Large campaign rally and town halls are pillars of election year politics, but two months after President Donald Trump’s second term, town halls are erupting across the country.
Republicans are mostly told to stay home, but Democrats seem to be driving the story for the first time since Trump returned to the White House.
Democrats last week began coordinated efforts to host “people’s town halls” in all 50 states after Republican leaders advised them to hold in-person town halls. The first week of City Hall brought about a new wave of political drama and involvement similar to Election Year.
“When people leave the DC Bubble and enter communities nationwide, there is one undeniably clear trend. Americans feel betrayed by the Republicans. Beyond party lines, people are being put aside to enrich their lives, jobs, retirements and healthcare that are already super-rich. Hearing, DNC Chairman Ken Martin told Fox News Digital in a statement.
Chaos erupts at GOP Councillor’s City Hall after Left Groups promote protest
Democrats launched a coordinated effort to host “People’s Town Hall” in all 50 states last week. Thousands of supporters cheered Sen. Bernie Sanders (left) at each stop on his “Battle Oligarchy” tour. D-Minn. Gov. Tim Waltz holds City Hall in the Republican District. (Getty)
I-Vt. , Sen. Bernie Sanders, and Dn.Y. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, gathered nearly 12,000 Arizonans at Tempe at the second stop on the three state’s west coast swing on Thursday night. Thousands of supporters cheered on Sanders at each stop on his “Fighting Olgarki” tour. The rally rejects Trump executive Leach and Elon Musk’s efforts to reduce federal bureaucracy through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which claims Sanders is wreaking havoc and turning the country into an Olihead.
Former vice presidential candidate Gov. Tim Waltz is crossing the country targeting Republican districts where representatives say they are refusing to meet with their members. Walz swapped the barb for a mask this week after joking about his regular ego boost checks on Tesla stock. This was down 41.4% as of March amid a string of violence against Tesla.
“I appreciate the most of you seeing @jdvance’s portrait in the White House when I need a little boost,” Musk responded with X to Walz’s comments at the “The People vs Musk” event on Tuesday.
Florida Dem Stage Town Hall in the GOP district featuring a colleague’s “missing” poster
Since Trump defeated former Vice President Kamala Harris in November 2024, Democrats have not been without a clear party leader. Sanders’ rally began last month, but Waltz launched his own town hall style event after Politico first reported that the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) had advised the House Republic to host the halls of the home town.
Progressive protest groups organized chaos last month at Republican-owned City Hall and local legislative offices, effectively shutting them down. Sen. Tom Tillis (some lawmakers including RN.C.) reported safety concerns following the threat of violence. As a result, many Republicans have chosen teletown halls and are citing productivity in a controlled environment.
House Speaker Mike Johnson joined the Republican town hall deterrence and told reporters that Republicans should not be given a forum to sell soundbits to “professional protesters” and make headlines. Trump called out a “paid troublemaker for protesters” and said it was “all part of the game for the Democrats.” After playing defense for two months, it appears that Democrats have the ball in their courtroom.
Former vice presidential candidate Tim Waltz, D-Minn. hosts City Hall in Republican-owned Congressional District. This reports that the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has told Congressional Republicans to stop holding city hall meetings. (Getty/Reuters)
Bernie Sanders, AOC is targeting Trump, Musk and Democrats at Western rally
Like Waltz, Democrats have taken advantage of the narrative that Republicans have not appeared for their members, and city halls have begun to appear in red districts around the country. Following the heavy losses in November, Democrat City Hall has been an opportunity for lawmakers to score points with numerous Americans who were furious at Trump’s second term and Musk’s Doge cuts.
Last Friday, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) seized the opportunity to present a united front a few weeks after Republican criticism that Democrats lacked a clear message during Trump’s second term.
DNC’s coordinated efforts include the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), the State Democratic Committee (ASDC) Association (ASDC), and Democrats who say “weak Republican members of Congress are responsible for refusing to respond to a vote to place billionaires on workers in the face of their constituents.”
Newly elected Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin will speak out after winning the vote at the Democratic National Committee’s Winter Meeting on Saturday, February 1, 2025 at Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland.
DNC’s initial launches included at least nine city halls in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska and Pennsylvania. As of Friday there were at least 11 city halls scheduled for this weekend and next week. The DNC and Democrat parties have held a total of 22 events in 13 states so far, the DNC told Fox News Digital.
As Democrat City Hall finds its way to every corner of the US, the president of the conservative group Club for Growth for Growth is now urging Republicans in Congress to join City Hall, Fox News confirmed.
R-Neb. Rep. Mike Flood was the only House GOP MP to establish a face-to-face town hall this week during the council’s break. It ended in chaos Tuesday night as angry Democrat protesters accused Republicans of trying to sabotage important government programs. Audience questions accused Trump of not supporting “the rule of law.” The crowd booed repeatedly with references to musk and doge.
Florida Democratic Party Chairman Nikki Fried leads the development of Florida’s statewide town halls as part of a coordinated Democrats’ efforts to host “People’s Town Halls” in all 50 states. (Florida Democratic Party)
DEM leader swings through GOP Held district after town hall where “clown show protest” has stopped
But the Democratic City Hall wasn’t without its own political theatre. The Florida Democrats have created a “missing” poster of Republican representatives for their City Hall. One at Clearwater on Saturday, Pinellas County members took turns working on the “missing” posters of R-FLA Rep. Ana Paulina Luna. Social media conservatives have denounced the “missing” poster as “real or persuasive.”
“I have never seen the National Democrats in such chaos and confusion. Whether it’s childish stunts on the floor of the council or performance art at fake city halls, there’s no real or persuasive about their message, tactics, or delivery.”
Florida voters took turns addressing the “missing” posters of R-Fla’s Rep. Ana Paulina Luna, as part of the Democratic Party’s “People’s Town Hall.” (@fladems/x)
Lunz compared Democrats’ latest move to host a poster during Trump’s joint speech to Congress with coordinated efforts by protest groups to disrupt Republican City Hall. Others on social media call it “embarrassing.” A Luna spokesman said she was available at “a number of events” and that Florida representatives “do not work in the left-wing mob.”
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Pro-Palestinian protesters cried out about US support for Israel on Wednesday, disrupting the town hall hosted by D-Ill Rep. Sean Kasten as the man jumped on stage. Police had to close the event and escort components from the venue, CNN reported.
Voters also expressed dissatisfaction with Democrats who said Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer last week had appease Republicans by funding ongoing resolutions to keep the government open. Rep. Glen Ivy, D-Md. , Arizona Sens. Reuben Gallego, Mark Kelly, and Ron Wyden, D-ore.
Kellianne Jones, Elizabeth Elkind and Aubrie Spady of Fox News contributed to this report.
Deirdre Heavey is a political writer for Fox News Digital.
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