House Republicans told to stop doing in-person town halls
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Rep. Richard Hudson speaks at a press conference in front of the U.S. Capitol on Nov. 12, 2024. Photo: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
House Republicans' campaign chief urged GOP lawmakers Tuesday to shift from in-person to virtual town halls in response to a Trump-fueled surge in protests at such events.
Why it matters: Republicans believe they are being baited by liberal groups into confrontational moments and are determined not to fall into what they believe is a trap being set for them.
Driving the news: At a closed-door Republican conference meeting Tuesday morning, National Republican Congressional Committee chair Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) advised members to switch to tele-town halls, a source familiar with his comments told Axios.
- Hudson argued that virtual events can reach far more constituents, while in-person town halls can be "hijacked" by Democratic activists, the source said.
- "Chairman Hudson supports members reaching and helping as many of our constituents as possible, using technology makes this a heck of lot easier," NRCC spokesperson Will Kiley said in a post on X.
- He added: "Chairman Hudson opposes attention seeking Move On and Indivisible activists hijacking these events."
Between the lines: Despite many Republicans shrugging off testy town halls by arguing that they have been stacked with activists from outside their districts, some are still feeling jolted by the backlash.
- Several Republicans told Axios last week that there is some concern the sudden uptick of opposition energy could presage a drubbing at the polls in 2026 — as it did in 2009 and 2017.
- Some lawmakers have urged Elon Musk and DOGE to soften their approach to laying off huge swaths of the federal workforce and slashing federal funds that help their districts.
The other side: Democrats quickly seized on Hudson's comments to argue that Republicans are indeed scared of what they've been seeing back home.
- Said Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Viet Shelton: "So House Republicans' political strategy is 'see no families nor workers,' 'hear no protesters', 'speak to no one' and hope everyone gets less angry at them when they rip away Americans' health care? Got it."
- Liberal groups — who have been open about their role in filling town hall audiences — told Democratic offices in an email they will host an "empty chair town hall" for any member who refuses to hold one in person.
- Some Democrats have also discussed bringing red cards — like those used to express disapproval at town halls in 2017 — as props for President Trump's speech to Congress on Tuesday.
