NEWPORT NEWS — More than 300 people packed into Gethsemane Baptist Church in Newport News for a town hall last week to pepper Democratic U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott with all manner of questions.
Constituents expressed concern over a variety of issues involving the Trump administration’s attacks on transgender rights, Department of Education cuts, actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement and fears over the executive branch undermining legislative and judicial checks and balances.
“I’m really concerned about the current administration’s ability to imprison people without due process,” said one attendee. “I’m wondering, what more can be done in terms of repealing the laws that they’re using as excuses for these acts?”
Others wanted to know what more they could do to combat the Trump administration.
“Other than attending rallies and financially supporting Democratic candidates, what can we do as individuals to confront Trump’s lawlessness?” asked another person.
While many in the audience were angry, their admonishments weren’t directed at Scott. Rather at the Trump administration and Republicans who stand by the president and back his policies.
While Democratic lawmakers have held in-person gatherings across Hampton Roads in recent weeks, Republican members of Congress have opted for telephone town halls or mobile office hours with staff. Scott’s town hall, held Monday, was at the start of a two-week congressional recess when members of Congress are back in their districts.
“Elected officials should not be afraid of their constituents. We should represent ourselves and be able to respond to questions that people have,” Scott said after the town hall. “My understanding is Republicans were told not to hold town halls, and that’s because with all the chaos in Washington, I wouldn’t want to have to explain it either.”
That understanding comes from a directive issued last month by the chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee and endorsed by House Speaker Mike Johnson, telling Republicans to stop holding in-person town halls.
Recent in-person GOP town halls have turned combative, with attendees complaining about what they see as Congress’ failure to rein in the Trump administration. Even long-serving members like Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, faced palpable anger.
Some Hampton Roads Republicans appear to be heeding the memo, but are still holding virtual opportunities to hear from constituents.
U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans, a Republican representing Virginia’s 2nd District, invited people via her social media accounts and newsletter to a telephone town hall ahead of Tax Day, according to her spokesperson. More than 2,500 people called in to discuss veterans, healthcare, national security and the economy.
“While we may not always see eye to eye on every single issue, I will always lend a listening ear and respect everyone’s right to voice their opinion,” Kiggans said in a release. “Hearing directly from the hardworking people I represent makes me a better legislator, and I look forward to hosting another telephone town hall very soon.”
Kiggans has faced criticism from constituents about her lack of interface with them in recent months, including several protests outside her Virginia Beach office. In March, a handful of protesters delivered a letter outlining worries about the administration’s actions after unsuccessfully attempting to meet with her.
Last month, Americans for Prosperity-Virginia, in conjunction with The LIBRE Initiative and Concerned Veterans for American, hosted what they billed as a town hall featuring Kiggans. More than 100 Virginia Beach residents attended the discussion about the importance of extending the 2017 Trump Tax Cuts and Jobs Act despite no prior announcement of the event, according to AFP. The town hall was open to the public, according to the organizer, who did not elaborate on how it was advertised.
Following the event, Kiggans posted photographs of it on her social media, but she had not announced it ahead of time.
Meanwhile, Rep. Rob Wittman, a Republican representing Virginia’s 1st District, held a telephone town hall March 26 with roughly 9,000 virtual attendees to discuss federal issues, according to The Virginia Gazette. The virtual format, Wittman said, is a “highly effective and inclusive way to connect with thousands of constituents across the district at once.”
He fielded questions from callers who raised concerns about topics ranging from actions by the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency to cuts to the Department of Education.
Wittman’s spokesperson said there are no upcoming telephone town halls scheduled, but those interested in attending a future meeting can register on Wittman’s website.
Noting the lack of in-person meeting options, some organizations have decided to host their own town halls in lieu of their representatives, including one slated for Tuesday outside Kiggans’ office. Last month, her camp decried an event organized by the same groups as a “phony” town hall that featured a cardboard cutout of her.
“The organizers of this so-called ‘town hall’ are the same left-wing operatives who have been attacking the Congresswoman since she began fighting for real Virginians in her Congressional district,” Kiggans’ office wrote in a release.
Progressive Group Williamsburg JCC Indivisible has followed suit in Williamsburg with town halls, some of which have included a cardboard cutout of Wittman to criticize his lack of in-person meetings.
On the other side of the aisle, Democrats are embracing in-person town halls and encouraging voters to apply pressure on their representatives.
Sen. Tim Kaine, a Democrat who was reelected last year to a third term, toured sites across the commonwealth last month to hear from constituents — including a visit to new outpatient clinic for veterans in Chesapeake where he was critical of proposed cuts to the Department of Veterans Affairs. While he had no public events scheduled this week, his spokesperson said he is continuing to hold opportunities to hear from people in his D.C. office.
Sen. Mark Warner, a Democrat who’s held the seat since 2009, is making stops throughout Southwestern Virginia and joined state Democratic lawmakers on March 29 for town halls in Chesapeake and Virginia Beach.
In a video posted to his social media accounts, Warner boasted 1,500 people attended those town halls in Hampton Roads, and they were “pissed off” about the handling of national security issues and federal cuts to programs and services.
“They’re angry at an Elon Musk that nobody elected to anything and the damage he’s doing. They’re angry, frankly, at the idea that Medicaid, Social Security, Medicare could all be under assault,” Warner said. “We need to keep that anger and turn it into energy. Increase the size of the crowds.
“Stand up. Speak out. Turn out. Deal with this at the local level. Let’s get local elected Republicans to acknowledge the pain their community is feeling.”
Staff reporters Eliza Noe, Natalie Anderson and Kate Seltzer contributed to this report.
Devlin Epding, 757-510-4037, [email protected]
