:15-2:15 p.m. ET.
— Wednesday, March 19: Winter Springs town hall in Florida’s 7th Congressional District, 7-9 p.m. ET.
More information will be provided about the two town halls on Saturday and Wednesday without named speakers, according to FDP Deputy Communications Director Matt Dailey.
“Some of these town halls are happening with community organizations and are being facilitated by local organizers,” he said.
On Tuesday, Hudson told GOP lawmakers to stop holding town halls in person after several events turned sour amid backlash from constituents upset by cuts under President Donald Trump. Some lawmakers have since switched to virtual town halls, where silencing outcry is a mute button away. Trump has suggested, without substantiation, that the discontented town hall attendees are “paid troublemakers.”
The FDP’s events come as the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) rolls out a national “People’s Town Halls” schedule, with in-person events scheduled to also take place in Arizona, Colorado, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska and Pennsylvania.
“These increasingly vulnerable House Republicans are failing to do the most basic aspect of their jobs: meeting with the people they represent,” said U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene of Washington, Chair of the DCCC.
“Voters deserve elected officials who will take the time to meet with and listen to them, but instead these House Republicans are hiding from their own voters to avoid having to defend their disastrous record of stripping health care and food access from the families, workers, and seniors in their communities.”
10 comments
PeterH
March 14, 2025 at 1:17 pm
Republicans in Congress represent EVERYONE in their district. They must listen and explain their voting record. Florida representatives need to defend their votes for Trump’s Agency heads, policies and Congress’s support for DOGE – PROJECT 2025. Republicans own it …… so defend it.
A day without libturds
March 14, 2025 at 1:21 pm
You lost.
Michael K
March 14, 2025 at 2:20 pm
Did you know that elected officials represent EVERYONE in their district? It’s not a “winner takes all” proposition. Everyone means everyone.
Ron Ogden
March 14, 2025 at 1:25 pm
So now we have a continuous cycle of campaigning 52 weeks a year, never-ending, always attacking. Then it is time for Republicans to attend these town hall meetings, too, and ask these Democrats why they never stepped into save their country from Joe Biden, why they never demanded that our borders be secured, and why they allowed the deep state to abandon public service in favor of public domination. You want to campaign 52 weeks a year, year after year, so be it.
Dorine
March 14, 2025 at 2:22 pm
Democrats are targeting GOP districts with fake complaints and gaslighting through campaign events hosted by failed Democrat candidates, not town halls. That Florida Politics didn’t fact-check before spreading these events is disturbing. I wonder if Kennedy or McDow will host Florida’s 8th Congressional District.
Deplorable Pinellas
March 14, 2025 at 2:34 pm
It’s hilarious you used a picture of Whitney Fox as the cover photo for this “news” article.
You know she lost, right? She isn’t hosting town halls.
Deplorable Pinellas again
March 14, 2025 at 2:55 pm
And yes I know she’s hosting a “town hall”. But she’s not an elected official. So now Democrats are using the word Town Hall as a synonym for campaign fundraising? A town hall with a private address HAAAAA! Whitney you lost baby boo
Ron Ogden
March 14, 2025 at 2:49 pm
So maybe I want to attend to see what they have to say and, lo and behold, it says “this event’s address is private.” What B-S, “town hall.” A town hall is a public event. This is just a campaign rally/fundraiser. What a despicable pile of crap, and FLA POL is pushing it as hard as they can. Come on publish the address.
Deplorable Pinellas
March 14, 2025 at 3:09 pm
You know it’s gotta be in St. Pete.
They wouldn’t even fill a classroom in North Pinellas. It says “event at capacity” 😂
Tjb
March 14, 2025 at 3:44 pm
No town halls for republicans =NO accountability to their constituents.
.